Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) is all set to launch the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA), a project under the restructured accelerated power development and reforms programme (RAPDRP), for improvement of electricity supply system, automation and real time monitoring.
In the initial phase the project will be implemented in three cities, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad.
Talking about the benefits of the project, Managing Director (MD) of JBVNL, Rahul Purwar said, “At present, if there is any fault in the electric feeder, a junior engineer has to rush on the spot to identify the problem, but once the system is implemented, the fault would be detected automatically.”
A feeder is a voltage power line that transfers power from a distribution substation to the distribution transformers. In case of a breakdown of a feeder, a JE and electricians have to rush on the spot and shut down the feeder in order to manually inspect it and locate the fault. This leads to power cuts in all the areas being supplied electricity through that particular feeder.
Under SCADA, a remote monitoring unit (RMU) is installed in every feeder so that in case of a defect, the engineers can monitor it from the data system in the control room and locate the problem.
“Ring system of electricity supply is also being implemented under which if one feeder is shut down then electricity is supplied to the affected areas through another source. This way the fault can be rectified without long duration of power cuts,” Purwar said.
The RMU under SCADA system has already been installed in feeders of all the three cities and testing is going on.
“Once the testing is successful, we plan to implement SCADA across State,” the MD said.
He added, “This will be a huge step towards reaching the target of zero power cut in the cities. A number of other steps including construction of new sub stations, enhancing power of old substations, installation of new electric lines and rejuvenation of old ones and much more is being done to achieve the target.”