Improvement in Voltage Profile and Reduction in Line Losses in Distribution System using HT/LT Capacitors

This Thesis work intends to study improvement in voltage profile and reduction in line losses in primary distribution system of PSPCL pertaining to Agriculture area by using LT capacitors. Punjab being predominantly an Agricultural state, the major source of irrigation is through electricity driven pump sets coupled with three phase induction motors. There are over 13.52 lac such pump sets in the state. The water table in the state is going down year after year requiring farmers to install submersible pump sets of higher and higher rating. During 33 years of my inning in PSPCL it was generally seen that the motors were mostly oversized, local made, locally wound and a common practice of not to maintain LT capacitors at consumer end. All this attributed to low power factor in the range of 0.65 to 0.75. At present there are instructions of PSPCL to install 11kv line capacitors at one location. But it is seen that at many locations these are either damaged or kept out of circuit and many locations are without capacitors also. Through present study, various options such as 11 KV capacitors at 1 No. location and 2 No. location as well as installation of LT capacitors at consumer premises have been analysed. There is considerable improvement in the voltage profile and ample reduction in line loses after considering LT shunt capacitors on around 11.52 lac electric driven pump sets. The pay back has also been worked out which is merely 38 days. The suggestion if implemented across the state for all the pump sets, it will fetch a benefit of over rupees 1387 crore annually besides improving voltage profile and improvement in power factor. The farmers shall also get benefit of improved voltage resulting into lower motor damage rate and the state's subsidy amount shall come down considerably.