Distribution Automation
DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION
Abstract— This White Paper on, “Power systems” addresses the working process, benefits and challenges of implementing Distribution Automation in electrical power distribution sector. The demand for electrical energy is increasing every day. Today over 24% of total electrical energy generated in India is lost in transmission (6%) and distribution (18%). The electrical power deficit in country is currently about 18%. Therefore reduction in distribution losses can reduce this deficit significantly. It is possible to bring down distribution losses to (6-8%) level with the help of distribution automation. Due to the absence of monitoring, overloading occurs in distribution transformers, which results in low voltage at the customer end and increases the risk of frequent breakdowns of transformers and feeders. In fact, transformer breakdown rate in India is around 20%, in contrast to less than 2% in some advanced countries. This problem can be rectified by implementing distribution automation systems which will enable better monitoring and control. In Distribution Automation (DA) system, various quantities like voltage, current, switch status, and temperature are recorded in the field at distribution transformers and feeders, using data acquisition device called Remote Terminal Units (RTU). These system quantities are transmitted on-line to substation through variety of communication media .The measured field data are processed at substation for displaying any selected system quantity through Graphic User Interface (GUI). In the event of any system quantity crossing a pre-defined level, an alarm is automatically generated for operator intervention .So that the respective control action will be initiated by operator or automatically and transmitted from base station through communication channel to remote terminal unit associated with corresponding control action that is initiated. The desired
Abstract— This White Paper on, “Power systems” addresses the working process, benefits and challenges of implementing Distribution Automation in electrical power distribution sector. The demand for electrical energy is increasing every day. Today over 24% of total electrical energy generated in India is lost in transmission (6%) and distribution (18%). The electrical power deficit in country is currently about 18%. Therefore reduction in distribution losses can reduce this deficit significantly. It is possible to bring down distribution losses to (6-8%) level with the help of distribution automation. Due to the absence of monitoring, overloading occurs in distribution transformers, which results in low voltage at the customer end and increases the risk of frequent breakdowns of transformers and feeders. In fact, transformer breakdown rate in India is around 20%, in contrast to less than 2% in some advanced countries. This problem can be rectified by implementing distribution automation systems which will enable better monitoring and control. In Distribution Automation (DA) system, various quantities like voltage, current, switch status, and temperature are recorded in the field at distribution transformers and feeders, using data acquisition device called Remote Terminal Units (RTU). These system quantities are transmitted on-line to substation through variety of communication media .The measured field data are processed at substation for displaying any selected system quantity through Graphic User Interface (GUI). In the event of any system quantity crossing a pre-defined level, an alarm is automatically generated for operator intervention .So that the respective control action will be initiated by operator or automatically and transmitted from base station through communication channel to remote terminal unit associated with corresponding control action that is initiated. The desired