A collaborative framework for rapid fault repair and service restoration in distribution networks

Abstract

Distribution networks constitute the terminal stage of the electric power system, delivering electricity from transmission grids to end users. Owing to their wide geographic dispersion and the outdoor installation of most equipment, these networks are highly exposed to extreme weather events that may damage facilities and interrupt power supply services. Ensuring timely fault repair and service restoration is therefore essential for maintaining system reliability. However, large numbers of faults often occur simultaneously and may further deteriorate if not repaired promptly, reducing the overall efficiency of restoration activities. Moreover, effective recovery requires the coordinated use of multiple resources, such as repair crews, vehicles, and spare parts, whose limited availability, time constraints, and operational dependencies create additional challenges. To overcome these issues, a collaborative framework for rapid fault repair and service restoration in distribution networks, called Coradin, is proposed. It is composed of three layers, including the data integration layer responsible for data collection, the scheduling optimization layer responsible for strategy formulation and optimization, and the repair execution layer responsible for repair and restoration. Extensive experiments on the IEEE 33-bus and 123-bus systems verify the framework’s effectiveness in improving restoration efficiency and service reliability.