Conservation Voltage Reduction in low voltage distribution networks in Ghana
Date
2022-05
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Abstract
Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) is the practice of lowering voltages to the lower limit
of the acceptable voltage range while keeping it in the voltage range. CVR is considered
globally as part of the energy savings program. The journey to save energy in power systems
has led to the exploration of Volt/Var optimizers and voltage optimization including CVR
implementation. CVR is implemented because of the problems that come with operating close
to the upper limit of the acceptable voltage range such as mass of wasted energy as well as
higher than necessary electrical bills and reduced lifespan of equipment. The problems that
come from operating at a voltage level close to the upper limit affects both consumers and
distributors. This capstone project showed that implementing conservation voltage reduction
in an 11kV/400V distribution network will provide some level of energy savings to both the
consumer and utility distributor. In this project, PSCAD is used for designing the schematic
for both the control and CVR models of the 11kV/400V distribution network. The control
schematic being the original distribution network layout available and the CVR schematic
being the distribution network layout with the CVR implementation using load tap changers
and capacitor banks. MATLAB/Simulink was used to model both the control and CVR
models with real time parameters either calculated or referenced from the Electricity
Company of Ghana. The simulation results for the CVR model managed to maintain the
voltage within the range of 220-230V under conditions such as overvoltage and undervoltage.
Keywords: Conservation Voltage Reduction, Capacitor Banks, OLTC transformer
Description
Capstone Project submitted to the Department of Engineering, Ashesi University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, May 2022
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Capstone Project