Reliability and restoration are important considerations in electric distribution systems. Reliability analysis is generally considered as a design tool to be used to improve the performance of the system. Restoration analysis is generally considered as a tool to be used for outaged situations. Reliability and restoration analysis are related, and some of the relationships are pointed to in this work. / Ph. D.

This dissertation focuses on two specific problems related to the reliability of the modern power grid. The first part investigates the economic dispatch problem with uncertain power sources. The classic economic dispatch problem seeks generator power output levels that meet demand most efficiently; we add risk-awareness to this by explicitly modeling the uncertainty of intermittent power sources using chance-constrained optimization and incorporating the chance constraints into the standard optimal power flow framework. The result is a dispatch of power which is substantially more robust to random fluctuations with only a small increase in economic cost. Furthermore, it uses an algorithm which is only moderately slower than the conventional practice. The second part investigates “the power grid attack problem”: aiming to maximize disruption to the grid, how should an attacker distribute a budget of “damage” across the power lines? We formulate it as a continuous problem, which bypasses the combinatorial explosion of a discrete formulation and allows for interesting attacks containing lines that are only partially damaged rather than completely removed. The result of our solution to the attack problem can provide helpful information to grid planners seeking to improve the resilience of the power grid to outages and disturbances. Both parts of this dissertation include extensive experimental results on a number of cases, including many realistic large-scale instances.

This dissertation is a systematic study of the 22kV Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) electricity power distribution network reliability evaluation and improvements to be applied. Reliability evaluation of electric power systems has traditionally been an integral part of planning and operation. Changes in the electricity utility, coupled with aging electrical apparatus, create a need for more realistic techniques for power system reliability modelling. This work presents a reliability evaluation technique that combines set literature and evaluation criteria. In analysing system reliability, this research takes into account the reasons for many outages and voltage dips and seeks to find mitigating approaches that are financially justified. The study analyses the power system in terms of the methodology developed, using power system reliability techniques, power quality evaluation, protection analyses and evaluating the network against maintenance interventions and programs, manpower availability and weather conditions contributing to the outages. In evaluating the power system various techniques are used to determine if the power network operates within the NRS standards, namely, reliability calculations, testing of protection equipment, interrogation of power quality instruments and modeling the network on Digsilent. This study will look at all the important factors influencing power system reliability, analysing the network in terms of the methodology and recommend improvements.

Os dispositivos Indicadores de Faltas (IFs) contribuem para a melhoria do processo de localização de faltas em alimentadores de distribuição e, consequentemente, para a qualidade do fornecimento de energia elétrica. Todavia, a grande dificuldade de se aplicar tais dispositivos em larga escala está na escassez de metodologias eficientes que apontem em quais pontos do sistema de distribuição eles devem ser instalados. Por isso, o presente trabalho propõe uma abordagem computacional evolutiva capaz de alocar dispositivos IFs em alimentadores primários de distribuição de energia elétrica. De forma mais específica, o problema de se obter o melhor local de instalação é solucionado por meio da técnica de Algoritmos Genéticos (AGs), que busca obter uma configuração eficiente de instalação de IFs no tronco principal do alimentador de distribuição. A metodologia proposta é aplicada a dois alimentadores reais. Aspectos de viabilidade técnica e financeira dos IFs também são analisados. Os resultados apresentados comprovam a eficiência da metodologia proposta. / Fault Indicator (FIs) devices have contributed to improve the location of faults on primary feeders, and consequently the reliability of distribution systems. However, one of the main problems facing their installation in a large scale in a distribution system is the lack of efficient methods to analyze big networks and to pinpoint exactly on which buses these devices should be placed. Thus, this paper proposes an evolutionary computing strategy to solve the problem of fault indicator placement in primary distribution feeders. Specifically, a genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to search for an efficient configuration of FIs, located at the best positions in the main feeder. The proposed methodology was applied in two actual distribution feeders. Technical and financial viability aspects are also analyzed. Finally, the results confirm the efficiency of the GA approach to the FI placement problem.

Os dispositivos Indicadores de Faltas (IFs) contribuem para a melhoria do processo de localização de faltas em alimentadores de distribuição e, consequentemente, para a qualidade do fornecimento de energia elétrica. Todavia, a grande dificuldade de se aplicar tais dispositivos em larga escala está na escassez de metodologias eficientes que apontem em quais pontos do sistema de distribuição eles devem ser instalados. Por isso, o presente trabalho propõe uma abordagem computacional evolutiva capaz de alocar dispositivos IFs em alimentadores primários de distribuição de energia elétrica. De forma mais específica, o problema de se obter o melhor local de instalação é solucionado por meio da técnica de Algoritmos Genéticos (AGs), que busca obter uma configuração eficiente de instalação de IFs no tronco principal do alimentador de distribuição. A metodologia proposta é aplicada a dois alimentadores reais. Aspectos de viabilidade técnica e financeira dos IFs também são analisados. Os resultados apresentados comprovam a eficiência da metodologia proposta. / Fault Indicator (FIs) devices have contributed to improve the location of faults on primary feeders, and consequently the reliability of distribution systems. However, one of the main problems facing their installation in a large scale in a distribution system is the lack of efficient methods to analyze big networks and to pinpoint exactly on which buses these devices should be placed. Thus, this paper proposes an evolutionary computing strategy to solve the problem of fault indicator placement in primary distribution feeders. Specifically, a genetic algorithm (GA) is employed to search for an efficient configuration of FIs, located at the best positions in the main feeder. The proposed methodology was applied in two actual distribution feeders. Technical and financial viability aspects are also analyzed. Finally, the results confirm the efficiency of the GA approach to the FI placement problem.

In power utilities the subject reliability is a permanent worry. In this new context, some solutions have been developed and researched to an alternative to improve the performance on service restoration when there are consumers without power supply. Among possible solutions the installation of remotely-controlled switches represents a solution that has been adopted by many companies due its cost benefit. The allocation of these devices is essential to assess the different criterions and characteristics, so the use of multi-criteria decision making to evaluate these characteristics and especially to allow the measurement of expert s opinion in power distribution systems is essential. Therefore, the objective of this work is to propose a new methodology for the allocation of these devices in electric distribution systems based on AHP - Analytic Hierarchy Process decision making for validation of the best locations to install theses device. The contribution and innovation of this work consist in adding to the allocation methodology a validation of expert opinion, discarding those that present a very low consistency and thus making the final answer more exact and in accordance with the proposal, through a variation of the AHP methodology. / Em empresas de sistemas de potência a confiabilidade é uma preocupação constante. Nesse novo contexto, algumas soluções têm sido desenvolvidas e pesquisadas como alternativa para melhorar sua performance em propiciar um retorno do fornecimento de energia elétrica aos seus consumidores quando estes estão desenergizados. Dentre as soluções possíveis, a instalação de chaves telecomandadas tem representado uma solução cada vez mais adotada por várias empresas de energia devido ao seu custo benefício. Na alocação desses equipamentos é essencial considerar diferentes critérios e características, desta maneira o uso de uma metodologia de decisão multicriterial é necessário e especialmente para permitir a mensuração da opinião de especialistas do setor de sistemas de distribuição. Então, o objetivo desse trabalho é propor uma nova metodologia de alocação desses dispositivos em sistemas de distribuição de energia baseado na metodologia de tomada de decisão AHP - Analytic Hierarchy Process para validação das melhores localizações para instalar esses equipamentos. A grande contribuição e inovação desse trabalho consiste apresentar uma metodologia de alocação desses equipamentos, uma validação da opinião dos especialistas, descartando aquelas que apresentam uma baixa consistência e desta forma tornando a resposta final mais exata e de acordo com o proposto, através de uma variação da metodologia AHP.