by VLADIMIR MILOVANOVIC
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – The ripple effect of South Africa’s load disconnection is well publicized and affects the entire user lifecycle, from large conglomerates to our own homes.
Unfortunately, the disconnection of loads has the potential to affect not only the productivity and income of consumers, but also the very system that provides us with energy.
Equipment residing in substations and distribution centers, new or old, is not designed to withstand a deluge of surges, continuous outages, and turning on and off multiple times a day.
An example is medium voltage (MV) switchgear which has been designed, under optimal circumstances, to last up to 40 years. However, as mentioned, no piece of equipment can handle the extraordinary circumstances that come with load shedding, which means that switches and other equipment simply stop working well before their projected end of life (EOL).
In the case of Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), the way the SF6 in your EOL is collected and recycled is a major priority. free options
SF6-free medium voltage switchgear is a viable option not only for the environment, but also for operational safety. In addition, it offers ease of maintenance, EOL treatment, functionality and performance, as well as environmental compliance.
The Pure Air switching device is natively pluggable, meaning new equipment can be added with minimal disruption. SF6 free switchgear is designed in such a way that it also does not require additional operator training, thus mitigating downtime. And what is most important, if there is a gas leak, the pure air will simply escape into the atmosphere, without causing any environmental impact.
Maintain a stable network
One of the primary responsibilities of utility companies is to maintain voltage limits to ensure safe, stable, and optimized usage. Voltage control is traditionally performed by transformers, using on load tap changers (OLTC) and capacitor banks that inject reactive power into the grid at the MV substation level.
The grid operator then fixes a set point and prepares scenarios and ranges based on seasonal load curves, for example.
However, as we add more distributed energy resources (DERs) to the grid, effective management of the power mix becomes critical. It is paramount, as renewable resources are added, that it is managed intelligently, keeping a close eye on, for example, loads during peak and off-peak hours. This will allow the management of a stable network composed of fossil and renewable energy resources.
Several new digital solutions can be implemented to address this challenge:
Next-generation RTUs (Remote Terminal Units) allow users to remotely control the substation and accurately monitor operating parameters to ensure stable operations during load shedding, for example.
The new smart sensors can be easily installed on new and existing switches and can be connected to the cloud or local systems as needed. It enables predictive maintenance and EOL management, which are key to reducing costs in the long run.
Digital twin environments enable virtual modeling of networks, providing insight into equipment performance within set parameters.
Digital and SF6-free technologies: a powerful force
Using modern digital technology that allows us to untangle the complexity of modern electricity grids and the increasing levels of renewables and DER being incorporated.
Together with the connected SF6-free switchgear, we are one step closer to finding a sustainable solution to the GHG impact on the environment.
Note: Vladimir Milovanovic is Vice President of Power Systems, Energy Management Business at Schneider Electric.
– CAJ News
