Influence of Lightning, Wind, Trees, and Squirrels on Reliability of Power Distribution Systems

本研究的目的是建立各种环境因素对配电馈线可靠性的影响模型，以识别系统中高故障概率的部分，并提供实际性能与预期性能的比较分析。这些模型将包括闪电、风、树木和松鼠对配电馈线中断的影响。将研究方法，以比较系统的观察性能与基于性能基准的选定模型的预期性能。Westar能源分配系统将作为验证模型和方法的试验台。在研究的基础上，将开发教育模块以纳入三门课程。该建议的智力优点是：1)提出了创新的方法来确定环境因素对配电系统的影响，2)它是基于电气和计算机工程中两个不同学科的综合来解决一个重要问题，3)它推进了可靠性评估领域的知识前沿，4)它提出了解决一个现实生活中的问题，与工业协作的社会显著相关，5)所提出的方法可以应用于配电系统的其他组成部分以及其他工程系统；6)为该项目提出了一个组织良好的活动计划。建议的更广泛影响包括：1)弱势群体学生的参与，2)所有参与学生的教育和研究培训，4)通过大学和工业之间的合作加强研究基础设施，5)通过专业期刊和网站传播结果，以达到更广泛的受众，6)将研究结果整合到课程中，7)提高分布可靠性分析的知识水平，8)为客户提供更高水平的可靠电力供应，这将提高生产力和满意度。

The objectives of this research pertain to modeling the effects of various environmental factors on reliability of distribution feeders to identify parts of the system with high probability of failures and to provide comparative analysis of actual performance with expected performance. These models will include representation of the effects of lightning, wind, trees, and squirrels on outages in distribution feeders. Methodologies will be investigated to compare observed performance of the systems with expected performance based on selected models for performance benchmarking. The Westar Energy distribution system will serve as a test bed to validate the models and methodologies. Based on the research educational modules will be developed for inclusion in three courses. The intellectual merits of the proposal are: 1) innovative methodologies are presented for determining the effects of environmental factors on power distribution systems, 2) it is based on synthesis of two different disciplines within electrical and computer engineering to address an important problem, 3) it advances the frontier of knowledge in the field of reliability evaluation, 4) it proposes to tackle a real-life problem with significant relevance to society with collaboration of industry, 5) the proposed methodology can be applied to other components of distribution systems as well as other engineering systems, and 6) a well organized plan of activities is proposed for the project. The broader impacts of the proposal are: 1) participation of students from underrepresented groups, 2) education and research training of all the participating students, 4) enhancement of the research infrastructure through collaboration between university and industry, 5) dissemination of the results through professional journals and also web sites to reach broader audience, 6) integration of the research results into courses, 7) advancement of the state of the knowledge in distribution reliability analysis, and 8) higher levels of reliability of electricity supply for the customers, which will increase productivity and satisfaction.