Distribution Automation

Bhupender Das Biswa Mohan Pati Boobalan

Need for Distribution Automation

All discoms need to be operated in such a way that Losses are Reduced Financial Performance is Improved Consumers express Satisfaction with the Quality of Service Provided Standards of Performance set by the Regulator are met

Distribution Automation
What is the Distribution Automation? Functions of Distribution Automation Benefits of Distribution Automation

DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION
A system that enables an electric utility to remotely
monitor, coordinate and operate distribution components

in a real time mode from remote location.

Distribution automation system is built around a scada kernel.

FUNCTIONS OF DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION

Substation automation Feeder monitoring & control Trouble call management Load management Automatic meter reading Load survey

Energy audit

SUBSTATION AUTOMATION
FUNCTIONS
Operate all switchgear of substations from control centre Provide Control Centre with updated information on operating conditions of substations Allow efficient supervisory control of sub station equipment Inform control centre of any changes in status of sub station equipment alarms & abnormal loading conditions

SUBSTATION AUTOMATION
Older versions of Substation Automation schemes utilise RTUs Newer versions will have Intelligent Electronic Devices with Bay Control Units which have the capabilities of monitoring, control, protection and communication capabilities ( ex: Numerical relays) These Stations employ IEC compliant protocols to provide fast response times(IEC 61850)

Trouble call management

Customer is the focal point of a DISCOM Providing reliable and uninterrupted power is the priority of any DISCOM . Setting up a Fuse of call centre to receive information on outages is done by every DISCOM Customer calls up the Fuse off call centre on loss of supply Consumer telephone number is matched with the record in data base to identify the consumer name, Service number and the location Fuse off call source is identified and informed to the repair crew in the field

Trouble call Management

Grouping of customer trouble calls
reverse tracing of electric topology determine a common protective device suspected to be open
transformer? lateral fuse? recloser? substation breaker?

Take into account automatic feeder switching

Compute extent of suspected outage

Number of customers affected Highest priority of affected customers

Trouble call Management

Distribution Network Model
getting an accurate electric network model is generally a mammoth undertaking Keeping it up-to-date with construction Real-time representation of switch positions

Customer data
Customer - premise occupancy (business data) critical customers outage history Premise connectivity to Network model (operations data)

Timely, reliable feedback to affected customers during an outage

Inform customers about the Status

Timely, accurate feedback is almost as important as fixing the problem
Telling customer you are aware of his problem Current status of outage response Expected time of restoration

Inform customers about the Status

Simple problems
direct repair & restore

Major outages
isolate fault & restore un-faulted portions of feeder OMS tracks partial restorations

Automated Fault Detection, Isolation, Restoration schemes with feeder automation are considered desirable

FEEDER MONITORING AND CONTROL

Control of equipment on feeders such as capacitor switches for real time var control to Minimise peak power loss Energy loss

CONTROL OF VOLTAGE REGULATORS

Better voltage profile.
Minimises impact of voltage fluctuation to ensure better performance of consumer equipment.

CONTROL OF NETWORK SWITCHING DEVICES FOR

Quick fault detection & isolation

Restoration of alternative supply

Substation load transfer & balance Optimal network operation for minimum loss

LOAD MANAGEMENT & CONTROL

Restrict or redistribute discretionary loads like agriculture

pumpsets.
Reduction of system peak & energy loss. Defering additional investment to meet growing demand.

TYPICAL LOAD CURVE

Evening Peak
Morning Peak

L O A D

System Availability

19

24

HOURS

AUTOMATED METER READING

Monitoring of metering equipment status on a continous basis. Detecting metering equipment failure & energy theft.
Connection & disconnection of services.

LOAD SURVEY
Collection of system operating parameters like load factor,

coincident factor, power factor.

Collection of load level of different classes of customers.

Better system expansion planning.

ENERGY AUDIT
IDENTIFY THE SYSTEM LOSSES IN TRANSMISSION

SUB TRANSMISSION
PRIMARY DISTRIBUTION SECONDARY DISTRIBUTION

ANALYSE THE LOSS COMPONENTS BEYOND PERMISSIBLE LIMITS TECHNICAL COMMERCIAL REDUCE TECHNICAL LOSSES THROUGH
SYSTEM AUGMENTATION

THE

INCREASING INJECTION POINTS

BIFURCATION OF FEEDERS

REDUCE COMMERCIAL LOSSES BY

REPLACING STUCK UP & BURNT METERS

CONDUCTING INTENSIVE INSPECTION TO REDUCE

PILFERAGE

BENEFITS OF DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION

BENEFITS ARE TWO TYPES DIRECT BENEFITS : IMPROVE THE OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS AND CASH FLOW TO UTILITY. INDIRECT BENEFITS : IMPROVE SERVICE TO CUSTOMER.

DIRECT BENEFITS :
AVOIDED EQUIPMENT DAMAGE
REDUCED REVENUE LOSS

REDUCED SYSTEM ENERGY LOSSES

DEFERRED INSTALLATION OF DISTRIBUTION

EQUIPMENT DUE TO REDUCED PEAK DEMAND

 REDUCTION IN THEFT IMPROVED CASH FLOW

REDUCED LABOUR EXPENSES

RELEASED CAPACITY FOR THE GENERATION &

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

INDIRECT BENEFITS : IMPROVED CONTINUITY OF SERVICE IMPROVED VOLTAGE PROFILE