Improvements in modeling and evaluation of electrical power system reliability

This paper describes updates in an electrical reliability modeling process, first described in a 1993 paper for the Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committee of the IEEE Industry Applications Society. The paper also describes an additional new method for evaluating power system design options. The electrical reliability model has been expanded with more extensive component failure and repair values. Additional modeling techniques have been developed for evaluating typical electrical systems found in petroleum and chemical facilities. The reliability calculation results, based on the actual modeling of many refineries in the US, are described. The paper also describes a new method which was developed to evaluate and compare power system designs, based on the resulting composite reliability values and other factors, including recovery from faults, availability for maintenance, safety and cost. This new method provides an analytical approach to optimize the power system design to the plant operation and maintenance requirements.