Heuristic Evaluation of Recloser and Fuse Placement for Non-Supplied Energy Level Reduction in Radial Rural Distribution Grids

Abstract

This paper presents a heuristic evaluation framework for assessing the impact of recloser and fuse placement on the Non-Supplied Energy Level (NSEL) in radial rural distribution grids subjected to permanent faults. A mathematical formulation based on the operational state matrix is developed to calculate the NSEL for different protection device configurations, eliminating the need for iterative power flow algorithms and significantly reducing computational time. The proposed methodology employs heuristic criteria derived from standard utility practices to identify candidate locations for reclosers and fuses, reflecting real-world decision-making processes. Technical constraints including protection coordination, maximum devices in series, and exclusive installation are incorporated to ensure feasible configurations. The framework is validated on a 15-bus test system representative of Colombian rural distribution networks, where exhaustive enumeration of 504 feasible configurations reveals that strategic device placement can achieve NSEL reductions of up to 62.38% compared to the base case. The results demonstrate that fuse placement plays a more dominant role than recloser placement in NSEL reduction, and that the heuristic methodology achieves near-optimal performance within 1.22% of the true optimum. The computational efficiency of the proposed approach enables rapid evaluation of multiple configurations, making it a practical tool for distribution system operators with limited investment budgets.