Reliability Enhancement and Power Loss Reduction in Distribution System by Optimal Reconfiguration (A case study of Kombolcha Distribution Network)

Abstract

The purpose of power system is to provide an adequate and secured electrical supply to its customers as economical as possible with reasonable level of reliability. In distribution system, reliability and power loss are the major issues for the consumers and utility. This thesis presents a research work on the reliability assessment and optimal reconfiguration of Kombolcha radial distribution network to minimize the overall distribution losses, to enhance reliability and improve the voltage profile by using a proposed MSSO algorithm and ETAP. In the power flow analysis, the effectiveness of the proposed MSSO algorithm is conducted and compared in two cases (before reconfiguration and after reconfiguration) of Kombolcha distribution at line-3, which is severe. A modeling of electrical system elements were first developed to have a complete single line diagram of the existing network using ETAP. The reliability enhancement is measured and analysis by different reliability indices that include SAIFI, SAIDI and EENS. Reliability index values have been compared with standard benchmark values and comparison clearly indicates that Kombolcha feeder-3 distribution system is extremely unreliable. Generally, after optimal reconfiguration of the network, power loss of the system is minimized by 60%, SAIFI has been reduced by 85% as compared with the average reliability index value of the system in the base years. Similarly, SAIDI and EENS have been reduced by 86% and 70% respectively.