Distribution feeder reliability assessment

Historical distribution feeder reliability assessment generally summarizes discrete interruption events occurring at specific locations over specific time periods; whereas, predictive assessment estimates the long-run behavior of systems by combining component failure rates and repair (restoration) times that describe the central tendency of an entire distribution of possible values with feeder configurations. The outage time due to component failures can substantially be reduced by protection and sectionalizing schemes. The time required to isolating a faulted component by isolation and switching action is known as switching or restoration time. Provision of alternate supply in radial networks normally enhances the load point reliability. Fuse gears usually protect the lateral distributors connected to the customers. This paper presents a reliability methodology to improve the distribution feeder reliability performance using a simple illustrative feeder configuration.