SEISMIC RELIABILITY OF ELECTRIC-POWER NETWORKS - METHODOLOGY AND APPLICATION

This paper proposes a model and implements a computational procedure t o assess the reliability of electric power networks subjected to seism ic load. A general electric network is first described and its functio ning under ordinary conditions and under seismic action is analyzed. A reliability model to assemble small into larger components is propose d, which drastically simplifies the analysis. Power flow equations in the network are presented and modified to account for the current conf iguration of the network under seismic action. Seismic hazard is compu ted with the Cornell model. The whole procedure is applied to a real e lectric network and a simulation procedure is used to assess its relia bility, measured via the probability distributions of suitable perform ance indexes. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd