Mohammed K.K Alabdullah - Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM)
Jaafar Ebadi - Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM)

For maximizing the customer satisfaction and retention, improvement of service reliability is a major concern for electric utilities. An optimal placement of automatic switches can enhance efficiency of operation and restoration, and improve the power supply reliability of a distribution automation system. In this paper, optimal placement of sectionalizing switches in a real distribution network of Mashhad has been investigated. At first, current reliability indices of network with existing switches are calculated and then, these existing switches are relocated to find optimal locations of them. Next, optimal number and location of sectionalizing switches are determined with considering constraint such as SAIDI and capital investment. Finally, by using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (FAHP), a priority list of feeders is provided and the problem is resolved based on this list.

Distribution Automation, Switch Placement, Interruption Cost, Customer Damage Function