A Simple and Generalized Model to Compute LT Distribution Loss and Testing of its Applicability
Date
2023-07
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
IOE Pulchowk Campus
Abstract
The loss is the major problem for all electric utilities worldwide. Power loss occurs in
all parts of the power system that include generation, transmission, and distribution
loss. Most of the losses occur in the electricity distribution system. For the economic
operation of the power system, these losses should be minimized by formulating and
implementing proper loss reduction strategies and techniques. The electric utility can
segregate losses, identify their priority, and may launch effective loss reduction
strategies and techniques. Distribution feeder losses are grouped as technical loss (TL)
and non-technical losses (NTL). The total loss of a LT feeder can be determined by
knowing the total energy supplied by a transformer and the energy consumed by all
consumers connected to that transformer. The difference between the total loss and
technical loss is the non-technical loss and without knowing the TL NTL cannot be
determined. But the determination of the TL of a LT feeder by simulation is tedious
and time-consuming as the network of the LT line is complex and irregular. Therefore,
some mathematical model shall be formulated which can help to determine the TL of
the LT line in an easier and faster way. This research intends to find a simple and
generalized model to compute LT distribution loss and testing of its applicability.
This research is based on the real field data of certain parts of the Balaju Distribution
Center, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Five different distribution feeders of the
urban area and five different distribution feeders of the rural area are taken for the
analysis. Losses for those distribution feeders are found after load flow analysis on
ETAP. Similarly, losses for the same distribution feeders are found using uniformly
distributed load (UDL) and uniformly varying load (UVL) concepts and compared with
ETAP simulation results. The study shows that, for the urban area, losses obtained from
ETAP simulation and UDL concept are nearly equal with a maximum error of 3.86%
while that of ETAP and UVL concept is not equal as there is a maximum variation of
51.32%. Similarly, for the rural areas, losses obtained from ETAP simulation and UDL
concept are not equal with a maximum error of 26.83% and that of ETAP and UVL
concept is also not equal as there is a maximum variation of 23.01%.
Thus, the study shows that the losses of rural area LT feeders cannot be computed using
either UDL or UVL concept but the losses of urban area LT feeders can be computed
using the UDL concept with a maximum error of 3.86 %.
Description
The loss is the major problem for all electric utilities worldwide. Power loss occurs in
all three parts which include generation, transmission, and distribution loss. Major
portion of the losses occurs in distribution system. Electric utility should segregate
losses at each stages before implementing loss reduction techniques
Keywords
uniformly varying load (UVL), LT Distribution