Decreasing momentary outages with specific distribution feeder improvements

Abstract

This paper presents a cost-effective method of reducing momentary interruptions. Two main concepts are discussed. The first is targeting selected zones with increased maintenance to improve overall reliability of the entire feeder, and the second is overcurrent coordination for trip saving on the substation feeder circuit breaker. Trip saving is the intentional coordination of tap fuses off main feeders so that a fault on the tap will not cause a fast operation of the main breaker. Other topics discussed are the re-setting of instantaneous tripping of the substation breaker, use of tap reclosers, and increasing lightning/animal protection on key parts of the feeder.