Reliability estimation for smart metering units in a Energy Distribution Branch with prosumers

Currently, in the electricity distribution subsidiaries, a special emphasis is placed on reducing the operating costs of measuring and protection equipment. Thus, it is necessary to determine with high precision the devices that have malfunctions and need to be replaced within a certain time interval. The current work aims to develop an algorithm for the automatic identification of these equipment, based on reliability and maintenance indicators, as well as external factors. The proposed algorithm is built on the basis of a non-linear optimization function in which internal variables (provided by the equipment manufacturer) as well as external variables (unpredictable events such as: climatic factors, atmospheric overvoltages, mechanical damage, etc.) intervene and on the basis of some restrictions imposed by the operator distribution in order to reduce energy losses as well as from the point of view of protecting the equipment.