GIS Based Modeling and Performance Improvement of Distribution Network (Case Study: Adama Town 15 kV Distribution Network)

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Date

2021-12

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Different Studies show that power distribution systems in Ethiopia is the weakest area compared to generation and transmission. In this thesis work, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based modeling and performance improvement of Adama town 15kV distribution network was done that can enable operation and planning offices to take measurements based on the proposed methods. The attribute and electrical data are obtained from the already available data base and also additional data was collected on field visit. Then database was created and the network was mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). By integrating the GIS database with the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP), modeling and power flow analysis were done by ETAP Software for all ten (10) 15kV feeders under the study. Line 1 was selected as it is experienced significance power loss and voltage drop compare to the others. This thesis was mainly concerned with the power losses and voltage drop of the distribution network. Optimal Capacitor Placement (OCP), Conductor Upgrading (CU), and the combined solution of OCP and CU techniques were used to reduce power loss and improve voltage profile for both the normal and design scenarios for distribution network. The result shows that the combined solution of OCP and CU gives the maximum active power loss reduction (57.6%), followed by CU (42.9%) and OCP (32. 9%). It also shows the highest bus voltage prof ile (≥ 0.971pu), f ollowed by OCP (≥ 0.942pu) and CU (≥ 0.91pu). However, the combined solution of OCP and CU needs higher initial capital investment cost of Birr 8,652,573.61 with return of investment of 1.40 years, whereas CU and OCP needs initial capital investment cost of Birr 5,607,309.85 and Birr 3,045,263.76 with return of investment of 1.21 year and 0.86 year, respectively. Thus, among the three cases, OCP is selected f or the current scenario due to its best active power loss minimization and minimum voltage drop with best return of investment. On the other hand, the result for the design scenario (10 years forecast) shows that the combined solution of OCP and CU gives the highest active power loss reduction (57.7%), followed by CU (46.3%) and OCP (22.3%). It also shows the highest bus voltage profile (≥ 0.894pu), while the maximum bus voltage for CU and OCP were 0.840pu and 0.835pu, respectively. Hence, among the three cases, the combined solution of OCP and CU is selected for the design scenario (10 years load forecast) due to its best power loss minimization and minimum voltage drop. In general, the results of this study revealed that for short term solution, optimal capacitor placement (OCP) method is proposed, whereas for long term solution, the combined solution of optimal capacitor placement and replacement of overloaded conductor with optimal conductor size is proposed, to be implemented to improve the performance of distribution network on the bases of loss reduction and voltage profile improvement.

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Keywords

GIS, distribution network, power flow analysis, ETAP, power loss, voltage drop, optimal capacitor placement, Conductor upgrading

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