Optimization of distribution automation in urban networks

Abstract

Distribution automation (DA) is one of the key elements in mitigating the inconvenience caused by network faults in city distribution networks. DA is targeted at shortening the interruption time once the fault has occurred. In this paper, the planning approach relies on the comparison between the customer interruption costs (CIC) and coverage of DA in urban networks. Also the effects of substation outages to the benefit of distribution automation are evaluated. The major outcome of the study is the creation of flexible and accurate optimization of distribution automation in urban networks. The method is especially suitable and usable for those utilities, which has both network and customer data in the Geographical Information System (GIS) or Network Information System (NIS).