A power system is normally composed of a large number of generators and transmission lines that are connected through switching stations and substations. The quality and availability of power supply to the customer is highly dependent on the performance of the station equipment. Research shows that station related outages can have considerable impact on the composite system reliability. The individual station components, the station configurations and the terminal connection topologies are important factors in bulk system reliability evaluation. The major components in a station are circuit breakers, bus bars and transformers and these elements are periodically removed from service in order to conduct preventive maintenance. The removal of equipment for maintenance creates a change in the station configuration and a more vulnerable system. The failure of a related major component during a station preventive maintenance outage can result in a system disturbance and customer load loss. The bulk of the existing infrastructure of most electric power systems has been installed over the last 30 to 50 years. Aging failures of system components are a growing issue in modern electric power systems. Station related preventive maintenance outages and aging failures are important factors that affect the system reliability. This thesis examines the reliability implications of station related outages, including maintenance outages and aging outages in basic station configurations using two practical test systems. Models and techniques are created to incorporate these outages in composite system reliability evaluation. The techniques presented and the quantitative analyses illustrated in this thesis provide valuable information for a wide range of system planning, design, reinforcement and maintenance applications, including design and modification of power stations and station maintenance planning.

This thesis presents the development of a new method for incorporating station related outages in composite or bulk system reliability analysis. Station related failures can cause multiple component outages that can propagate to other parts of the network resulting in severe damages. In order to minimize the effects of station related outages on the composite system performance it is necessary for the designer to assess their effects. This task can be achieved by including station related outages in the composite system evaluation. Monte Carlo simulation is used in this research to assess composite system reliability. The new method described in this thesis is used to include station related outages in the reliability evaluation of two composite test systems. This new method is relatively simple and can be used to consider multiple component outages due to station related failures in composite system reliability evaluation. In this approach, the effects of station related outages are combined with the connected terminal failure parameters. Reliability studies conducted on the two composite test systems demonstrates that station failures significantly affect the system performance. The system reliability can be improved by selecting appropriate station configurations. This is illustrated by application to the two composite test systems.

This thesis presents the development of a new method for incorporating station related outages in composite or bulk system reliability analysis. Station related failures can cause multiple component outages that can propagate to other parts of the network resulting in severe damages. In order to minimize the effects of station related outages on the composite system performance it is necessary for the designer to assess their effects. This task can be achieved by including station related outages in the composite system evaluation. Monte Carlo simulation is used in this research to assess composite system reliability. The new method described in this thesis is used to include station related outages in the reliability evaluation of two composite test systems. This new method is relatively simple and can be used to consider multiple component outages due to station related failures in composite system reliability evaluation. In this approach, the effects of station related outages are combined with the connected terminal failure parameters. Reliability studies conducted on the two composite test systems demonstrates that station failures significantly affect the system performance. The system reliability can be improved by selecting appropriate station configurations. This is illustrated by application to the two composite test systems.

A power system is normally composed of a large number of generators and transmission lines that are connected through switching stations and substations. The quality and availability of power supply to the customer is highly dependent on the performance of the station equipment. Research shows that station related outages can have considerable impact on the composite system reliability. The individual station components, the station configurations and the terminal connection topologies are important factors in bulk system reliability evaluation. The major components in a station are circuit breakers, bus bars and transformers and these elements are periodically removed from service in order to conduct preventive maintenance. The removal of equipment for maintenance creates a change in the station configuration and a more vulnerable system. The failure of a related major component during a station preventive maintenance outage can result in a system disturbance and customer load loss. The bulk of the existing infrastructure of most electric power systems has been installed over the last 30 to 50 years. Aging failures of system components are a growing issue in modern electric power systems. Station related preventive maintenance outages and aging failures are important factors that affect the system reliability. This thesis examines the reliability implications of station related outages, including maintenance outages and aging outages in basic station configurations using two practical test systems. Models and techniques are created to incorporate these outages in composite system reliability evaluation. The techniques presented and the quantitative analyses illustrated in this thesis provide valuable information for a wide range of system planning, design, reinforcement and maintenance applications, including design and modification of power stations and station maintenance planning.

No description available.

The reliability of supply in a bulk electricity system is directly related to the availability of the generation and transmission facilities. In a conventional vertically integrated system these facilities are usually owned and operated by a single company. In the new deregulated utility environment, these facilities could be owned and operated by a number of independent organizations. In this case, the overall system reliability is the responsibility of an independent system operator (ISO). The load point and system reliabilities are a function of the capacities and availabilities of the generation and transmission facilities and the system topology. This research examines the effect of equipment unavailability on the load point and system reliability of two test systems. The unavailabilities of specific generation and transmission facilities have major impacts on the load point and system reliabilities. These impacts are not uniform throughout the system and are highly dependent on the overall system topology and the operational philosophy of the system. Contingency evaluation is a basic planning and operating procedure and different contingencies can have quite different system and load point impacts. The risk levels associated with a given contingency cannot be estimated using deterministic criteria. The studies presented in this thesis estimate the risk associated with each case using probability techniques and rank the cases based on the predicted risk levels. This information should assist power system managers and planners to make objective decisions regarding reliability and cost. Composite system preventive maintenance scheduling is a challenging task. The functional separation of generation and transmission in the new market environment creates operational and scheduling problems related to maintenance. Maintenance schedules must be coordinated through an independent entity (ISO) to assure reliable and economical service. The methods adopted by an ISO to coordinate planned outages are normally based on traditional load flow and stability analysis and deterministic operating criteria. A new method designated as the maintenance coordination technique (MCT) is proposed in this thesis to coordinate maintenance scheduling. The research work illustrated in this thesis indicates that probabilistic criteria and techniques for composite power system analysis can be effectively utilized in both vertically integrated and deregulated utility systems. The conclusions and the techniques presented in this thesis should prove valuable to those responsible for system planning and maintenance coordination.

The reliability of supply in a bulk electricity system is directly related to the availability of the generation and transmission facilities. In a conventional vertically integrated system these facilities are usually owned and operated by a single company. In the new deregulated utility environment, these facilities could be owned and operated by a number of independent organizations. In this case, the overall system reliability is the responsibility of an independent system operator (ISO). The load point and system reliabilities are a function of the capacities and availabilities of the generation and transmission facilities and the system topology. This research examines the effect of equipment unavailability on the load point and system reliability of two test systems. The unavailabilities of specific generation and transmission facilities have major impacts on the load point and system reliabilities. These impacts are not uniform throughout the system and are highly dependent on the overall system topology and the operational philosophy of the system. Contingency evaluation is a basic planning and operating procedure and different contingencies can have quite different system and load point impacts. The risk levels associated with a given contingency cannot be estimated using deterministic criteria. The studies presented in this thesis estimate the risk associated with each case using probability techniques and rank the cases based on the predicted risk levels. This information should assist power system managers and planners to make objective decisions regarding reliability and cost. Composite system preventive maintenance scheduling is a challenging task. The functional separation of generation and transmission in the new market environment creates operational and scheduling problems related to maintenance. Maintenance schedules must be coordinated through an independent entity (ISO) to assure reliable and economical service. The methods adopted by an ISO to coordinate planned outages are normally based on traditional load flow and stability analysis and deterministic operating criteria. A new method designated as the maintenance coordination technique (MCT) is proposed in this thesis to coordinate maintenance scheduling. The research work illustrated in this thesis indicates that probabilistic criteria and techniques for composite power system analysis can be effectively utilized in both vertically integrated and deregulated utility systems. The conclusions and the techniques presented in this thesis should prove valuable to those responsible for system planning and maintenance coordination.

The basic function of an electric power system is to supply its customers with electric energy as economically as possible and with a reasonable degree of continuity and quality. Power system reliability evaluation techniques are now highly developed through the work of many researchers and engineers. It is expected that the application of power system reliability evaluation in bulk power systems will continue to increase in the future especially in the newly deregulated power industry. This thesis presents research conducted on the three areas of incorporating multi-state generating unit models, evaluating system performance indices and identifying transmission deficiencies in composite system adequacy assessment. The research was done using a previously developed software package designated as MECORE. Many generating companies in both the traditionally regulated and newly deregulated electrical power industry have large generating units that can operate in one or more derated states. In this research work, load point and system reliability indices are evaluated using two-state and multi-state generating unit models to examine the impact of incorporating multi-state generating unit models in composite system adequacy assessment. The intention behind deregulation in the power industry is to increase competition in order to obtain better service quality and lower production costs. This research illustrates how Canadian power systems have performed in the past using data compiled by the Canadian Electricity Association. A procedure to predict similar indices is presented and used to estimate future performance and the effects of system modifications. The incentives for market participants to invest in new generation and transmission facilities are highly influenced by the market risk in a deregulation environment. An adequate transmission system is a key element in a dynamic competitive market. This thesis presents a procedure to identify transmission deficiencies in composite generation and transmission system. The research work illustrated in this thesis is focused on the application of probabilistic techniques in composite system adequacy assessment and particularly in the newly deregulated electric power industry. The conclusions and the techniques presented should prove valuable to those responsible for power system planning.

The basic function of an electric power system is to supply its customers with electric energy as economically as possible and with a reasonable degree of continuity and quality. Power system reliability evaluation techniques are now highly developed through the work of many researchers and engineers. It is expected that the application of power system reliability evaluation in bulk power systems will continue to increase in the future especially in the newly deregulated power industry. This thesis presents research conducted on the three areas of incorporating multi-state generating unit models, evaluating system performance indices and identifying transmission deficiencies in composite system adequacy assessment. The research was done using a previously developed software package designated as MECORE. Many generating companies in both the traditionally regulated and newly deregulated electrical power industry have large generating units that can operate in one or more derated states. In this research work, load point and system reliability indices are evaluated using two-state and multi-state generating unit models to examine the impact of incorporating multi-state generating unit models in composite system adequacy assessment. The intention behind deregulation in the power industry is to increase competition in order to obtain better service quality and lower production costs. This research illustrates how Canadian power systems have performed in the past using data compiled by the Canadian Electricity Association. A procedure to predict similar indices is presented and used to estimate future performance and the effects of system modifications. The incentives for market participants to invest in new generation and transmission facilities are highly influenced by the market risk in a deregulation environment. An adequate transmission system is a key element in a dynamic competitive market. This thesis presents a procedure to identify transmission deficiencies in composite generation and transmission system. The research work illustrated in this thesis is focused on the application of probabilistic techniques in composite system adequacy assessment and particularly in the newly deregulated electric power industry. The conclusions and the techniques presented should prove valuable to those responsible for power system planning.

This master’s thesis applies dielectric relaxation spectroscopy to analyse impact of climatic changes on dielectric properties of composite material samples (TSA 220S varnish combined with 60.030 mica). Experiments aim to analyse effect of mica composite mass ratio (0, 4, 8 and 16 % of mica), relative humidity (0, 33, 55, 65, 75 and 95 %) and temperature (23, 30, 40 and 50 C) on complex permitivity as a function of frequency.