Phase-Selection Algorithms to Minimize Cost and Imbalance in U.S. Synthetic Distribution Models

The increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) has driven a push toward new algorithms and tools for distribution system operation and planning; however, there is a lack of publicly available electrical distribution test systems at the large scale—multi-feeder, multi-substation—which are required for realistically evaluating the performance and scalability of these new developments. This paper presents a Reference Network Model (RNM) aimed to plan large-scale, U.S.-style, synthetic distribution systems. Special emphasis is placed on two algorithms that allow multi-phase feeder design: (1) a method to select the most suitable number of phases for each section considering the connected customers, and (2) a method to assign phases to the users to provide near-balanced phasing while maintaining realistic levels of imbalance. The performance of the developed algorithms is verified by comparing the obtained system designs with the original IEEE 8,500-node test feeder and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) J1 feeder.