Distribution System Reliability Analysis for Smart Grid Applications

Abstract

Reliability of power systems is a key aspect in modern power system planning, design, and operation. The ascendance of the smart grid concept has provided high hopes of developing an intelligent network that is capable of being a self-healing grid, offering the ability to overcome the interruption problems that face the utility and cost it tens of millions in repair and loss. In this work, we will examine the effect of the smart grid applications in improving the reliability of the power distribution networks. The test system used in this paper is the IEEE 34 node test feeder, released in 2003 by the Distribution System Analysis Subcommittee of the IEEE Power Engineering Society. The objective is to analyze the feeder for the optimal placement of the automatic switching devices and quantify their proper installation based on the performance of the distribution system. The measures will be the changes in the reliability system indices including SAIDI, SAIFI, and EUE. In addition, the goal is to design and simulate the effect of the installation of the Distributed Generators (DGs) on the utility’s distribution system and measure the potential improvement of its reliability.