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Problem Analysis and Probable Solution of Existing Interconnected Grid System

of Chittagong Region

Conference Paper · December 2015

DOI: 10.1109/ICAEE.2015.7506860

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 Problem Analysis and Probable Solution of Existing Interconnected
Grid System of Chittagong Region
Md. Khurshedul Islam1, Md. Mizanur Rahman2, Md. Fazle Rabbi3
1 2
Lecturer, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
1 2
International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC)
Chittagong, Bangladesh
E-mail: khurshedeeeiiuc@gmail.com
Abstract—Power crisis is one of the foremost concerning
problem in Bangladesh. The gap between demand and
production is increasing day by day. System loss, transmission
loss and established connection to grid without upcoming load
plan are main issues regarding this crisis. It is possible to
control this crisis by taking some necessary steps such as
system loss reduction, establishing efficient interconnection,
assembling necessary substation etc. Priority should be given
to transmission and distribution of electrical energy through
the proper way. This paper represents a case study and
analysis to find out the key problems of existing power system
including generating station, interconnected grid system and
substations of Chittagong. Existing generating station with
their generating capacity, transmission lines with their length
as well as conductor grade and substation with its load are
studied to figure out the major problems and finally it offers
smoe probable solutions of these problems.
Keywords— Interconnection, power scenario, Power Grid,
Chittagong.
I. INTRODUCTION
During the early years small local generating Stations
supplied power to respective local loads. Each generating
station needed enough installed capacity to feed the local peak
loads. Problem arises when load becomes greater than the
generating capacity. Interconnection system was considered as
a solution for this problem. The interconnected system is very
efficient and very reliable in transmission and distribution of
electric power if the modeling and designing is properly done.
[1]
Energy is the fundamental resource for economic
development of a country. In this modern world, the
dependence on electricity is greater so that it has become a
part of our life. The over-increasing uses of electric power for
domestic, commercial and Industrial purposes necessities to
provide bulk electrical power economically. This achieves
with the help of suitable power producing units known as
power plants or electric power generating station. [2]
As an underdeveloped country, the socio-economic
structure of Bangladesh is gradually increasing. So the
demand of power is extending day by day hence the
importance of Transmission and Distribution are becoming
more complicated.
Department of Electrical Engineering
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada
3
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
3
International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC)
E-mails: mrahman8@lakeheadu.ca
frrazu.bd@gmail.com
Each and every year power from new power plants is added
to the national grid. Many power plants are still under
construction. But the total power is transmitted and distributed
through existing infrastructure with some old rating
transformer, conductors and other equipments. The
overloading of lines and transformers causes system loss,
transmission and conduction loss take place which in turn
causes load shedding or power shortage. [3][4]
Though this paper has analyzed the key problems of
existing power system in Chittagong region, we have aslo
observed that almost same conditions are found for the every
important city of this country.
II. POWER SECTORS SCENARIO OF CHITTAGONG
In 1960, the first power plant of Chittagong (as well as
Bangladesh) was built at Siddhirganj with a capacity of only
10 MW. At that time Kaptai dam was under construction.
The unit size of Kaptai was 40 MW, which for that time was
considered to be a large power plant. Necessary steps were
taken to construct the side by side 132 KV Dhaka-
Chittagong transmission line. Construction of Kaptai dam
and commissioning of Dhaka-Chittagong 132 KV
transmission took place in 1962 which was a very important
milestone of power development of Bangladesh.[5]
Chittagong has become very important city for its port and
a large number of industries from small size to heavy. Around
40% of the heavy industrial activities of the country is located
in this city and neighboring areas, which include dry dock,
Dock Yards, Oil Refinery, Steel Mills, Power Plant, Cement
clinker factory, automobile industries, pharmaceutical plants,
chemical plants, cable manufacturing, textiles mills, jute mills,
urea fertilizer factory along with other private sector medium
size industrial developments and activities. So electricity
demand is increasing day by day in Chittagong.
Presently, there are ten private and public power stations in
Chittagong. Among them five power plants run by gas,
another four power plants run by diesel and one is hydro-
electric power plant. Karnafuli hydro-electric power plant is
the only hydro-electric power plant of the country which
produces 230 MW power.
 Table-01 shows the list of power plant and total power 230 KV transmission line is 175 Km (Double circuit) and the
production in Chittagong. total length of 132 KV transmission line is 630 Km ACSR
(Aluminum conductor steel reinforced) conductor having
Table -01: List of Power plant in Chittagong Capacity of 600A for both case.

Name of Power Plant
Karnafuli hydro-electric power plant
Raojan gas power plant
Shikalbaha steam power plant
Shikalbaha diesel power plant
Shikalbaha peaking power station
Regent gas power plant
Malancho diesel power plant
Dohazari diesel power plant
Hathazari gas power plant
Julda diesel power plant
Total generation Capacity
Generation From the analysis of existing interconnection system of
Capacity Chittagong, it is found that two 230 KV transmission lines are
(MW) used to connect 230/132 KV grid substation with Raojan and
Comilla. Other substations are interconnected through 132 KV
230
transmission line. Almost all sub-stations use double circuit
210 line.
60
According to transmission voltage level there are two types
150 of substation in Chittagong. They are 230/132 KV and 132/33
KV sub-station. A substation of 230/132 KV is placed in
55 Hathazari having power capacity of 600 MVA. There are
22 sixteen 132/33 KV gird sub-station with a power capacity of
1502 MVA which are situated at Kaptai, Chandraghona,
44 Hathazari, Madunaghat, Sikalbaha, Dohazari, Cox‘s bazaar,
100 Halishahar, Khulshi, Baraulia, Julda, Bakalia, Shamirpur, T.K
Chamical Complex, Modern Steel A.K Steel in Chittagong .
100
100
IV. PROBLEMS AND PROBABLE SOLUTIONS FOR EXISTING
1071 GRID INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM IN CHITTAGONG

As a royal city, more and more industries are being A. Incompetent Grid Connection
established in Chittagong. So electricity demand is increasing
at a decreasing rate.Table-02 shows the demand statistics of Dhaka-Chittagong national grid system is interconnected
power in Chittagong. The total generation of Chittagong by Hathazari grid substation with Hathazari-Comilla by
including all public and private power plants is about 1071 230KV transmission line and Hathazari-Feni by 132KV
MW in 2013 and the total load is 1150 MW. transmission line (Both line are double circuited). In case of
any major fault (such as Busbar or line protection failure) at
Table -02: Demand Statistics of Chittagong. Hathazari grid substation, the total interconnected grid system
of Chittagong will be disconnected from the national grid. [6]
Year Load(MW)
Solution:
2005 460
2006 512 This problem will be effectively solved if a 230 KV
2007 563 transmission line is established from Raojan to Madunaghat
and Madunaghat- to Sikalbaha substation. Because the Raojan
2008 625 420MW power station is linked only with Hathazari Sub-
station.
2009 687
2010 755
2011 945
2012 1035
2013 1150

III. EXISTING POWER SYSTEM IN CHITTAGONG

In Chittagong grid system, mainly two types of

transmission line are used according to voltage level. They are Figure 1: Proposed Dhaka-Chittagong Grid interconnection.
230KV and 132KV AC transmission line. The total length of
B. Conductor overload
The double circuit transmission lines from Hathazari to
Madunaghat and from Hathazari to Baraulia use ACSR
(Aluminum conductor steel reinforced) conductor having
Capacity 600A. Both lines are so old and they can‘t carry the
full load. Hence, overload is occurred in these lines which in
turn cause load shedding. If the Generation of Chittagong fails
due to shortage of gas and water, then all loads will come from
Dhaka through Hathazari grid Sub-Station and both lines will
be overloaded. [7]
Solution:
To solve this problem first we have to increase the power
generation of Chittagong. And the line conductor which is
used for the power transmission should be changed by AAAC
(All Aluminium Alloy Conductor) or Finch conductor. If the
weight of AAAC or Finch conductor do not support by
existing tower then a new 132 KV parallel transmission line
have to be installed.
Figure 2: solution for Conductor overload
C. Transformer Overload
A 40 MVA transformer is used in Madunaghat substation
to feed the load, where the total load of this substation is 33
MW to 40 MW. So this old existing transformer cannot full
fill the demand properly and the substation is not reliable
with this single transformer. If the overload or any major
fault occurs in this transformer the people under Madunaghat
substation will suffer by load shedding. [8]
Solution:
This problem can be solved by installing another
transformer of 40 MVA parallel with the existing one. It is
very essential to enhance the reliability of Madunaghat grid
substation.
D. Substation Overload
The present capacity of Khulshi grid substation is
126MVA and the maximum load capacity is 110MW where
the total load on this substation is more than 155 MW. If one
transformer trips by any cause then another one will trip due to
over current. On the other hand Khulshi grid substation has no
enough space to install another transformer and expansion the
132KV Bus bar. So regularly Khulshi substation faces
overload problem.
Solution:
A 132KV substation can be installed at Agrabad area. As
Khulshi-Halishahar 132KV transmission lines pass through
Agrabad area, it eliminates the installation of more 132KV
transmission line. Hence the solution is reasonable.
E. Transmission loss
The load of hill area (i.e Rangamati, Khagrachhri,
Bandarban) of greater Chittagong is supplied from the
Hathazari and Chandroghona grid substation by 33KV line.
Due to the low voltage level and long line length this line has
high line loss and voltage drop. So the consumer of this area
cannot operate electric load properly due to low voltage
problem. [9]
Solution
132/33KV grid substation should be installed at
Rangamati, Khagrachhri and Bandarban area. This substation
will be able to draw power from Chandraghona grid
substation. 132KV supply form Kaptai substation will be
economic. But Kaptai substation is operated by BPDB and
there is no facility to expand the existing 132KV bus bar.
Figure 3: Transmission loss overcome.
V. PROPOSED INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM FOR
CHITTAGONG
The best solution for Chittagong is to increase power
generation. The power generation of Chittagong should be
increased up to 1600MW in 2020 and new power station
should be installed except Gas. Because the existing 420MW
thermal power station and Sikalbaha (60+150=210) MW
thermal power station cannot continue due to shortage of gas
[10]. In this situation it will great be a mistake to install gas
dependent power station. If we install heavy farness oil power
station then per unit generation cost will be increased.
 Therefore, Chittagong region should think about nuclear or
coal power station. If we are able to install that type of power
station in Chittagong, the power generation & transmission
problem will be solved and then load shedding in Chittagong
will be negligible.
For better performance and reliability, 400 KV double
circuit grid interconnection lines from Sikalbaha substation to
Comilla (north) substation and another 230KV grid ring
should be established in Chittagong. Also, it is the best time to
give our attention on Renewable energy.
Figure-4 shows the proposed interconnection system for
Chittagong which solves the major problems of existing
interconnection system.
VI. CONCLUSION
This paper shows an analysis of problems and probable
solutions for existing interconnection system of Chittagong. It
requires infrastructural changes for higher efficiency,
reliability and performance. Finally a complete power system
interconnection is proposed to meet the demands and can be
considered as a milestone for this region.
As a part of future work, the problems and all probable
solutions will be analyzed for the total interconnected system
of Bangladesh. Finally, a unique power system design will be
proposed for the whole country with details cost analysis.
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