Rural networks inherited
by NPCL and subsequently expanded to widen the scope
of supply was in line with European practices characterized
by long low tension (LT) network fed from an 11/0.4
kV transformer. Even for supplying to widely dispersed
load blocks of agricultural pumps, similar LT network
arrangement was adopted resulting in an unsatisfactory
situation stemming from factors like:
- Rampant
pilferage from accessible low voltage lines causing
revenue losses.
Field survey suggested that on an average, there
existed 2 cases of unauthorized abstraction of
energy for every 3 authorized agricultural connections.
- High technical
losses attributable to high LT current on the
network.
- Calculations based on field data indicated that
for a group of load consisting of 3 authorized
and 2 unauthorized pump connections, the technical
loss accounted for 8.17% of the total energy intake
for 3 authorized connections.
- High peak
power loss of network due to unauthorized load
For a given situation of 3 authorized and 2 unauthorized
pumps, the peak power loss was found 40 % of the
total authorized power requirement.
- Unsatisfactory
voltage profile at consumer installations.
The minimum voltage at the customer premises was
recorded as 370 volts against the rated voltage
of 430 Volts
- Unreliable
supply consequent upon overloading of LT lines
LT faults per annum per 100-circuit km of lines
supplying agricultural pumps were as high as 1500.
Against this backdrop, high voltage distribution
system (HVDS) was conceived in NPCL as a means to
curb the menace of pilferage of energy, reduce peak
power loss, improve voltage profile and enhance
reliability of supply arrangement.
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