Smart Grid Technology and Application

Fig-Transformer Connection

What is Smart Grid Technology?

A smart grid is an electricity network which includes a variety of equipped and energy measures including smart meters, smart appliances, renewable energy resources, and energy efficiency resources based on digital technology that is used to supply electricity to consumers via two-way digital communication. The term smart-Grid also known as digital-grid that refers to the new digital technology or to modernize the electrical network grid.

How Smart Grid Uses in Electricity Network System?

The expression Smart-grid usually refers to a category of technology folk’s square measure exploitation to bring utility electricity delivery systems into the twenty first century, exploitation computer-based device and automation. 

These systems square measure created potential by two-way communication technology and PC process that has been used for many years in alternative industries. 

They’re getting down to be used on electricity networks, from the facility plants and wind farms all the thanks to the shoppers of electricity in homes and businesses. 

They provide several advantages to utilities and shoppers -principally seen in huge enhancements in energy potency on the electricity grid and within the energy users’ homes and offices.

For a century, utility firms have had to send employees bent on gather a lot of the info required to produce electricity. 

The employees browse meters, explore for broken instrumentality and live voltage, as an example. 

Most of the devices utilities use to deliver electricity have however to be machine-driven and computerized. Now, several choices and product square measure being created out there to the electricity business to modernize it.

Smart Technology Association to Smart Grid

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The grid amounts to the networks that carry electricity from the plants wherever it's generated to shoppers. The grid includes cables, substation-equipment like- transformers, switches, control system and so on.

Much within the approach that smart- phones are recently suggests that a phone with a PC in it, good grid suggests that computerizing the electrical utility grid. It includes adding two-way electronic communication technology to devices related to the grid. 

Every device on the network are often given sensors to collect knowledge (power meters, voltage sensors, fault detectors, etc.), and two-way electronic communication between the device within the field and also the utility’s network operations center. 

A key feature of the good grid is automation technology that lets the utility change and management every individual device or variant devices from a central location.

The number of applications which will be used on the good grid once the info engineering is deployed is growing as quick as creative firms can produce and turn out them. 

Advantages embrace increased cyber-security, handling sources of electricity like wind and alternative energy and even integration electric vehicles onto the grid. 

The businesses creating good grid technology or providing such services embrace technology giants, established communication companies and even greenhorn technology companies.

Smart Grid System in Bangladesh

As a modern concept smart grid which refers mainstream power transmission network system solution in Bangladesh, transmission system engineers should be acquainted with the knowledge of Smart transmission or smart grid System.

In its national leadership role, Power Grid may have partnered with key stakeholders from business, academia, and state governments to modernize the nation’s electricity delivery system. Power Grid and its partners determine analysis and development (R&D) priorities that address challenges and accelerate transformation to a better grid, supporting demonstration of not solely good grid technologies however additionally new business models, policies, and social group advantages. Power Grid has incontestable leadership in advancing this transformation through cooperative efforts with energy regulatory authority on good Grid.

Aligning Stakeholders to Achieve Smart Grid Network

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In leading a national transformation to a better grid, Power Grid may begin to outline not solely a vision for the long run electrical delivery system however additionally the practical characteristics. 

Power Grid take initiative to form a practicum involving regulators, utilities, vendors, legislators, analysis establishments, universities, and alternative stakeholders to forge a standard vision and scope for the good grid. 

This biennial effort must result in identification of the principal good grid practical characteristics that comprise the muse of Power Grid’s good grid program.

As outlined by the principal characteristics, Power Grid can encompass a vision of a wise grid that uses digital technology to boost reliability, resiliency, flexibility, and potency (both economic and energy) of the electrical distribution system. The strategy to realize this vision hinges upon activities that directly address the technical, business, and institutional challenges to realizing a better grid.

Smart grid demonstrations and preparation activities cash in of the chemical action impact of considerable investments within the producing, getting and installation of devices and systems. 

These activities leverage efforts below approach within the analysis and development activity space and can facilitate develop important performance and proof-of-concept knowledge. 

This activity space is additionally developing a framework for analyzing good grid metrics and advantages, which are important to assist, build the business case for cost-efficient good grid technologies.

Research and development activities advance good grid practicality by developing innovative, next-generation technologies and tools within the areas of transmission, distribution, energy storage, power physics, and cyber security and also the advancement of precise time-synchronized measures of sure parameters of the electrical grid.

Interoperability and Standards activities make sure that new devices can interoperate in very secure surroundings as innovative digital technologies square measure enforced throughout the electricity delivery system, advancing the economic and energy security of us. 

The continuing good grid ability method guarantees to steer to versatile, uniform, and technology-neutral standards that modify innovation, improve client selection, and yield economies of scale. 

Ability and standards activities don't seem to be restricted to technical info standards; they need to be advanced in conjunction with business processes, markets and also the restrictive surroundings.

Interconnection coming up with and analysis activities produce larger certainty with relation to future generation, as well as characteristic transmission necessities below a broad vary of other electricity futures (e.g., intensive application of demand-side technologies) and developing semi permanent interconnection-wide transmission growth plans.

Monitoring national progress activities establish metrics to point out progress with relation to overcoming challenges and achieving good grid characteristics. 

TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICAL POWER EFFICIENT AND SMARTLY

Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Power Efficient and Smartly.

Considering the main parts of a typical Transmission & Distribution network, here are the average values of power losses at the different steps:

1-2% – Step-up transformer from generator to Transmission line
2-4% – Transmission line
1-2% – Step-down transformer from Transmission line to Distribution network
4-6% – Distribution network transformers and cables

The overall losses between the power plant and consumers is then in the range between 8 and 15%.

Except some isolated individual normal generation, most of national grid electricity is not used in the same place where it is generated. Meaning is that some individual normal scale generator may produce electricity for industrial, commercial or residential purposes where it used; but mass scale produced electricity actually generates far distance from consumer or city center.   Sense is that long-distance electrical transmission and distribution systems are necessary; that is ours topic today Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Power Efficient and Smartly.

There are many obligations, advantages and disadvantages of electrical power generation, transmission and distribution from distance to consumer end; but todays focus only energy losses due to transmitting electricity over distance via networks. Electrical energy losses are very well known to us as system loss.

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There is a myth here in Bangladesh, system losses means it is causes of some dishonest employees of the utility company. Fact is that without system losses electrical network is not possible ever. Following efficient and smart electrical energy transmission and distribution system this losses may keep in economic level, not in zero level.

In presence of high electrical power demand compare to less power generation in Bangladesh we need to minimize this loss to achieve the main goals: Reduce resource consumption while delivering more power to users. Reducing consumption can be done in at least two ways: deliver electrical energy more efficient and smartly and change consumer habits.

Transmitting electrical energy from generating station to user’s end through electrical transmission and distribution network require power cable, power transformer, operating and protective equipments which create three types of energy loss:

Energy is lost as heat in copper or aluminium conductor, causes joule effect;

Energy dissipates into a magnetic field which is magnetic loss;

Energy is absorbed in insulating materials, causes of dielectric effect.

Above-mentioned causes for loss of electricity is totally technical, expert and engineers only can control this type of losses. Others way electricity user also can control the loss and reduce their consumption just changing their habits.

Changing consumer habits needs smart awareness-raising programmes, taking undertaken by governments or activist groups over and over again. Simple things, such as turning off lights in unoccupied rooms, or switching off the television/electronic devices at night (not just putting standby mode), use water pump/ laundry at non-peak hour, or setting the air-conditioner temperature at 25^oC.

Technology is changing and improving day by day, of course also for electrical energy transmitting system. More efficient and smart conductors, transformers and equipments are building for energy transmission and distribution network. High efficiency transformers, superconducting transformers, high temperature superconductor are new smart and efficient technologies in this side.

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Just getting idea, conductor losses about 2.5% to 3%, transformer and equipment losses about 1% to 2%. Imagine what is our benefit if 1% energy is saved or loss is reduced; say our electricity generation is 10,000 mega watts. 1% loss means 100 mega watts that can electrify more 20,000 houses, in rural area it may be 100,000 houses. So, you electricity user can efficient and smart your electrical power transmission and distribution of system and light up more houses just switching off your un-occupied rooms. 

Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Power Efficient and Smartly

OUTDOOR STRUCTURE FOR HIGH VOLTAGE POWER CABLE

Fig-A Typical Outdoor Grid Substation

Outdoor Steel Structure Design and Installation for HV & EHV Power Cable

The structures shall be designed to carry cable sealing ends, cables and cleats, earthing bars, earth disconnecting links, sunshields and other fittings  should be followed an adequate design manner.

Each sealing end should be provide with a separate structure which be positioned so as to align with the phase center distances of the substation equipment but not less than the minimum electrical and safety clearness as international standard like specified in BS 162.

All structures should be equipped with a suitable framework mounted immediately below the sealing ends to accommodate a phase plate in a conspicuous position. All phase plates shall be manufactured from mild steel sheet with vitreous enameled finish.

Don’t compromise to provide for fixing and bonding copper fittings as may be necessary to accommodate all apparatus affixed thereto and to secure the structures to their foundations.

Factors of Safety on Outdoor Structure for 132kV Power Cable

The factor of safety for each complete structure and foundation should not be less than 2.0, based upon the maximum working loadings specified and described below.

In calculations of the factor of safety the strength of compression members should be based on the crippling loads as International Standard formula.

The strength of both tension and compression members should be based on the elastic limit and the rate of unsupported length to their least radius of gyration should not be more than:

120 - for main members

200 - for braces

250 - for redundant members

350 - for members loaded in tension only

Maximum Simultaneous Working Loads on Outdoor Structure

The assumed maximum simultaneous working loads on the structures should be reckoned as follows:

Wind Loading of Structure

i) A wind pressure of 1427 N/m2 applied at right angles to the lines on the whole projected areas of phase conductors of 1686 n/m2 in the case of earth wires. A wind pressure of 1427 N/m2 shall also be applied to the projected area of each insulator set.

ii) A wind pressure of 4280 N/m2 on the whole projected area of any one face of the structure.

Vertical Loading on Structure

Vertical loadings should include dead weight of all conductors insulator and equipment and the self weight of the structure. 

All structures also should be capable of supporting a loading of 150 kg per phase to allow for imposed loads of men and tools during maintenance however this loading is not to be combined with other loadings in checking the overall factor of safety.

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Design of Outdoor Steel Structure for 132 kV Power Cable Installation

Fig-CAD drawing for steel structure

The compression members shall consist of rolled steel sections and the tension members of rolled steel sections or flats. The design shall be such as to keep the number of different parts as small as 

Pockets or depressions likely to hold water shall be avoided and if not avoidable shall be properly drained.

Steel structures should be fabricated from either mild steel BS4360 grade 43A or high tensile steel BS 4360 part 2 grade 50C. Notable that all material should be free from blisters, scale or other defects.

All members should be stamped or marked for erection purposes.

All members, fittings, bolts, washers, screwed rods, nuts etc., should be galvanized.

All parts shall be secured by means of bolts and nuts and screwed rods whose minimum diameter shall be 12.5 mm. All nuts and pins shall be locked in position by means of lock washers or other approved devices. Taper washers should be provided where necessary.

When in position, all bolts or screwed rods shall project through the corresponding nuts but by no more than 10 mm. Bolt heads rather than nuts shall be on the outer faces of members.

No bolts hole shall be more than 1.5 mm larger than the diameter of the bolt, but after galvanizing sufficient clearance shall be left for insertion of the bolts.

During erection care shall be taken to ensure that the structures are not strained or damaged in any way and that the treated surfaces are not injured. Rust streaks and foreign matter deposited on galvanized surfaces during transport and storage shall be removed.

Workmanship of Steel Structure

All members shall be cut to jig and all holes shall be drilled or punched to jig so that when the members are in position the holes will be truly opposite each other before being bolted up. Drifting or reaming of holes will not be allowed.

The drilling, punching, cutting and bending of all steelwork and the removal of sharp edges and burrs shall take place before galvanizing.

Approved steel gauges of the stud type shall be provided to enable checking of members as may be considered necessary by the qualified Engineer.

Built members shall when finished be true and free from al kinks, twists and open joints and the material shall not be defective or strained in any way.

In order to check the workmanship, not less than 1% of the members corresponding to each type of support shall if required be selected at random and assembled to form complete supports in the presence of the qualified Engineer at the manufacture’s works.

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Sun-shields on Structure for Power Cables

At places where power cables are brought above ground level e.g. sealing end structures, proper sun shields shall be provided and fitted. These shall comprise of perforated cable trays galvanized and fitted externally to each. Sealing end structure such as to shield the cable from sunlight and allow air flow over the cable.

Marking on Steel Structure Sections

All steel sections, fish-plates and gusset plates should be indelibly marked with an assembly code number or letter, or a combination of both, to facilitate quick recognition and correct assembly. If this identification is stamped on to the member, it’s may  applied before galvanizing.

What is the Meaning of XLPE for Power Cable?

What Is XLPE or Cross Linked Polyethylene?

In straight, the meaning of XLPE is cross-linked polyethylene. Cross-linked polyethylene is widely used as electrical insulation in power cables. Especially for medium to High and Extra-high Voltage power cable recently using XLPE insulation. Actually XLPE is the most common polymeric insulation material.

Generally Low Voltage- 11 kV and below cable system use PVC and medium to high and extra-high voltage- 33kv and above uses XLPE as their insulation.

Main Feature of XLPE and PVC Insulation Cable

PVC insulated Cable can work at maximum 70 Centigrade temperature, where XLPE insulated Cable can works at 90 Centigrade.

During short circuit condition around three second (3 sec) PVC insulated Cable can last up to at 160 Centigrade where XLPE insulated Cable up to 250 Centigrade.


Usually service life of XLPE insulated cable is longer than PVC insulated cable.


XLPE insulated Cable is more environment friendly than PVC insulated Cable because XLPE is not containing chlorine which will release toxic gases at burning time.


PVC insulated cable is better to prevent penetrated environment like water proof performance than the XLPE insulated cable.


XLPE insulated cable usually little costlier than PVC insulated cable.

Electrical Properties of XLPE

The study functioning on black concentration and temperature in heating-cooling cycles found that

Fine black- the resistivity and PTC (positive temperature coefficient) effect did not significantly change, whereas coarse black-  effect of crosslinking‐was to significantly increase the resistivity and reduce the PTC effect.

The main advantages of XLPE is good electrical re-productivity and to practically eliminate the NTC -negative temperature coefficient effect.

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More properties about XLPE

Density (g/cm3) 0.93

Surface Hardness              SD58

Tensile Strength (MPa)    18

Flexural Modulus (GPa)   0.6

Notched Izod (kJ/m)        1.06+

Linear Expansion  (/°C x 10-5)       20

Elongation at Break (%)  350

Strain at Yield (%)             N/Y

Max. Operating Temp. (°C)            90

Water Absorption (%)      0.01

Oxygen Index (%)              17

Flammability UL94           HB

Volume Resistivity (log ohm.cm)  16

Dielectric Strength (MV/m)           21

Dissipation Factor 1kHz   0.0004

Dielectric Constant  1kHz               2.2

HDT @ 0.45 MPa (°C)       60

HDT @ 1.80 MPa (°C)       60

Material. Drying  hrs @ (°C)       NA

Melting Temp. Range (°C)    150 - 170

Mould Shrinkage (%)        3

Mould Temp. Range (°C) 20 -  80

Equipment Grounding for De-energized Construction and Maintenance

Importance of  Equipment Grounding for De-energized Construction and Maintenance:

Why grounding Is Require?

Electricity never give you the second chance. So, for safety 99.99% is not enough until 100%. Working with electrical equipment, switch off the power line is not enough for safe; it is very much essential to ensure de-energized the line by grounding.

How Does Grounding Work?

Sometime we even an expert also make mistake to grounding which electricity may get chance to takeaway our valuable life and property. So, no more literature; come and join the Hubbell Power Systems provided video clip to keep safe all of our colleagues:  Video Clip 

What Is Pipe Earthing And Plate Earthing?

Pipe Earthing is the best form of earthing. This is very cheaper than others in cost. In this method of earthing, a galvanized and perforated pipe of approved length and diameter is placed up right in a permanently wet soil.

The size of pipe depends upon the current following amount  to be supposed  and the type of soil condition, dry or wet. If the moisture of soil is very low ( or decreases in Summer ), in such case the resistance of earth is increases.

Plate Earthing an earthing plate of copper of generally dimensions 60cm×60cm×3mm or of galvanized iron of dimensions 60cm×60cm×6mm is buried into the ground with its face vertical to a depth of not less than 3 meter from ground level. High surface area allow the system to allow the high amount of current flow through the earth without any difficulty.

A normal masonry brick wall enclosure with a cast iron cover on top or an RCC pipe round the earth plate is provided to facilitate it .

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Specifications for Earth Electrodes

Generally we follow the following Earth Electrode specifications: The earthing electrode should not be placed near the building whose installation system is earthed more than 1.5 m away. The resistance of the earth wire should not be more than 1 ohm. The wire use for electrode and circuit should be made up of the same material. The electrodes should be placed in vertical position so that it can touch the layers of the earth. Better to select the size of the conductor should not be less than 2.6 sqmm or half of the wire used for electrical wiring. Bare copper wire is used for earthing and grounding for it's long lasting and good conductive properties. Green 6 THHN (Thermoplastic high heat neutral coating wire) and gauged copper wire of different sizes like 2,4,6,8 etc. are also used for earthing and grounding.

INDUSTRIAL LABOUR AND GENERAL LAWS: CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN BANGLADESH

 

Who will ensure the Industrial Labour Laws for Construction Labor at Site

To ensure the industrial labour laws for employee of construction industry should follow the general laws as, the Service Provider must include for the provision of all necessary supervisory skilled and unskilled labour for erecting, testing and commissioning the works, together with all necessary transport, accommodation where required and other services to support his supervisory and labour force to meet the specified work completion. A staff tree of the Service Provider’s site organization for carrying out the agreed work should be set out in the schedules. The Service Providers forecast site staffing levels are to be submitted in a bar chart showing the duration of stay of each member. This bar chart will not form any limiting factor on the quantities of staff to be provided.

How Labour Facilities Denoted in Employer- Contractor Agreement

The Agreement Terms and Condition between Employer and Service Provider found in a sample case-study on construction industry as below:

Living Accommodation Commandments for Site Labour

The Employer will not provide any housing accommodation for the Service Provider’s expatriate staff and the cost of these should be deemed to be included in the contract sum.

Storage and Working Areas Rules

The Service Provider should negotiate for and make payment for the lease of land for his site operation to include offices and equipment storage.

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Office Accommodation Guidelines

The Service Provider is to provide such temporary building as may be necessary for office accommodation for his site staff and the Engineer’s representative or representatives of the employer during the erection of the works.

Health Regulations

All Service Providers' employees should comply with the appropriate International Health Regulations and any local health regulations which may apply from time to time in Bangladesh.

Service Provider’s Employees

The Service Provider and all persons employed by him on the site in or about the execution of the works should conform in all respects with the provisions of all acts and orders, and regulations made by competent authority that should be applicable to the works or any temporary works and will be binding upon the service provider or persons employed as aforesaid and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing such matters as concerns the safety, health or welfare of persons working on the site. And the Engineer may require the immediate removal from site of any person who in the opinion of the Engineer fails properly to observe the provisions of this Clause and such person should not be employed again in the works without the permission of the Engineer.

The provision of this Clause should apply to and be binding upon any sub-Service Provider employed by the Service Provider for any part of the works on the site and the persons employed by such sub-service provider and the service provider should secure that proper and adequate provisions to this end are included in the sub-contract.

Identification of Service Provider’s Employees, Vehicles and Camps

The Service Provider should provide each of his employees and his sub-service provider’s employees with a suitable badge bearing the name or initials of the service provider. Each employee should wear his badge upon his person while at work on the site in such a manner that it will be plainly visible as a means of identification. All vehicles used by the service provider or his sub-service provider on the work should be clearly marked with the service provider’s or sub-service provider’s business name. The service provider’s camps, storage, depots and other facilities should also be clearly identified.

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What Should General Character of Workmen be

The Service Provider should employ only persons who are competent to perform the work assigned to them and in the case of skilled laborers, only those who are adequately trained and experienced in their respective trades and who do satisfactory work.

Whenever the Employer notify the Service Provider that any person on the work is, in his opinion, incompetent, unfaithful, or disorderly, or who uses threatening or abusive language to any person representing the Engineer or Employer, such person should be immediately discharged from the work and should not be re-employed thereon except with the consent of the Employer.

Particular attention is drawn to the fact that entry into Bangladesh is the subject of restriction. All new entrants are currently required to be in possession of visas and entry permits. However entry requirements may change from time to time and the Service Provider should be obliged to check and ensure that all his expatriate staff complies with these requirements.

Rules to Use Local Sub-Service Providers

It is considered important to encourage and develop the skill of Bangladesh Service Providers and to help to achieve this development of local expertise the Service Provider should place sub-contracts for erection work, cable installation and termination with approved Bangladesh Service Providers.

A list of approved local Service Providers can be obtained from Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Ltd, Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) Ltd, and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The Service Provider should provide the minimum number of expatriate Engineers and skilled workers as may be deemed necessary to ensure satisfactory and timely completion of the works in accordance with the Master Program.

How Perform Maintenance Your Utility Equipment

How Perform Maintenance and keep Your Utility Fit for all Time

This article How Maintenance Your Utilities tried to make sense about the basic concepts of utility maintenance types and procedure like: Corrective Maintenance (CM), Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Condition-based Maintenance (CBM) of the asset or equipment of any company to run the utility smoothly.

CM, PM and CBM

What is Corrective Maintenance

The real meaning of run to failure is corrective maintenance. The approach of this maintenance is to replace the defective part with a new one only when it is out of work. This is the traditional and very popular method for facility maintenance. Amazingly truth that many company personnel believe and popularly follow- this is the only maintenance procedure. 

There is no way to avoid corrective maintenance, because this happens facility stopped working completely. So, it’s become obligatory for a company to keep an emergency maintenance team ready to overcome breakdown.

Though corrective maintenance is the most economical solution among the maintenance policies but it is not fit for good customer service, good production plan and time & cost plan.

What is Preventive Maintenance

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Preventive maintenance is related to follow a planned and organized schedule.  After a period of interval the prescribed part should be check, maintenance, and replace whether the part or component is still working or not.

Preventive maintenance introduces a way to facility maintenance operations that allows some sorts of control-ability into the plate, including planning and scheduling of routine maintenance work of assets.

Failures cannot be totally avoided failure might still happen between the intervals, but this helps to run the system smoothly and increase the working life time of the equipment.

What is Condition-Based Maintenance

Condition-based maintenance actually rationalizes prevention, this system helps to find out the weak or near most breakdown points by physical checking the symptoms of failure.

This system is easy for administrator to identifying anomalies early enough to minimize the impact of operational interruptions, avoid expensive failures including collateral damage.

Many companies like manufacturing, process and power generating industries following this condition based maintenance to reduce maintenance cost and satisfactory customer services

Go maintenance in time, avoid breakdown your plant. 

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