Evaluation of electric grid automation under flood hazards

Electric grid automation is designed so that any single component failure can be isolated, and that supply can be quickly restored to the remainder of the network. However, environmental hazards such as flooding may cause the failure of several components in the grid, resulting in an unforeseen loss of power. Automation may be helpful in limiting the consequences of environmental hazards, but no methods exist for assessing grid automation against plausible hazards. Such a method is proposed in this paper. An underground electric grid, its automation and flood in the environment are simulated, and interfaces are defined so that flood, steam and condensing water may damage components in the grid simulation.