Modeling the reliability of distribution systems using Petri nets

Comprehensive evaluation of the reliability of distribution electric power systems requires sophisticated stochastic modeling. The paper considers an application of stochastic Petri nets (SPN) to model complex interactions among the factors affecting power quality. The advantages of a recently developed extension of SPN, SPN with aging tokens, are demonstrated on an example of a system with distributed generators. The modeling is contrasted with the standard practice of using Markov chains. It is shown how major limitations of Markov chain modeling (state-space explosion and constant-transition rate assumption) can be successfully relaxed using the proposed approach.