Reliability-Centered Maintenance Task Planning for Overhead Electric Power Distribution Networks

In this paper, it is presented an approach to match technically and economically the reliability of electricity distribution networks through an optimization methodology consisting of the mathematical model and metaheuristic solution technique to obtain an optimized plan for efficient management of maintenance tasks. The problem of maintenance tasks is formulated as a mixed dynamic nonlinear multi-objective optimization model, in which costs to perform maintenance tasks on equipment and/or components that make up the electric distribution network are minimized, while they have their reliability maximized. The constraints of this model are the individual and group electricity supply interruption duration and frequency indices, and availability of financial and human resources. The solution of this problem is obtained through a specialized non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm multi-objective metaheuristic, which provides a set of non-dominated solutions very close to the optimal Pareto frontier. Each solution at this frontier represents a maintenance plan able to assist the making decision of the operators in distribution companies for managing the maintenance crews.