A novel framework for resilient overhead power distribution networks

Abstract

The natural disasters that are classified as high impact low probability (HILP) events have a major effect on the power system infrastructure, in particular, the overhead power distribution networks (OPDNs) causing significant challenges in maintaining continuity of service to critical loads (CLs). A resilient OPDN should maintain operational normalcy by quickly absorbing, adapting and recovering from the HILP events resulting in an improved customer satisfaction through continuity of electricity supply and minimal safety hazards. Modern OPDS predominantly consists of overhead electric lines and poles with diverse characteristics by virtue of their age, maintenance, location etc. Unlike the normal operating conditions, quick and accurate decision making from the network operator becomes very critical in maintaining the resiliency of a OPDN during HILP events. This paper proposes a novel framework for resiliency assessment, quantification, enabling and enhancement that facilitates resilient reconfiguration of an OPDN during HILP events. Two novel physical system metrics with multiple sub- factors specific to the overhead networks are also proposed for resiliency assessment followed by resiliency quantification using diamond pairwise comparison, kth-order additive fuzzy measure and Choquet integral. The resiliency enabling and enhancement algorithms for contingency scenarios as well as cost-benefit analysis for network planning strategies are presented in this work. The novel resiliency framework presented in this work is used to enable the resiliency of a OPDN and provide the relevant information about the feasible network options with their resiliency value. The performance of the proposed framework is illustrated on the 415V OPDN in Nayabad area of the CESC Limited, Kolkata, India through simulation case studies.