Client: An Electric Utility in North India
Objective: Network Optimisation Studies.
Duration: 8 months
Study:
The commonly encountered problems by most distribution utilities in India are lack of data about their infrastructure, aging equipment and inadequate inventories. Mainly, the combination of these three factors delivers a lethal blow to the functioning, maintenance, planning and procurement of the utility. The aging infrastructure requires a complete overhaul of the system, which might not be feasible in one go due to various constraints. The lack of data also results in maintaining inadequate or improper inventories.
Distribution Area |
No.of Distribution Transformers (11/0.433 kV) |
No.of feeders
(11 kV) |
Complete 12 districts |
4000 |
750 |
The utility’s distribution area was a mix of urban, semi-urban and rural areas. The distribution network was composed of underground cables as well as overhead lines in good measure. The urban areas were fed, mainly, by underground cables in ring network while the rural areas were served by very long feeders composed of overhead lines.
The required data about the infrastructure encompassed a whole spectrum of information:
- Knowledge about equipment type, rating, size, etc.
- Failure rates of various equipments
- Load on different equipments
- Load growth & power factors
- Tripping details of switchgear
- Protective devices
- Nominal switching configuration
- Seasonal peak loads reached.
Approach:
The scenario called for an integrated solution that started with data acquisition and creation of an exhaustive database, analysing the data thus obtained. With all this knowledge and background, we stepped in to provide a holistic solution to our client, a distribution utility that supplies power to one third of the city area. Broadly, we went about the solution by data collection and thereafter modelling the network with the help of the CYMDIST software tool. The modelling part is very important as all the analysis and calculations are based on this. The modelling involved defining the network connectivity and switching configuration, and data about various equipments like rating, type, size, etc.
On analysis, the existing state of the system was determined. Thereafter, the data was extrapolated using the load growth in the system, and thus the state of the system was visualised for the next ten years. On the basis of above observations, various recommendations were provided along with the time of implementation. We also proposed solutions to meet the various contingencies arising in the system that could be due to a multitude of factors.
It also deserves mention that the software tool, CYMDIST, that we provided is compatible with other technologies like GIS and SCADA, thus enabling the utility to go for system integration and automation at a later date.
Conclusion:
Our solution incorporated asset management, system analysis and system planning. As is clear from the above-mentioned details, we provided a holistic solution in line with our typical approach.
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