Some Effects of Conceptual Design Principles on Power System Reliability

System reliability is to a considerable extent influenced by the manner in which individual system components are interconnected and the protective functions are incorporated into the design. How well these factors have been considered in the design stage will come to light only in the presence of a system disturbance since most systems, even the substandard ones, usually operate fairly successfully in the steady-state condition. The real test of a reliable system, however, is measured by its transient performance; that is, the ability to 1) remove only the faulted circuit; 2) remove the fault quickly to help assure that the remainder of the system will be transiently stable; and 3) clear the fault completely.