Diseño de esquemas de auto-reconexión para la restauración del sistema de distribución de la Empresa Eléctrica Regional Centro Sur C.A.

Abstract

The mean purpose of this thesis work is to implement a holistic methodology oriented to improve the electric network reliability in CENTROSUR, the city of Cuenca-Ecuador local electricity provider.

To meet this goal we propose the design of a methodology based on self-healing schemes for restoration of service, known by the electric industry as FLISR (Fault Location, Insulator and Service Restoration) through a Predictive Reliability Model (PRM) using historical outage data, distribution feeder models and customer and feeder load data.

The study area considers five real distribution feeders, representing around the 15% of the total distribution system. We start from the definition of a customized calibration system model, constantly trying that PRM reflects the historical reliability, as a relevant purpose, using a five year historical outage data and reliability indices (TTIK, FMIK, SAIDI and SAIFI). It´s also important to mention that failure rates and mean times to repair (MTTR) were assigned to the distribution equipment (fuses, breakers, reclosers, etc.).

As a next step, we identify a set of reliability improvement projects that need to be implemented, summarize as a new planning criteria, fuse-clearing and fuse-saving overcurrent protection schemes and distribution automation schemes. According to SAIDI final results, we prioritized the execution of the mention projects.

Finally, using these final results we have done a cost-benefit analysis, recommending to CENTROSUR a project portfolio to accomplish, in order to better its network reliability metrics, showing the advantages, versatility and potential of the proposed PRM.