Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study assessed the impacts of natural phenomena-induced electrical faults on the distribution system of Lagos, served by Ikeja and Eko electricity distribution companies. The research evaluated the frequency, technical, cost, and reliability impacts of these faults. The study employed statistical and software-based short circuit fault analyses as well as system reliability indices methods to identify the most vulnerable feeders to nature-induced faults. It also simulated the network's response to fault currents and estimated the monthly costs of nature-induced outages. For the data period, an average of 20 to 43 nature-induced faults occurred annually on the networks. The obtained fault currents ranged from 0.67kA to 0.78kA and 0.52kA to 1.02kA for the 11kV and 33kV networks, respectively, which was useful for setting up installed breakers. The estimated average monthly cost of nature-induced energy loss was found to be between ?3 million and ?143 million for Eko and between ?0.01 million and ?108 million for Ikeja. The System Average Interruption Frequency Index and System Average Interruption Duration Index did not exceed 4 and 60, respectively, on 33kV network. In conclusion, natural phenomena-induced electrical faults had significant impacts, particularly in terms of monthly costs and investments in its mitigation should be explored.
Institution: Federal University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215564401