The Switching Optimization module is an add-on to CYME that is designed to help distribution engineers determining the optimal feeder configuration in order to minimize losses, improve the voltage profile and balance the load between feeders. It can also determine the optimal location of the tie points by suggesting new locations (addition of switching devices) or recommended switching for existing devices in order to achieve the selected objective.

This module will suggest a configuration that minimizes losses, hence lowers the operating cost, while respecting the user-defined constraints such as voltage thresholds and loading limits. The module may also be used to recommend switching in order to minimize abnormal conditions such as overloaded equipment and low voltage conditions, and to minimize unbalanced loading among interconnected feeders.

The module offers the following objective functions to the user:

• Minimize overload exceptions to reduce the most severe overloads
• Minimize voltage exceptions to reduce the most severe voltage problems
• Minimize unbalanced loading to balance the loading among interconnected feeders
• Minimize service interruption frequency to transfer portions of circuits among interconnected feeders
• Minimize KW Losses, in order to find a more efficient way to feed local customers, by either:
  • Global branch exchange: the program transfers the load by modifying the configuration of the tie points simultaneously. An option allows adding new switches, which implies that CYME will recommend new locations for the tie points.
  • Local branch exchange: the program transfers the load by modifying the configuration of tie points individually.

The optimal configuration is automatically created as a case study and is presented graphically for an immediate evaluation of the proposed solution. A detailed customizable report is also generated for in-depth analysis.