Computer method for design of electricity-supply networks

The paper describes an interactive computer method for designing electricity-supply networks, which provides the engineer with a choice of outline designs near the optimum. The interactive mode is used, not only to harness directly the calculating power of the computer, but also specifically to enable the computer to participate in the design process as a simulated designer. An initial design is suggested, and a sequence of designs is evolved by a series of amendments, the control action coming from either the computer or the engineer. A sample of the total number of constraints for each design is checked to obtain a statistical estimate of the security of the complete network. The information from each sample is processed to give a formalised representation of those features which indicate the strengths and weaknesses of a design, which can then be treated by a special algorithm to determine the appropriate modifications. The method is illustrated by an example involving 17 substations. Experience of the method indicates that solutions for networks of realistic size can be obtained in economical computing time.