An MIP-based model for the deployment of fault indicators and sectionalizing switches in distribution networks

Abstract Fault indicators (FIs) and sectionalizing switches (SSs) are of great importance in distribution automation for reliability enhancement and efficiency improvement. However, their types and locations have great effects on the resulting service quality. This paper intends to develop a model for the optimal simultaneous allocation of FIs and SSs in a complex distribution network based on reliability and cost-benefit analyses. Three position matrices are obtained by preprocessing the topology of distribution networks to enable the establishment of the proposed model. Furthermore, a quantification method for the customer interruption duration under different contingencies is constructed to achieve a more precise and practical reliability evaluation. The resultant optimization problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming that can obtain the global optimal solution in a finite number of iterations. An IEEE 33-bus network and a real urban distribution system are used to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of this model. The obtained outcomes show that simultaneously considering the placement of FIs and SSs can expedite the fault location and isolation processes, reduce the overall costs of the system and improve the service reliability.