Topological analysis of unbalanced distribution networks with single‐phase switching equipment and temporary elements

Summary A need to minimize the duration of outages in weakly meshed distribution networks leads to the intensive application of single‐phase switching equipment and temporary elements. The result creates a wide range of allowed, but not typical, network topologies such as cross‐phase jumpers, meshed islands, pseudo loops, and bidirectional branches, which cannot be processed in a simple/efficient way with existing algorithms for topological analyses. This paper proposes improvement of the traditional practice in distribution network modeling and topological analysis by using the phase granular adjacent matrix model with static and dynamic data, which provides a simple and efficient update of the mathematical model after switching and temporary element application. Additionally, the proposed algorithm provides a wide range of topological information such as network‐layered structure, tracing, islands, energization, and active network phases. The results of the proposed algorithm are shown in an 84‐bus test and 502,113‐bus real‐world schemes of unbalanced distribution networks.