RELIABILITY EVALUATION OF DISTRIBUTION-SYSTEMS WITH NONEXPONENTIAL DOWN TIMES

This paper describes an analytical technique and a Monte Carlo simulat ion approach for determining the reliability indices of distribution s ystems. The proposed analytical method is based on the 'device of stag es' technique so that the impact of equipment aging can be incorporate d into the model. Two types of stage configurations are described. For each configuration, the parameters of their probability density funct ions are estimated using the method of matching moments. The Monte Car lo simulation approach utilizes the component state duration sampling method. A computer program has been developed to implement these metho ds. The application of the concepts presented in the paper are illustr ated by the analysis of a practical configuration.