Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo division held a production workshop on the subject: “Digitization of power grid facilities. Implementation of the concept of digital transformation 2030”. The event was chaired by Director of Kurskenergo Alexander Rudnevsky. It was attended by deputy directors of the branch in directions, heads of departments and services, chiefs of Distribution Zones.
Opening the meeting, Alexander Rudnevsky defined the direction of work of the enterprise’s team for the near future: “One of the key tasks for the branch is to fulfill the task set by the company’s management on the digital transformation of the power grid complex. In the shortest possible time, we must implement projects aimed at improving the manageability of power grid facilities, modernizing the metering system, reducing electrical energy losses and, as a result, significantly improving the reliability and quality of power supply to consumers.”
The head of the branch considered the pilot projects “Digital Distribution Zone” on the basis of Kursky Distribution Zone and “digital substation (SS)” on the basis of the 110/10 kV substation “Vysokaya” as the first steps towards digitization of the power grid complex of Kurskenergo.
In the framework of the implementation of the company’s digitalization concept, from 2019 to 2021, the distribution grid will be automated in Kursky Distribution Zone. The project provides for installation of 147 reclosers, 102 remotely-controlled disconnectors, 102 short circuit indicators with the possibility of further integration into the operational information complex of the Distribution Zone.
The Distribution Zone’s metering system will be upgraded with data transmission to the “Pyramid-Net” server, a dispatch centre with the operational information complex installation and the creation of a SCADA system, and a digital radio communication system will be created.
Kurskenergo will also perform a comprehensive reconstruction of the 110/10 kV substation “Vysokaya” using the technology of a digital substation and increasing the installed capacity.
Two transformers with a capacity of 16,000 kVA will be replaced with power equipment with a capacity of 25,000 kVA with the function of control, monitoring and diagnostics, instead of 110 kV circuit breakers of the VMT-110B type there will be 110 kV gas-insulated live tank circuit breakers. Three-pole 110 kV disconnectors with motor drives and the possibility of manual control, electromagnetic interlocking, a counter of the number of operations, digital combined measuring current transformers, microprocessor protection will be installed at the substation “Vysokaya”.
Calculation of economic efficiency on the example of “Kursky Distribution Zone” shows that the implementation of measures to digitize the grid will reduce losses to the level of standard, decreasing the cost of operational equipment maintenance by 41%. The average restoration time of power supply will decrease by more than 30%.
In parallel with the implementation of the pilot projects in accordance with the company’s digitalization grid roadmap, Kurskenergo will have a single grid control centre, a smart electricity metering system will be created at the border of its balance participation, its communication system will be modernized, and a “digital electrician” technology will be implemented.
Given the importance of the topics discussed at the seminar, all those present received materials defining the timeframes of the projects, the sequence of actions to implement the work and achieve the stated goals.
The meeting discussed other relevant operational issues. In particular, the power engineers paid attention to measures to improve the reliability of the distribution grid during the upcoming repairs, the implementation of a loss reduction program, examined the training of personnel, which would require not only professional skills, but also an appropriate mentality to successfully complete the upcoming tasks.
“This is the first training workshop after the adoption of the Concept of digitalization of the electric grid complex of the company,” stressed First Deputy Director - Chief Engineer of Kurskenergo Vyacheslav Istomin. “We will hold similar meetings with all categories of the branch’s staff. The training will allow to convey to the entire team the whole scope of the tasks assigned to us for the next three years and for the perspective until 2030, to discuss the ways of their implementation in each direction.”
