Condition assessment for optimal planning and operation of power systems with the aid of ageing models

In times where the reduction of the yearly expenditures of utilities and therefore the optimal assignment of assets have a very high priority, the knowledge about future expenditures of the following 40 or 45 years is very useful. This paper shows a method to calculate the yearly capital and operational expenditures CAPEX and OPEX, respectively with the aid of ageing models consisting of different condition states. Furthermore, a procedure in order to calculate the required transition rates between successive condition states will be described, and the calculated values will be verified. The ageing model is useful for planning and operation of power systems under market conditions. The main advantage results from considering both the condition as well as the age of the assets in a power system. Therefore the asset manager receives lifelike results over a certain time horizon. The simulations will be performed by means of an appropriate system dynamics software.