Methods of Reducing the Power Supply Outage Time of Rural Consumers

Introduction

Statistical analysis shows that the damage causes of rural transmission lines within power supply outage are: operating shortcomings (45%), impact of natural weather phenomena (33%), impact of unauthorized people and organizations (15%), other causes (impact of birds, animals, etc.) (7%). Besides, it is noted that operating shortcomings also include tree falling and short circuits due to the touching of power line wires by the tree crowns. It results from untimely cutting of routes, wire breakage, falling of power transmission line supports, etc. It all leads to damage for both power consumers and electric network companies. At the same time, because of the lack of the operating mode monitoring systems as well as insufficient (or often completely absent) network automation, the power supply outage time for rural electrical networks is quite long (on the average more than 5 hours). During the year the power supply outage time for rural consumers is about 100 hours (OAO «Rosseti», 2013).

To develop methods for reducing the power supply restoration time, it is firstly necessary to investigate the components of the given time. In literary sources this aspect is not paid enough attention to, so it was carried out a series of studies based on statistical data obtained in the operation of electric grid companies and agricultural enterprises.

Evaluation of all time components of power supply outages allows developing methods for reducing them, which include first and foremost the methods for automation electrical networks. It includes methods of the sectionalizing and the backup of power networks.

Another important method of reducing the power supply outage time is to monitor the operating modes of electrical networks and their technical condition. It allows controlling the number and duration of outages in these networks, diagnosing outage causes as well as the voltage level deviation more than the permissible values. The monitoring system also automatically informs the dispatcher about the outages on specific sections of the electrical network considering the number and duration of these outages.

Thus, the purpose of the work is to develop methods for reducing the power supply outage time of rural consumers by means of automating and monitoring the operational modes of rural electrical networks.

To achieve the objective, it is necessary to solve a number of tasks:

• 1.

  To analyze the structure of the power supply outage time and identify possible reserves for its reduction;

• 2.

  To develop methods and means for reducing the power supply outage time by monitoring the operating modes and the technical condition of electrical networks;

• 3.

  To develop methods and means for reducing the power supply outage time by automating electrical networks of rural consumers.

Background

The recent power industry faces such challenges as the introduction of distributed power generation, the need to improve the power quality (PQ) and the reliability of power supply, environmental problems with traditional methods of power generation, the desire to reduce the expenses on the maintenance and modernization of power network equipment, and finally, the need to improve the power supply efficiency (Vinogradov et al, 2018). The works of both domestic and foreign scientists are devoted to these problems (Leshchinskaya & Magadeev, 2008; Leshchinskaya & Polyanina, 2005; Perova, 2007; Stepanov & SHpiganovich, 2015; Trojanowska, 2014). The development of technologies has influenced the improvement of distributed power generation, including renewable energy sources (RES) and energy storage, as well as the development of traditional power supply systems. The main direction of power supply system development is the multiple complication of electrical network management systems. Despite the complication, this leads to an increase in the efficiency of entire power supply systems (PSS). PSS management schemes should consider the many uncertainties in the system that may arise due to the load starting and load shedding in the network in order to respond to them (Momoh, 2009). To solve these problems, many energy companies modernize their generation and distribution system, which leads to the use of Smart Grid (SG).