Technical Losses
Introduction
Technical losses occur during the energy transport processes, voltage transformation and equipment due to the physical characteristics of the various components in the infrastructure of the electric system.
The reduction of these losses increases the availability of energy to be comercialized and improves the quality of the product offered to consumers. However, such losses have not been properly minimized due to the complexity of the optimization process as well as the low financial return procedures usually utilized. Moreover, the amount of technical losses are not amenable to a precise direct measurement because of factors like the random nature of the charges, the continuous process of expansion and operation and the complexity of the network topology. Technical losses, as well as engineering processes involved in the reduction, typically are calculated by numerical methods that require computational effort and time proportional to the complexity of the system.
To reduce technical losses, some methods can be listed: network reconfiguration, use of capacitor in order to achieve power reduction factor, power load balancing, investment in building new networks, proper maintenance, equipment and energy distribution processes improvement.
Annually in Brazil, the technical losses are responsible for about 60 TWh. It represents 11% of the total energy overall. The annual losses on the voltage class 25 kV correspond to 15 TWh, or about 3% of the total energy generated.
Technical Losses Reduction - Pxyon
Pxyon's engineers developed a new technology that addresses power cable replacement, inclusion of new switches and network reconfiguration.
This technology is based in various multiobjective optimization algorithms, using several different heuristics and massive paralell processing, including a detailed financial analysis adjusted to Brazilian regulatory standards. This analysis can be easily adapted to the regulatory standards of other countries.
To produce improvements in the primary distribution network (medium voltage), the solution makes a detailed analysis of the distribution network and produces technical reports and their results for three interventions scenarios, as follows:
- Maneuvers in existing equipment in order to reduce technical losses in various sectors of the MV network:
Initial
Optimized
- Installation of new power switches to better distribute the load in the circuit, increasing the possibility of maneuvers and to optimize the network and consequently reduce technical losses
Initial
Optimized (new switches)
- Reconductoring of power cables considered critical, reducing losses where its incidence is higher in the MV network:
Advantages
The deployment of the system presents several advantages as exemplified below:
- Significant reduction of technical losses in the distribution systems of medium voltage, with significant improvements in the control and operation of distribution networks;
- Increased availability of energy for direct commercialization;
- Reduced distribution costs and increase in revenue;
- Energy gain is independent of environmental regulations;
- The energy gain is aligned with the assumptions of sustainable development;
- The resulting energy is "cleaner" and perhaps the cheapest possible, resulting from the optimization of existing infrastructure;
- Low cost of implementation and excellent financial results;
- Immediate availability to use the technology, with immediate results.
