Use of Computerized Web-Based Information System for Determining Losses in Traditional Electrical Network Management; Case Study Goma Distribution Electrical Network

ABSTRACT

 The purpose of this study was to implement an effective Computerized Web-Based Information System (CWIS) that help electrical network losses computation in order to monitor the performance of the electrical network over time, to guide managers in making decisions for corrective and preventive maintenance in the existing electrical distribution network where technical and nontechnical losses were not accurately known. The apparent power, real power, unbalanced power in phases, power drawn by thefts, lower load of transformers, bad calibrated meters, transformers located out of load gravity center are highly influencing losses in the electrical distribution network. The study particularly sought to compute losses in electrical distribution network where the use of manual information system does not show the losses incurred at all the stages of the generation, transmission and distribution in Goma elect1ical network system. The study was conceived due to the fact that existing studies did not compute losses in all elements of an electtical distribution network using a Computerized Web-Based Information System involving real data from metering system. The study was conducted using quantitative design, data being collected from January to ~December 2008 by means of observation, document analysis, questiom1aires and interviews from 13 interviewees selected from the target population of 26 informants. The data were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics method and empirical losses computation paradigm. The results from losses computation using empirical paradigm and Descriptive Statistics method for analyzing data have been presented in form of tables, bar and pie charts, and percentage. The study has established that system loss (14%), 15kv- 6.6kv feeder losses (7%), and losses (3.7%) in fifty five transformers were higher than the standard one. Goma electrical distribution network performance (86%) computed by the CWIS was less than the assumed one (90%). The computed system lagging power factor (0.84) was less than the standard one (90%).The study has established that the higher percentage of SNEL Staff scored 70% expressing that they have prefotred the use of Compute1ized Web-Based Information System to compute losses. The study has concluded that the Compute1ized Web-Based xiv Infom1ation System should be used as electrical distribution network tool to compute losses over the time in order to highlight the activities of corrective and preventive maintenance necessary to reduce technical and non-technical losses. The study has recommended method and techniques to be used in order to reduce losses in all elements of Goma electrical distribution network. Recommendations were also made to enhance CWIS security. The study has recommended that the Computerized Web-Based Information System should be integrated into the future SNEL Automatic Real Time System (ARTS), Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Consumer Information Service (CISE), and Geographical Information System (GIS)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ........................................................................................................ IJ

APPROVAL.......................................................................... JJ]I

DEDICATION ........................................................................................................... IVI

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................... V

TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... V

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................. .

LIST OF ACllONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................. XI

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .................................................................... .

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................. .

1.3 PURPOSE OF TlIE STUDY ............................................................................... .

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF TIIE STUDY ........................................................................ .

1.4.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE .................................................................................. 4

1.4.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ .

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS .................................................................................. 4

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................... ..

1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY .................................................................... .

. 1.8 TIIEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS .............................................................................................. .. ~

1.8.1 ELECTRICAL CONCEPTS ............................................................................ .

1.8.2 TECIINICAL LOSSES IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS ............................................................................................... .

1.8.3 COMPUTERIZED WEB-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM MODELING ............................................................. 1

1.8.4 ELECTRICAL NETWORK PRODUCTIVITY ............................................................................................................. 1

CHAPTER TWO  ............................................................................ 1

LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................................................ 1

2.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1

2.1 COMPUTERIZED WEB-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM ....................................................................................... 1

2.2 NO-LOAD LOSSES IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEl ......................................................................................................... 1

2.3 LOAD LOSSES IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ................................................................................................................ 1

2.4 ELECTRICAL NETWORK MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE ................................................................................. 2

CHAPTER TlIREE .................................................................................................. 2

METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................... 2

3.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 2

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN ........................................................................................ 25

3.2 POPULATION AND SAMPLING .................................................................... 25

3.2.1 TARGET -ACCESSIBLE POPULATION .................................................................................................................... 25:

3.2.2 SAMPLE ........................................................................................................... 26 i

3.2.3 SAMPLING TECIINIQUE ............................................................................. 26 I

3.3 DATA COLLECTION ....................................................................................... 26 I

3.4 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS .......................................................................... 27 I

3.5 RELATIONAL DATABASE PROGRAMMING TOOLS ............................................................................................... 29 i

3.6 RESEARCH PROCEDURE ...................................................................................................................... 31 i

3.6.1 COMPUTERIZED WEB-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM PROCEDURE USED .............................................. 31 I

3.6.2 ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION NETWORK LOSSES COMPUTATION PROCEDURE USED .......................... 32 i

3.7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENT............................................................................... 34 J

3.8 LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................... 351

3.9 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................... 36J

CHAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................... 371

SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND COMPUTERIZED WEB-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN AND

IIVIPLEJENT A TI ON ............................................................................................... 3 7 f

4.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 371

4.1 SOFTWARE PROCESS MODEL USED ........................................................................................................................... 37(

4.2 SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN ............................................................... 39f

4.2.1 USER REQUIRElvIENTS ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................ 40k

4.2.2 GENERAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE SYSTEM - SYSTEM ANALYSIS ............................................................. .42;t t

4.2.3 DATA FLOW DIAGM FOR THE SYSTEIVI ............................................................................................................ 42[1

4.2.4 DATABASE MODELING-DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................... 44! Ii

4.3 DATA ENTRY INTERFACE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................ .471'

4.4 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 491 £'

4.5 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... scl

4.6 SOFTWARE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................................... 51!

4.7 SYSTEM SOFTWARE DEBUGGING ............................................................. 51

4.8 FUNCTIONAL TESTING ................................................................................. 551

4.9 APPLICATION AND RECORD PROTECTION ............................................................................................................. 5d

CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................... 61

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ...................................................................................... 6d

5.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 6i

5.1 DATA FROM RESPONDENTS PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ..................................... 61

5.2 ELECTRICAL NETWORK DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ............................... 61

5.2.1 FEEDER LOSSES PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ........................................................ 69

5.2.2 SYSTEM LOSSES PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ........................................................ 78

5.3 GEN PERF0RMANCE PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION .................................................. 85

CHAPTER SIX ......................................................................................................... 86

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 86

6.0 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ........................................................................... 86

6.1 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ 88

6.1.1 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................. 88

6.1.2 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................. 90

6.2 FURTHER RESEARCH. ................................................................................................................... 91

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 92

APPENDICES ........................................................................................................... 96

APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................ 97

APPENDIX B ·································· ............................. 98

APPENDIX D .......................................................................................................... 100

APPENDIX E .......................................................................................................... 101

APPENDIX F ........................................................................................................... 102

APPENDIX G .......................................................................................................... 104

APPENDIX II .......................................................................................................... 105