Distribution System Reliability Evaluation Taking Circuit Capacity into Consideration

Distribution system reliability evaluation using the method of connectivity ignores the effect of operation constraints. This paper presents an approach that includes the effect of circuit capacity. Reliability evaluation of distribution systems with parallel circuits generally requires load flow solutions. The proposed approach combines the Z-matrix contingency method with DC load flow for a much faster direct solution. Three different methods for distribution system reliability evaluation have been incorporated into a computer program. The program was validated using two distribution systems connected to the IEEE-RTS and another sample distribution system.