An energy router can effectively optimize the network loss and power quality of distribution networks. The optimal configuration of the energy router is relatively complex because issues dynamically influence each other

such as the location of the energy router

optimal number and capacity of its ports

and building new distribution lines for the ports. Presently

there has been very few research studies on the practical problems for the energy router. In this paper

a planning model of an energy router combined with the distribution network is established

which fully exploits the active and reactive power control abilities of the energy router to optimize the operation of the grid. The configuration problem is decoupled into two stages. The upper layer determines the location of the energy router and the parameters of the candidate new distribution lines for the ports. The lower layer calculates the optimal configuration of the energy router by minimizing the total annual cost. Because of the same rated bus voltage in the distribution network

the existing structure of the energy router is changed to be more applicable for the distribution network

and then the power flow model of the energy router is also modified. Due to the nonlinearity of the model

the planning model is converted into a mixed-integer second-order cone model to solve efficiently. In addition

some core factors influencing the optimal scheme of the energy router are also analyzed in this paper. Simulation results show that the optimal scheme of the energy router can significantly improve the economic deployment of the energy router

and optimize the network loss and power quality of the distribution network.