Determining the location of spare and mobile transformers in distribution networks

Spare transformers (STs) are required at every distribution substation to guarantee reliability in those substations. In the absence of an ST in a substation, an error in a working transformer may disrupt the load connected to it. On the other hand, the presence of an ST at every substation is costly. Hence, the present paper will address the location of STs. Three methods are used for this purpose: the Euclidean distance, the square of the Euclidean distance, and the orthogonal distance. The objective is to find a location to minimize the determined total cost function. Furthermore, the storage locations of spare and mobile transformers are assumed to be the same but can also be considered different. In determining the optimal location of STs, factors such as transformer aging level, preventive repairs, random errors, and aging-induced errors will be deemed to enable modeling and managing the uncertainty.

Automated summary

Spare transformers are essential for reliability in distribution substations, and this paper addresses their optimal location considering factors such as aging, repairs, and errors.