Self-healing networks performance improvement by automated switching algorithm

This paper explores a methodology for performing automated switching on high voltage (11 kV) distribution networks to restore supplies following fault trips using an algorithmic approach based on real-time tracing and analysis of the electrical network model held in the Network Management System (NMS). The approach offers a number of advantages over local automation and pre-configured switching schemes: 1) A single algorithm to handle any network configuration 2) Impervious to network alterations 3) Reduced and simplified maintenance overhead of schemes 4) Comprehensive checks can be performed against the actual network diagram.