Representation of Distribution System Reliability during Network Restoration and Repair

This paper presents the application of a sequential Monte Carlo method for generating a measure of distribution network adequacy within an operational time frame for characterizing network behaviour during a supply restoration and failure repair process. Motivated by the need to assess the short-term suitability of a mode of operation in a potentially more active distribution system, this paper shows how existing reliability assessment techniques can be used to indicate the chronological variation in reliability and associated measures of risk throughout the process of network reconfiguration and supply restoration that follows a failure event. A numerical illustration of the approach is performed using a small test system network. The results provide a demonstration of the described approach while also highlighting the importance of a careful choice of the probability distribution used to characterize variation in the repair process used when generating a time-dependent measure of network vulnerability.