Title: Ant Colony Optimisation solution to distribution transformer planning problem

Authors: Eleftherios I. Amoiralis, Pavlos S. Georgilakis, Marina A. Tsili, Antonios G. Kladas

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Chania, Greece. ' Department of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Chania, Greece. ' Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, Greece. ' Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, Greece

Abstract: This paper proposes a stochastic optimisation method, based on Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO), for the optimal choice of transformer sizes to be installed in a distribution network. This method is properly introduced to the solution of the Optimal Transformer Sizing (OTS) problem, taking into account the constraints imposed by the load the transformer serves throughout its lifetime and the possible transformer thermal overloading. The possibility to upgrade the transformer size one or more times throughout the study period results in different sizing paths taking into account the transformer capital cost the energy loss cost during the study period.

Keywords: transformers; OTS; optimal transformer sizing; ACO; ant colony optimisation; thermal loading; energy loss cost; distribution network planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAIP.2010.036398

International Journal of Advanced Intelligence Paradigms, 2010 Vol.2 No.4, pp.316 - 335

Published online: 02 Nov 2010 *

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