Reliability Assessment of a Real Time Distribution System

Distribution systems form an important link between the bulk energy sources and consumers. About 80% of the interruptions that the consumers experience occur due to failures in distribution systems. This is due to radial nature of these links and scarcity of protection devices. Therefore, reliability assessment is essential to identify weaker areas needing reinforcements and understand, how changes made in one part of system affects performance in the remainder part of the system. In this paper, study has been conducted on the existing distribution system of Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee as it is a miniature form of our modern day distribution systems, which represents different kind of loads existing simultaneously and where continuity of supply needs to be maintained at all times. The reliability indices for this system are evaluated by analytical method using the concept of failure modes and effect analysis for radial distribution systems. The results obtained help determine unreliable sections in the distribution system which are required to be upgraded.