Electric substation reliability assessment using a Windows-based tool

Performance evaluation of a combined generation and transmission system normally includes the independent outages of generators, transformers and transmission lines. However, substation-originated outages due to failure of breakers, transformers and busbars can also have a significant effect on the bulk power system performance indices in terms of average outage frequency and duration. This paper describes general-purpose software for substation reliability assessment. Reliability analysis technique using the minimal cut set method was implemented. The software package is able to define and incorporate fifteen types of system configurations in the analysis and at the same time comprehensive analysis tools such as print, save, sensitivity studies, tutorial guide, etc, are also incorporated. The concept associated with the reliability analysis is illustrated by application to a simple but comprehensive substation configuration.