Traditional manual phase adjustment technology has limitations in maintaining long-term three-phase balance, and the large-scale integration of new energy into low-voltage distribution networks further exacerbates the challenges of voltage limit violations and imbalance mitigation. This paper presents the design of a flexible self-balancing switch to convert single-phase loads into three-phase equivalents and proposes a configuration strategy for intelligent phase-shifting switches (IPSs) and flexible self-balancing switches (FSBSs) in distribution areas based on an improved ivy optimization algorithm. First, users are classified and their features are extracted. Then, the data features are integrated as boundary constraints for the switch siting model to form a candidate location set. An optimization model for switch configuration is constructed with the objectives of minimizing the three-phase-imbalance rate and maximizing lifecycle economic benefits. The ivy optimization algorithm is improved to achieve efficient solving of the model. Validated with measured data from a 10 kV distribution area of a power supply company, the proposed scheme can maintain the imbalance rate below 2%, reduce the voltage violation rate, and decrease the number of installed switches, thereby balancing the operational economy of distribution areas with improved power supply quality.
Wáng et al. (2026) studied this question.