23rd International Conference on Electricity Distribution Lyon, 15-18 June 2015

Paper 1228

METHODOLOGY FOR ALLOCATION OF REMOTE CONTROLLED SWITCHES

WITHIN LONG TERM MEDIUM VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK PLANNING

Tomislav BARICEVIC Minea SKOK Viktorija DUDJAK

EIHP – Croatia EIHP – Croatia EIHP - Croatia
tbaricevic@eihp.hr mskok@eihp.hr vdudjak@eihp.hr

ABSTRACT
GENERAL METHODOLOGY OF
Reliability, as a measure of quality of supply of the DISTRIBUTION NETWORK PLANNING
customers, is one of the most important criteria in medium
voltage distribution network planning. This paper Objective of long-term medium voltage distribution
provides description of reliability analyses based on network planning is a provision of an adequate investment
application of the exact continuity of supply indicators plan that takes into account following analyses [2]:
related to expected values of the number (SAIFI) and
duration (SAIDI) of power supply interruptions. For three 1. Safety analysis – minimal investments in terms of
defined zones (urban, mixed and rural) quality standards, current load and voltage drop,
defined as maximum acceptable values in specific sections 2. (N-1) criterion analysis – investments due to
of the network, are applied. When defining the quality (N-1) criterion analysis of availability of
standards, both the values achieved in more developed distribution network,
countries, as well as realistic goals influenced by the 3. (N-1) criterion analysis with distributed
current status of Croatian networks, have to be taken into generation – investments due to (N-1) criterion of
account. Taking into consideration relatively high availability of distribution network including the
requirements regarding the input data, the applied contribution of distributed generation,
methodology is limited to the most important indicators: 4. Reliability analysis – investments to provide
the average number and the average duration of long continuity of supply standards to customers, and
power supply interruptions by the network user. Finally, 5. Economic assessment – investments that are
the economic assessment of investments is provided based economically justified.
on the benefit/cost ratio methodology.
QUALITY OF SUPPLY CRITERIA
INTRODUCTION Three groups of continuity of supply standards for long
Reliability as a measure of quality of supply of the interruptions (longer than 3 minutes) are used for this
customers is one of the most important criteria in medium analysis. Continuity of supply standards are defined as:
voltage distribution network planning. Improvement in guaranteed standards (GS), setting maximal accepted
reliability does not only increase customer satisfaction, but values for a single customer, and overall standards (OS),
,can also bring reduction in costs related to power failures setting maximal acceptable average values by specified
[1]. Installation of remote controlled switches (RCS) has parts of the network. Both types of standards are referring
been proven as one of the most effective ways to improve to annual values of SAIDI (system average interruption
distribution network reliability. Three main functionalities duration index) and SAIFI (system average interruption
of these devices include: isolation of failed components
and faults, reconfiguration of the network and system frequency index) within three quality of supply zones:
reliability. urban (1), suburban (2) and rural (3), as shown in Table 1.
Spatial distribution of these zones is shown in Figure 1.
This paper provides brief explanation and application of a
methodology used for allocation of RCS as a part of the Table 1 Continuity of supply criteria and defined standard
medium voltage distribution network planning. This levels
methodology takes into account both technical and Quality of supply
economic aspects of distribution system automation. Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3
indicator
First part gives an overview of the methodology of SAIDI 120 240 360
OS
distribution network planning, with special emphasis on SAIFI 2 4 8
applied reliability analysis and quality of supply criteria.
SAIDI 180 360 540
Following, the methodology for allocation and dynamics GS
of installation of RCS is described, as well as guidelines SAIFI 6 12 24
for installation of RCS depending on the type of feeders in
the network. In the end, an example study for allocation of
RCS in the Elektra Vinkovci, distribution network area in
eastern part of Croatia. is provided.

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 23rd International Conference on Electricity Distribution
Figure 1: Quality of supply zones: urban (blue), suburban
(red) and rural (orange)
Adequate continuity of supply analysis requires a lot of
accurate data on technical characteristics of the network
and operating events during the period of several years:
• medium voltage network model for load flow
and voltage drop analyses
• very accurate load model and number of
customers per 10(20)/0,4 kV substation
• correct or average data on frequency of
interruptions and time of restoration of supply:
o frequency of long interruptions on
overhead lines (0,14/km/year) and on
cable lines (0,07/km/year)
o average time of restoration of supply:
by remotely controllable devices
(10 min) and by manually operating
devices (60 min)
o time required to repair failure: on
overhead lines (300 min),
on cable lines (960 min)
METHODOLOGY FOR ALLOCATION OF
REMOTE CONTROLLED SWITCHES
There are two main obstacles to achieving required
continuity of supply levels [3]:
• technical limitations in the network (e.g. high
loads of lines and hence low capacity margin for
backup supply of neighboring feeders), and,
• deficiency of RCS in the network which should
enable efficient isolation of a smallest possible
share of the network connected with the fault.
CIRED 2015
Lyon, 15-18 June 2015
Paper 1228
This paper focuses on the later issue. If the network
circumstances enable power supply to all the customers
(other than those customers radially connected to the part
of the network connected with the fault), the continuity of
supply is significantly affected by the number, locations
and timely manipulation of RCS in the network.
Allocation of RCS in the network is based on two
following principles:
• choice of the quality zone (1, 2 or 3): all zones
that do not meet continuity of supply standards,
and
• choice of adequate area within the zones (those
with the worst levels of SAIDI and SAIFI
indicators, taking also into account number of
affected customers).
Dynamics of installation of RCS is chosen on the basis of
economic analysis using benefit/cost methodology:
• in terms of reducing the cost of energy not
supplied, or
• in terms of reducing the fees and/or penalties for
not providing the defined level of continuity of
supply.
Guidelines for installation of RCS depending on the type
of feeders:
• combined cable and overhead feeders (loop or
radial): one RCS for isolation of overhead part of
the feeder from the cable part,
• long and/or more loaded radial feeders: one (or
more) RCS for isolation of the part of the network
connected with the fault,
• loop feeders: three or more RCS on two
interconnected feeders with following
requirements
o the maximum part of the network
foreseen to be supplied by the
neighbouring connecting feeder
(reconfiguration of the network) is
determined based on the power flow
analysis for peak load condition,
o may require combining with the
investments in 10(20) kV network (new
connecting lines or increase of cross-
sections of existing lines, new lateral
lines, 20/10 kV transformation),
o possibility of installation of more than 3
RCS (higher loads and/or longer
feeders).
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EXAMPLE STUDY FOR ELEKTRA specific defined zones).

VINKOVCI AREA
In accordance with these restrictions, the following
Current and expected level of continuity of supply investments are planned in order to improve values of
The results of the calculations for SAIFI and SAIDI caused continuity of supply indicators (SAIDI and SAIFI):
by interruptions in the 10 kV network (by each zone and
for total level of Elektra Vinkovci area) are shown in • installation of 56 RCS (49 are planned for
Table 2. Interruptions are simulated for network users at installation in year 1 of the planning period),
low voltage for current loads and expected load status at • construction of 5 connecting lines in total length
the end of the long-term planning period (year 20), without of 3.3 km (2.8 km of lines are planned for
significant investment in development of the network construction in year 1 of the planning period), and
• installation of transformation 20/10 kV
Table 2: Changes of the continuity of supply of LV (2.5 MVA).
customers from current status to the level in year 20 with
minimal investments in the network Investments are located in the areas with high levels of
Quality zone Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 quality of supply indicators (which do not meet the
Number of LV standard), especially high levels of SAIDI. Majority of the
55,231 21,915 4,589 investments are needed in the first few years, until the
customers
continuity of supply indicators are reduced to values
SAIDI 67
94 362
388 646
636
prescribed by the corresponding standards, and during the
OS
rest of the period smaller investments are needed to keep
SAIFI 0.7
0.8 3.0
3.0 3.0
3.8
the indicators within the prescribed standards.
4,196 9,679 3,362
SAIDI *

8,426
11,157
3,301 Figure 2 shows the example of continuity of supply
GS
improvement in the one part of the observed MV network
SAIFI* 0 0 0
with implementation of targeted investments during the
*Number of LV customers with continuity of supply below GS long term planning period of 20 years. Planned
of SAIDI or SAIFI investments include 9 RCS, one new connecting line, one
new lateral line and one transformation 20/10 kV (to allow
For current network state, defined overall standard (OS) of backup power supply from the neighboring feeder
SAIFI are met in all three quality zones, while overall operating on different voltage level).
standards (OS) of SAIDI are not met in quality zones 2 and
3. 21% of network users connected to low voltage do not
meet guaranteed standards (GS) of SAIDI (8% in quality
zone 1, 44% in quality zone 2 and 73% in quality zone 3).
Without any significant investment, at the end of long-
term planning period, in year 20, continuity of supply level
would be significantly worse in quality zones 1 and 2, and
almost unchanged in quality zone 3 (already poor in the
current state).

Investment plan according to the reliability

analysis

As previously shown, without any significant investment,

continuity of supply levels decrease by the end of long-
term planning period. Therefore, continuity of supply
conditioned investments are necessary as a part of the
distribution network planning in order to improve these
levels.

In the observed part of the network, it was not possible to

define accurate enough load model and exact number of
customers at the level of 10/0.4 kV substation, but only at Figure 2: Locations of load switches and other investments
the level of 10 kV feeders. Therefore, the criterion for in order to improve quality of supply
reliability analysis were guaranteed standards (for each
customer), but only overall standards (at the level of three

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Economic cost/benefit analysis Table 3: Economic justification of investments for

Example of the result of economic cost-benefit assessment continuity of supply as a part of long-term medium voltage
carried out in PRAO software concerning the installation distribution system planning
of six RCS foreseen in the year 3 of the planning period is

Gain on Joule losses[€]

Gain on Iron losses[€]

shown in Figure 3.

Benefit/cost ratio [%]

Gain on the faults [€]
Year of commission
Economic cost/benefit analysis used in this example as
cost accounts only investment cost and as benefits takes Investment
into account monetized gains on Joule and Iron losses,
gains on faults and gains on operating costs. This

Cost [€]
cost/benefit analysis is static, because it only takes into
account year of commissioning. Dynamically is not
possible to separate the contributions of individual
investments, because they cannot be observed 10 kV
independently from other investments. Economically connecting 11,000 1 -278 0 -178 -4.1
line 1
justified is considered an investment that has the
10 kV
benefit/cost ratio higher than the discount rate (8%). A connecting 14,000 1 34 0 502 3.8
negative value means that the observed investment does line 2
not bring profit, but losses, and a value between 0% and 8 RCS 64,000 1 0 0 11,067 17.3
8% means that gains are not sufficient to consider the
1 RCS 8,000 16 0 0 2,976 37.2
investment as economically justified.
TS 20/10 kV 88,000 19 0 -1,558 89 -0.8

Results of installation of remote controlled

switches

Installation of 49 RCS in year 1 (results of security of

supply analysis) is evaluated as unrealistic plan. Therefore
economic analysis was performed by grouping
investments into several single projects (groups of several
RCS with or without consequent investments, as shown in
the previous examples) to define optimal dynamics of
installation. Installation of approximately 10 RCS per year
is planned during the first 5 years of the planning period,
with priority given to more economically viable projects.
Figure 2: Example of economic assessment

The cost includes six RCS (unit price 8.000,00 €), and the
benefit of the investment is reducing the annual cost of
energy not supplied by 15,547 €. Benefit-cost ratio is 32%,
which is higher than the discount rate (8%) - therefore the
investment is economically justified.

The results of similar analysis for nine RCS, two

connecting 10 kV lines and transformation 20/10 kV
between two feeders of different voltage levels are
presented in Table 3. Although, as it is shown before, the
investments in RCS are usually economically justified, in
this example additional investments are needed in order to
allow backup supply of relatively long 10 kV feeders. Figure 4 The average annual duration of long interruptions
These additional investments are not economically (solid line) and the proportion of customers on low voltage
justified when observed separately, but when observed as that do not meet the minimum (guaranteed) standard
a single project with aim to increase continuity of supply (dashed line)
of the area, it is economically justified already in the year
1 of the planning period. Figure 4 shows the example of continuity of supply
improvement in the MV network with implementation of

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targeted investments during the long-term planning period

of 20 years. Majority of the investments is needed in the
first few years, until the continuity of supply indicators are
reduced to the values prescribed by the corresponding
standards, and during the rest of the period smaller
investments are needed to keep the indicators within the
prescribed standards.

CONCLUSION
This paper briefly describes one possible methodology for
locating remote controlled switching devices in medium
voltage network and its application in one area of Croatian
medium voltage distribution network. For each location it
is possible to determine contribution of technical
indicators of reliability of supply (SAIDI and SAIFI) and
give an assessment of economic justification, based on
which it is possible to determine optimal spatial and
temporal dynamics of remote control devices installation
in the network.

REFERENCES

[1] R.E. Brown, 2002, Electric Power Distribution

Reliability, Marcel Decker Inc., New York
[2] T. Baričević, 2010, "Reliability as part of
methodology and criteria for distribution network
planning", 2nd(8th) Session of the Croatian National
Committee of CIRED, Umag, Coratia (in Croatian)
[3] T. Baričević, M. Skok, V. Dudjak 2013, "Multicriteria
medium voltage distribution network planning", Third
CG KO CIGRE Session, Montenegro (in Croatian)

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