Low voltage cable path optimization using hightower’s algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm

Abstract

Improvement of energy efficiency has become a major aspect in many industrial and commercial sectors to gain a competitive advantage by reducing the operational cost of the installation. But the current mandatory requirements only consider the aspects of safety, initial investment cost and other physical constraints which results in lack of encouragement in concentrating on the lifetime energy loss happening due to the heat generated in minimum cable sizes selected and the additional cost incurred due to the suboptimal placement of the distribution switchgears. This paper proposes an overall cost reduction method in both the initial capital cost and the operational cost by using a process built with the help of the Hightower’s algorithm and the simulated annealing algorithm. Here the cost reduction aspects in cable layout, cable size and distribution switchgear are considered, and a software tool based on the Python programming platform is introduced to increase the energy efficiency of the overall electrical installation. The results of the study show the positive outcomes in overall cost reduction when compared to the conventional approach used for the designing of low voltage installation distribution systems.