<p>Detta examensarbete beskriver hur en Monte Carlo simulering (MCS) kan användas för tillförlitlighetsanalys av ett eldistributionssystem. Metoden har implementerats i verktyget RADPOW som nu kan utföra både analytiska och numeriska beräkningar. Angreppssättet för att utveckla denna MCS metod i RADPOW innefattade följande aktiviteter:</p><p>• Vidareutvecklade av RADPOW med införandet av ett grafiskt användargränssnitt för Windows.</p><p>• Utveckling och implementering av en iterativ analytisk metod för känslighetsanalys av eldistributionssystem i RADPOW.</p><p>• Utveckling och implementering av MCS metoden i RADPOW, vilken placerades i en fristående modul kallad Sim.</p><p>Den implementerade MCS metoden har validerats i en jämförande studie innefattande två testsystem med datorprogrammet NEPLAN. Resultat från denna studie visar att MCS metoden ger samma resultat som den analytiska metoden i RADPOW och det kommersiella verktyget NEPLAN.</p> / <p>This master thesis describes an implementation of a Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method for reliability assessment of electrical distribution systems. The method has been implemented in the reliability assessment tool RADPOW which now is able to perform both analytical and simulation evaluations. The main contributions within this thesis includes the following activities;</p><p>• Further development of RADPOW by the introducing of a graphical user interface for Windows.</p><p>• Development and implementation of an analytical sensitivity analysis routine for RADPOW.</p><p>• Development and implementation of a sequential MCS method in RADPOW in a stand alone module referred to as Sim.</p><p>The implemented MCS method has been validated in a comparable study for two case systems by a commercial software NEPLAN. Results shows that the implemented MCS method provides the same results as the analytical method in RADPOW and the NEPLAN software.</p>

The Eskom East Grid Traction Network (EGTN) supplying traction loads and distribution networks has experienced at least one surge arrester failure over the past ten years. These failures results in poor network reliability and customer dissatisfactions which are often overlooked. This is because reliability indices used in the reliability evaluation of transmission and distribution networks are different. It is suspected that fast transient faults in this network initiate system faults leading to surge arrester design parameter exceedances and poor network insulation coordination. Preliminary investigations in network suggest that transient studies were not done during network planning and design stages. This may have resulted in the lack of surge arrester parameter evaluations under transient conditions leading to improper surge arresters being selected and installed in this network resulting in surge arrester failures that are now evident. These failures may also have been exacerbated by the dynamic nature of traction loads as they are highly unbalanced, have poor power factors and emit high voltage distortions. Poor in-service conditions such as defects, insulation partial discharges and overheating, bolted faults in the network and quality of supply emissions can also contribute to surge arrester failures. To address problems arising with different reliability indices in these networks the reliability of the EGTN is evaluated. In this work the reliability evaluation of the EGTN is done by computing common distribution reliability indices using analytic and simulation methods. This is done by applying the analytic method in the EGTN by assessing network failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) when the surge arrester fails in this network. The simulation method is applied by applying and modifying the MATLAB code proposed by Shavuka et al. [1]. These reliability indices are then compared with transmission reliability indices over the same period. This attempts to standardize reliability evaluations in these networks. To assess the impact of transient faults in the surge arrester parameter evaluation the EGTN is modelled and simulated by initiating transient faults sequentially in the network at different nodes and under different loading conditions. This is done by using Power System Blockset (PSB), Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT) and Alternate Transient Program (ATP) simulation tools and computing important surge arrester parameters i.e. continuous operating voltage, rated voltage, discharge current and energy absorption capability (EAC). These parameters are assessed by in the EGTN by evaluating computed surge arrester parameters against parameters provided by manufacturers, the Eskom 88 kV surge arrester specification and those parameters recommended in IEC 60099-4. To assess the impact and contribution of in-service conditions, faults and quality of supply emissions in surge arrester failures these contributing factors are investigated by assessing infra-red scans, fault analysis reports, results of the sampled faulted surge arrester in this network and quality of supply parameters around the time of failures. This study found that Eskom transmission and distribution network reliability indices can be standardized as distribution reliability indices i.e. SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI, ASAI and ASUI indices are similar to Eskom transmission indices i.e. SM, NOI, circuit availability index and circuit unavailability index respectively. Transient simulations in this study showed that certain surge arresters in the EGTN had their rated surge arrester parameters exceeded under certain transient conditions and loading conditions. These surge arresters failed as their discharge currents and EACs were exceeded under heavy and light network loading conditions. This study concluded that surge arresters whose discharge currents and EACs exceeded were improperly evaluated and selected prior to their installations in the EGTN. This study found the EAC to be the most import parameter in surge arrester performance evaluations. The Eskom 88 kV surge arrester specification was found to be inadequate, inaccurate and ambiguous as a number of inconsistencies in the usage of IEEE and IEC classified systems terminology were found. It was concluded that these inconsistencies may have led to confusions for manufacturers during surge arrester designs and selections in the EGTN. The evaluation of fault reports showed that two surge arrester failures in this network were caused by hardware failures such as conductor failure and poor network operating as the line was continuously closed onto a fault. There was no evidence that poor in-service and quality of supply emissions contributed to surge arrester failures in this network. PSB, PSAT and ATP simulation tools were found adequate in modelling and simulating the EGTN. However the PSB tool was found to be slow as the network expanded and the PSAT required user defined surge arrester models requiring detailed manufacture data sheets which are not readily available. ATP was found to be superior in terms of speed and accuracy in comparison to the PSB and PSAT tools. The MATLAB code proposed by Shavuka et al. [1] was found to be suitable and accurate in assessing transmission networks as EGTN's reliability indices computed from this code were comparable to benchmarked Eskom distribution reliability indices. The work carried out in this research will assist in improving surge arrester performance evaluations, the current surge arrester specification and surge arrester selections. Simulation tools utilized in this work show great potential in achieving this. Reliability studies conducted in this work will assist in standardizing reliability indices between Eskom's transmission and distribution divisions. In-service condition assessment carried out in this work will improve surge arrester condition monitoring and preventive maintenance practices.

<p>U disertaciji je predstavljen pristup zasnovan na algoritmu mešovitog celobrojnog linearnog programiranja (MILP) za određivanje optimalnog broja, tipa i lokacije uređaja za automatizaciju distributivne mreže. Ugradnja različitih tipova nove opreme (daljinski kontrolisani reklozeri, sekcioneri i indikatori prolaska struje kvara) kao i relokacija postojeće opreme su istovremeno razmatrani. Prilikom određivanja optimalnog scenarija za automatizaciju, predloženi pristup uvažava troškove ispada potrošača/proizvođača usled trenutnih, kratkotrajnih i dugotrajnih ispada, najčešće korišćene pokazatelje pouzdanosti (SAIFI, SAIDI, MAIFI, i ASIDI) kao i troškove distributivnog preduzeća, asocirane uređajima za automatizaciju i ekipama koje su uključene u proces rešavanja prekida napajanja.<br />Dakle, osnovni cilj ove disertacije je, da se napravi model zasnovan na mešovitom celobrojnom linearnom programiranju koji će omogućiti određivanje najboljeg scenarija za automatizaciju distributivne mreže u slučajevima kada se ocena kvaliteta isporuke definiše preko pokazatelja pouzdanosti, preko troškova usled prekida napajanja ili kombinacijom ova dva pokazatelja.</p> / <p>The dissertation presents a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) based approach for determining the optimal number, type and location of automation devices to be installed in the network by considering different types of devices simultaneously (remotely controlled circuit breakers/reclosers, sectionalizing switches, remotely supervised fault passage indicators). Simultaneously, it determines the new (optimal) locations of the automation devices that already exist in the network. In determining the most effective network automation scenario, the proposed approach takes into account the outage cost of consumers/producers due to momentary, short-term, and long-term interruptions, the commonly used network reliability indices (SAIFI, SAIDI, MAIFI, and ASIDI) as well as the cost of automation devices and the cost of crews. It provides the best network automation scenario in distribution systems if the network reliability indices are used for measuring the distribution system reliability, if cost of interruptions is defined to all consumers/producers, and if both approaches (criteria) are used.</p>

Detta examensarbete beskriver hur en Monte Carlo simulering (MCS) kan användas för tillförlitlighetsanalys av ett eldistributionssystem. Metoden har implementerats i verktyget RADPOW som nu kan utföra både analytiska och numeriska beräkningar. Angreppssättet för att utveckla denna MCS metod i RADPOW innefattade följande aktiviteter: • Vidareutvecklade av RADPOW med införandet av ett grafiskt användargränssnitt för Windows. • Utveckling och implementering av en iterativ analytisk metod för känslighetsanalys av eldistributionssystem i RADPOW. • Utveckling och implementering av MCS metoden i RADPOW, vilken placerades i en fristående modul kallad Sim. Den implementerade MCS metoden har validerats i en jämförande studie innefattande två testsystem med datorprogrammet NEPLAN. Resultat från denna studie visar att MCS metoden ger samma resultat som den analytiska metoden i RADPOW och det kommersiella verktyget NEPLAN. / This master thesis describes an implementation of a Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method for reliability assessment of electrical distribution systems. The method has been implemented in the reliability assessment tool RADPOW which now is able to perform both analytical and simulation evaluations. The main contributions within this thesis includes the following activities; • Further development of RADPOW by the introducing of a graphical user interface for Windows. • Development and implementation of an analytical sensitivity analysis routine for RADPOW. • Development and implementation of a sequential MCS method in RADPOW in a stand alone module referred to as Sim. The implemented MCS method has been validated in a comparable study for two case systems by a commercial software NEPLAN. Results shows that the implemented MCS method provides the same results as the analytical method in RADPOW and the NEPLAN software.

Orientador: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Resumo: A grande maioria dos sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica opera de forma radial. Isso significa que cada carga é alimentada por apenas uma subestação por meio de um único caminho. Entretanto, as redes de distribuição apresentam estrutura malhada, de forma que, caso uma contingência ocorra, o restabelecimento do fornecimento possa ser realizado para o maior número possível de consumidores. Os trabalhos que lidam com o problema de planejamento da expansão de sistemas de distribuição, no entanto, geralmente consideram a expansão do sistema para apenas uma topologia radial, sem levar em conta aspectos da restauração do fornecimento para melhoria dos índices de confiabilidade. Nesse contexto, este trabalho aborda o planejamento de sistemas de distribuição considerando aspectos econômicos e de confiabilidade, de forma a incluir a restauração do fornecimento no problema de planejamento da expansão. Na formulação do problema considera-se a expansão de novas subestações, o reforço de subestações existentes, a construção de novos alimentadores em novos caminhos, a troca de condutores existentes e a alocação de geradores distribuídos, além de expansão multiestágio e restauração do fornecimento para melhoria dos índices de confiabilidade. Dois métodos alternativos são propostos para resolver o problema descrito: o primeiro considera modelos matemáticos com diversos graus de precisão, para serem resolvidos por métodos exatos, e o segundo é uma meta-heurística de busca e vizinhança... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The vast majority of electricity distribution systems are operated radially. This means that each load is supplied by only one substation through a single path. However, distribution networks have a meshed structure so that, in the case of a contingency, the supply is restored to as many customers as possible. The works that deal with the distribution systems expansion planning problem, however, generally consider the expansion of the system for only one radial topology, disregarding the restoration aspects to improve reliability indices. In this context, this work deals with the planning of distribution systems considering economic and reliability aspects, to include the service restoration in the planning problem. In the formulation of the problem, it is considered the expansion of new substations, the reinforcement of existing substations, the construction of new feeders in new paths, the exchange of existing conductors, and the allocation of distribution generation, besides multistage expansion and service restoration to improve the reliability indices of the system. Two alternative methods are proposed to solve the described problem: the first one considers relaxed or approximated mathematical models to be solved by exact methods, and the second one is a variable neighborhood search metaheuristic, which solves the complete model for the problem approximately, without guarantee of optimality. The initial solution of the metaheuristic is generated by a strategy that constr... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor