Optimization Model-Based Reliability Assessment for Distribution Networks Considering Detailed Placement of Circuit Breakers and Switches

Requirements of economic and reliability criteria are often stressed simultaneously in operating and planning models for distribution systems. However, conventional reliability evaluation algorithms are hard to be integrated to these optimization models analytically. Recently, several optimization model-based reliability assessment methods have been proposed, which can be embedded into such models. Nevertheless, the detailed placement and actions of circuit breakers and switches are ignored or oversimplified in these methods, leading to an inconsistency with the real world situation. Thus, we propose a new optimization model-based reliability assessment method that fully considers detailed placement and actions of circuit breakers and switches in distribution networks. Based on fictitious fault flows, strategies for tripping circuit breakers to cut fault current, operating switches to isolate the fault and processing post-fault network reconfiguration are linearly modeled as constraints. Therefore, this method can be easily integrated into operating and planning models of distribution networks. Case studies on 54-node, 85-node, 137-node and 417-node distribution networks show the scalability and efficiency of the proposed model.