| Two popular analytical methodologies for evaluating the risk and reliability of electrical power systems, the Spreadsheet and Cut-Set models, were investigated and modified. When a failure related to parallel configuration is involved, the two models greatly underestimate the mean time to repair and the failure rate, respectively, generating a large discrepancy in the reliability indices generated by the two models. For the purpose of improving the evaluation of parallel configurations, these two models were modified by altering the evaluating procedure and using self-deduced formula equations. These modified models were validated by applying them to the IEEE Gold Book Standard Network. The revised Spreadsheet Model was then applied to optimize a conceptual designation for a power distribution station. As one of the most significant contributions of this thesis, issues were addressed regarding the failure modes (short/open) of circuit breakers and their influence on network reliability. |
