The key priorities of MSEDCL are to reduce the downtime of the power supply, improve the reliability and quality of the power supply, and ensure power for all.
In line with this, MSEDCL decided to conduct a pilot project to control & monitor the 11kv feeder and reduce the downtime of the power supply to the consumer. pilot project was designed for smart distribution automation, using an intelligent device with an in-built communication module, which relayed real-time parameters to a central monitoring station for processing and analysis.
The pilot project was conceived, designed, and implemented by Excelsource Industries (P) Ltd. (EIPL).
Overhead Distribution is prone to several fault conditions and restoration of power supply on 11 KV feeders under sustained faults takes considerable time and effort of operational staff and a large number of consumers do not get power supply for hours.
At present, if, a fault occurs in any section of the 11 KV feeder, the breaker at the substation end trips, and the power supply to the consumers of the entire feeder goes off. Restoration of the power supply of an 11KV feeder on a sustained fault is based on the Trial and Error Method by manually Switching ON & OFF the AB Switches provided at different sections (Main and tap lines) of the 11 KV Feeder. Off-load Air Break switches are provided at different sections of the line to sectionalize, identify, and isolate the faulty sections.
Restoration of power supply to healthy sections of the feeder is not possible without identification & isolation of the faulty section. As such healthy sections consumers also do not get a power supply for hours till a faulty section is identified & isolated. The process of locating & isolating faulty sections is manual and takes 3 to 4 hours and the consumers of healthy sections do not get a power supply for these long hours causing Revenue loss to the utility. Power quality, reliability, and key performance indicators are adversely affected due to the present system of identifying and isolation of faulty sections.
MSEDCL was keen to try an innovative, IoT (Internet-of-Things)-based solution on its power distribution network, to monitor & control the 11kv feeders in real-time, on a pilot basis. The results of the study were proposed to be used to identify vulnerabilities in the network and develop proof-of-concept for viable IoT-based solutions in power quality monitoring and analysis.
Excelsource Industries Pvt. Ltd. (EIPL) has developed an 11 KV Remotely Operated Connect-Disconnect Switch (RCDS), an innovative smart Distribution Automation system for Quick isolation of faulty sections of 11 KV feeder on Sustained Fault & no interruption of Power supply to consumers of Healthy Section. The pilot project was a smart automation system, involving RCDS & FRTU installed on the 11kv feeder. This is a relatively low-cost, cloud-based implementation, using IoT technologies.
Remotely Operated Connect-Disconnect Switch (RCDS) has having Vacuum interrupter with a solenoid for closing and a shunt trip coil for opening operation. RCDS Monitors HT ON/OFF, RCDS ON/OFF, Local/Remote status, Inverter healthiness, Battery voltages, Live current parameter, Total tripping, Relay status, etc.
For the pilot project, One feeder of 33|22/ 11 KV Sawarkhand Substation was identified at the Palghar subdivision. 11kv Dhekale Feeder has 60 Km of feeder length covering multiple rural areas near Manor.
Three RCDS were installed at these locations for easy control, monitoring, and automation of the feeder. The system was configured to operate and isolate the faulty section of the HT network in case of an emerging fault, preventing downtime of the feeder to other healthy sections of the network.
Some of the results and outcomes from the RCDS pilot project with MSEDCL are as follows
The MSEDCL pilot project demonstrated the usefulness of RCDS & FRTU for real-time monitoring control, as a smart grid application of distribution automation in DISCOMs. It has proven to be a cost-effective IoT (Internet-of-Things)-based solution that can be easily integrated with existing SCADA Systems. Reducing the Downtime to the consumers of healthy sections and increasing revenue gain while improving the SAIFI & SAIDI. Apart from measurable revenue gains, the solution provides safety and reliability to the HT distribution systems of MSEDCL, with real-time, remote monitoring, control, and automation of HT networks, reduced manpower cost and time to identify the faulty section, improved network efficiency, lower maintenance expenditure and improved quality of power supply
Established in 2003, Excelsource International Private Ltd. (EIPL) offers complete Sourcing Solutions to engineering goods, plants and machineries, consumable items, hospitality industry, and turnkey project management to our clients across the globe.