Electric Outdoor Substation Model Project

Earlier in the year I mentioned that I would embark on a year long project to understand the inner workings on an outdoor electric substation. So here I start after taking some time off to study my Chinese - which in fact has improved.

Now this project will basicaly entail creating a model of each unit that is in a subsytation, link them using wires and perhaps use 240V to simulate the working. To add some salt, I will embeed my ArduinoUNO + Raspberry Pi and a few LEDs to make a SCADA system hopefully controlled from my PC or my phone to shutdown/on the sub-station.
Yeah, I know this sounds crazy but it will require funds plus careful planning and drawings to ascertain the project. I will document everything like it would be in a real life project including the Tendering and delivery of the equipment - all this for learning.

Also I noted that there are specific softwares that are used to design substations, so I hope they have 90 Days trials, this will come in handy.

My Chinese exams are in May (HSK) so incase my english starts to depeceiate significantly, kindly notify me :-) :-)

Here in my country Kenya we are going to the polls on 4th of March so hope there will be peace and no violence, am praying very hard for peace.

Anyway let me start...Have an electrifying week + Peace to all Kenyans

Image Credits: Buildpedia.com

Ngong Wind Power - Kenya

Installed Capacity: 5.1 Mega Watts

Commisioning Year: 2009

Wind Turbines: 6

Output of each turbine: 850kW

Model: Vestas V52

Main Contractor TPF-Econoler SA (Belgium)

Location:Ngong Hills, 22km SW of capital, Nairobi - Kenya.

Standing tall at a height of 50m from the ground, the wind turbines rotate at the winds pace in a bid to generate Kenya's source of Wind Power.The Ngong Wind Power Project which was commissioned in August 2009, is Kenya's largest Wind Power Station but will come second once the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (LTWP) is completed.

The 6 Turbines, each with a maximum output of 850kW produce a total of 5.1MW of clean energy into the grid.For the Vestas V52 Model turbines, KenGen executed a contract for the implementation of Ngong Hills Wind Power project with TPF-Econoler SA (TPFE) of Belgium on 29th October 2007.

Kenya receives sh.3.79 Billion to finance regional energy projects

Kenya has recently aquired  a 3.97billion loan form the African Development Bank. This is part of a regional grids of five countries.The five countries include Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Congo & Rwanda. Speaking during the signing ceremony, at The Treasury building, Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, said the project will enhance cross border sharing of electricity and development at low cost power resources. The loab deal was signed by AfDB representative: Mrs. Domina Buzingo.

This loan will facilitate:

1. Upgrading of 769km of 220kV and 110kV Power lines.
2. Construction & Reinforcement of 17 transformers to interconnect the grids of the Nile Equatorial Lake Countries.
3. Construction of a 220kV double circuit transmission line from the border of Uganda to the substation at Lessos - which shall be expanded with additional transformers & switchgear
4. Uganda - Rwanda interconnection, upgrading of the Burundi, DRC and Rwanda interconnection lines.
5. Operational Costs.

One of the major potential sources of power is the Iinga Dam in DRC which has a potential of 40GW

The Star-Delta 3-phase Motor Starting Method

The Star Delta starting method is a motor starting mechanism that minimizes the large amount of starting current that motors draw in. The Star Delta, as the name suggests basically involves feeding the motor with 1/sq.root3 (58%) of the full load current until it attains speed then applying the full load current. This method is commonly referred to as "Soft Starting" the motor, For this to work the whole set-up requires 3 contactor i.e The Star Contactor, The Delta Contactor & The Main Contactor.However for the motor to be started in Star Delta, its internal connection at the terminal box has to be wired in Delta-giving it capability of receiving the full-load current at any instant.

Traditionally, in many regions there was a requirement that all motor connections be fitted with a reduced voltage starter for motors greater than 4KW 5HP.This was to curb the high inrush of starting currents associated with starting induction motors.
Advantages of this method is low or reduced cost as compared to other methods...

Kenyan Cabinet approves a 421MW Power Generation Programme

The power shortage in Kenya is set to ease following Tuesday’s move by the Cabinet to approve a major generation programme.

Under the New Planned Power Generation Capacity Programme, six power projects are to be initiated this year.They include:

21MW Songoro Hydropower Project.
10MW Tana Hydropower Project.
5MW Ngong Windpower Project.
80MW Early Geothermal Power Project.
25MW Kindaruma Upgrade.
280MW Olkaria 1 and Olkaria 4.

 “In this regard Cabinet forwards for parliamentary approval the establishment of an escrow guarantee fund for semi-concessional loans for external borrowing by KenGen and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company from EIB and KFW to finance the additional power generation of 421 megawatts,” a statement issued by the Presidential Press Service said.

Community Power Centers (CPC) : UNIDO

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with other stakeholders has been working on a project of lighting up Kenya using electricity generated from renewable sources. The energy generated is taken to a village power center that acts as a community development center.Once electricity is at the center, it is used for different applications. Presently, unto 2Billion people lack access to modern energy mainly those living in of-grid areas.

The Community Power Centers Project
The community power project is a source of energy powered by zero-emission hybrid renewable energy sources such as:
 Micro-hydro, Mini-hydro
 Bio-gas

Extra High Voltage Systems - 400kV Lines

Nominal Voltage                      400kV
Cicuits per phase                     1
Sub-conductors per phase        2
Span                                      400m
Conductor Name and Size       Moose,54/3.53mm Alluminium  7/3.53mm Steel
Sub-conductor Diameter          3.177cm
Bundle Configuration                Horizontal
Bundle Spacing                       450mm
Interphase Spacing                   11m
Condutor Configuration            Horizontal
Resistance per phase per km at 20degrees 0.0274Ohm
Inductive Reactance per phase per km              0.3321Ohm
Shunt Admittance per phase per km                  3.2983*10-6
Surge Impedance                    282Ohm
Surge Impedance Loading        505MW
Current Carying capacity at 40degrees ambient temperature 900A
Ground Wire                           2Number,7/3.66mm Galvanised Steel
Ground wire height at tower                30.4m
Tower height                           30.4m
Conductor Height at tower           20.75m
Conductor sag at 0degrees           8.39m
Ground wire sag at 0degrees               6.654m
Shielding angle                           10degrees
Suspension string                   23dics,225*145mm
Impulse Flashover voltage                   1550kV

Examples:Sultanpur-Lucknow Line, Obra-kanput Line, Kanpur-Maradnagar Line.

Corona

Have you ever wondered why high voltage power lines buzz (zszszs sound)? Its because they are producing corona which is interacting with the surrounding air.
 Corona is the process by which current, perhaps sustained, develops from an electrode with a high potential in a neutral fluid, usually air, by ionizing that fluid so as to create plasma around the electrode. The ions generated eventually pass charge to nearby areas of lower potential, or recombine to form neutral gas molecules. Plasma is a fourth state of matter (after solid, liquid, and gas). It is like a gas or liquid, but molecules are separated into atoms, and the outer electrons are stripped off and are freed into the plasma. In comparison, the sun is essentially a big ball of very hot plasma.

Power System Network

A detailed explanation of the conversion and distribution of electric energy from the power station to consumer units.This post describes how electric energy moves from the power generating station through conductors of various sizes to consumers premises.To minimize losses and for economical reasons, electrical energy has to be converted into different magnitudes during transmission and distribution until the consumer load.