12-01-2012, 01:23 PM
AUTOMATION IN POWER DISTRIBUTION
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AUTOMATION IN POWER DISTRIBUTION
The demand for electrical energy is ever increasing. Today over 21% (theft apart!!) of the total electrical energy generated in India is lost in transmission (4-6%) and distribution (15-18%). The electrical power deficit in the country is currently about 18%. Clearly, reduction in distribution losses can reduce this deficit significantly. It is possible to bring down the distribution losses to a 6-8 % level in India with the help of newer technological options (including information technology) in the electrical power distribution sector which will enable better monitoring and control.
How does Power reach us?
Electric power is normally generated at 11-25kV in a power station. To transmit over long distances, it is then stepped-up to 400kV, 220kV or 132kV as necessary. Power is carried through a transmission network of high voltage lines. Usually, these lines run into hundreds of kilometres and deliver the power into a common power pool called the grid. The grid is connected to load centres (cities) through a sub-transmission network of normally 33kV (or sometimes 66kV) lines. These lines terminate into a 33kV (or 66kV) substation, where the voltage is stepped-down to 11kV for power distribution to load points through a distribution network of lines at 11kV and lower.
Bottlenecks in Ensuring Reliable Power
Lack of information at the base station (33kV sub-station) on the loading and health status of the 11kV/415V transformer and associated feeders is one primary cause of inefficient power distribution. Due to absence of monitoring, overloading occurs, which results in low voltage at the customer end and increases the risk of frequent breakdowns of transformers and feeders. In fact, the transformer breakdown rate in India is as high as around 20%, in contrast to less than 2% in some advanced countries.
The Technology Development Mission
A Technology Development Mission on Communication, Networking and Intelligent Automation, was jointly taken up by IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur. While the mission focus at IIT Kharagpur is to develop technology for industrial automation, IIT Kanpur embarked upon the development of an integrated technology for power distribution automation system.
