WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE STUDIES DIRECTORATE

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TECHNICAL ENERGY LOSS ASSESSMENT AND MINIMIZATION IN

INDUSTRIAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CASE STUDY
BODITI WIN WATER FACTORY
_

MSc. Research Proposal

By:- Christina Tamirat Thomas (PGR/……)

College Of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Power Engineering)
Post Graduate Program M.Sc. in Power System Engineering

Advisor:- Dr. Yosef Mekonnen

March, 2024
Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia
 1. Introduction
1.1 Background of the study

Energy is an integral part of a modern economy. It is an essential ingredient in nearly all goods
and services, but its use exacts heavy financial, environmental, and security costs. The key
method of reducing energy costs while retaining its benefits is to use it more efficiently. The
industrial sector accounts around 40% of the commercial energy. It uses both the electrical and
thermal energy in various equipment like motors, pumps, compressors, furnaces, diesel
generating engines, refrigerators, etc. But there are many problems in the industry sectors to
efficiently use their energy. They are not well informed on the concept of energy conservation.
Due to this they lose lots of money on energy bills, causes problems on the environment,
industries will not be competitive, etc. [3] Industries use energy for equipment such as motors,
lightings ,pumps compressors, boilers, etc. These important utilities require regular
maintenances, good operation and replacement when necessary. Thus, a critical element of the
plants energy management involves the efficient control of crosscutting equipment or utilities
that powers the production process of the plant. A second important area is the proper and
sufficient operation of the process. Process optimization and ensuring the most efficient
technology is in place a key energy savings in plant’s operations. Industrial power systems are
often characterized as large consumers of reactive powers and also significant generators
of harmonics because most of the loads are generally composed of induction motors and static
power converters. Reactive power compensation and harmonic control have a vital role to
improve the electrical energy efficiencies in industries.
Of all the energy sources both renewable and nonrenewable, Electrical Energy is the cleanest
form of energy. Electrical energy is converted from various forms of conventional and non-
conventional energy sources at suitable locations, imparted at a high voltage over long distance
and distributed to the consumers at a medium or low voltage. Total system loss indicates how
effectively a power system is transmitting and distributing power to its customers an industry.
Most of the power utilities have high Transmission and Distribution losses which occurs due to
technical and non-technical losses.
Depending on the industry, energy expenditures can reach 70 percent of the total production
costs. The higher the share of energy costs as a proportion of total costs, the more important that
energy management become
II. INDUSTRIAL ENERGY SYSTEMS AND EFFICIENCY.
A Industrial Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a means of using energy more efficiently, either through change of behavior,
improved management or the introduction of new technology. By increasing efficiency, energy demand
can be reduced without reducing structural changes or adversely affecting economic growth. [14]. Rep
lacing failed electric motors with energy efficient or premium efficient electric motors; Scheduled and
proper greasing of electric motor bearings, reducing electric motor system friction losses, properly
sizing electric motors to the load; testing questionable equipment before and after repair, improving
the fuel consumption efficiency, improving lighting systems; and other measures that can be
immediately implemented or implementation plan after energy losses assessment. These examples and
other related activities can improve the factories over all energy efficiency. There are many reasons
why we should use energy efficiently some of these are:  Most energy sources are non- renewable, so
increasing energy conservation will extend the availability of energy sources.  Investments in energy
conservation will provide a better return than investments in energy supply. Increased energy
conservation will therefore improve the general efficiency of the economy.  Energy conservation will
reduced the negative environmental consequences of energy production and use.  Cost effective
energy conservation techniques can save industries from 10 to 30 percent of industrial energy
consumption. Depending on the industry, energy expenditures can reach 70 percent of the total
production costs. The higher the share of energy costs as a proportion of total costs, the more
important that energy management become. [15]
power distribution network and then covert them into monetary terms
The table below shows the share of energy costs in the total production costs of some of the industrial
sectors.Industrial sectors Share of

energy costs Ice 70%

PTU plastic tube 50%

ammonia 50%

glass 30%

paper 25%

steel 30%

cement 55%

ceramic 20%

fertilizer 25%

Food production 10%

Oil refining 7.5%

Table 1. Energy costs relative to total production of different industrial sectors [15]
B. Industrial energy systems
Every industrial process is unique, and has its own specific areas where energy efficiency can be
improved. There are a few common to many industries, which have opportunities for energy efficiency
improvement. All plants are designed with at least one form of energy conversion systems. It is very
important that the systems are efficient and reliable and that the environmental impacts are
considered. Some of the utility systems in industrial set up are:
(a) Electric power systems
Electric motors and drive systems are common to most industrial processes. Motors are prime
movers of such equipment as pumps, conveyors, compressors and various industrial production
equipment. In fact, electric motors account for approximately 70 percent of industrial energy use.
 Motors can consume up to 20 times their purchase value in electricity each year. Properly sized,
energy efficient motors with electronic variable speed controls, and improved gears, belts, bearings
and lubricants, use only 40 percent as much energy as standard systems while their prices are 15-
20 % more than standard motors.[12] There are several occasions in industries that motor systems
are oversized due to consideration of successive safety factors in the design of the systems. Motors
that are oversized present high losses, lower efficiency and also low power factor. In such a
situation oversized motors have to be changed by the correct sized motors. Distribution cables are
used to supply currents to motors and these cables produce I*I*R losses. Correct sizing of the
cables will allow cost effective minimization of those losses and it will also reduce voltage drops in
the distribution cables.
(b) Lighting systems
Lighting accounts for up to seven percent of industrial energy costs. The installation of energy –
efficient lighting systems can cut lighting bills by as much as 40 %. With lighting, it’s a question of
choosing long life and low maintenance technology to suit the requirements of the industry. For
instance, in a warehouse, significant savings can be achieved by the installation of translucent roof
panels or skylights,
which reduces the need to operate artificial lighting during the day. Light colored ceilings and flooring
reflect light and reduce the number of lights needed.
(c) Compressed air system
Compressed air , widely used throughout industries, is the most expensive industrial utility. About 10
percent of all electrical energy used by industry is employed in compressed air. Only 5% of input
electrical energy is converted into useful energy and the rest is wasted as heat. This is an area which
offers large potential for energy savings through simple measures. Regular maintenance program for
the compressed air system can reduce electricity consumption by identifying air leaks, reduce intake air
temperature, optimize system pressure, manage compressor operation and eliminate inappropriate
uses of compressed air. It’s likely that a typical plant will have a leak rate of at least 20 percent. As well
as wasting energy, leaks cause a drop in system pressure, which can cause equipment to operate less
efficiently. Repairing air leaks can save between 25 and 40 percent of energy costs.
(d) Heat energy
This is the primary path of energy conversion i.e. from the chemical energy of fossil fuel to the thermal
energy of the steam. Steam is produced by boilers, usually located far away from steam using
equipment. The steam must be distributed by piping arrangements and valves. The use of large pipe
means unnecessary heat loss and higher cost of piping and installation and if the pipe is too small there
will be excessive noise in the pipe line due to excessive velocity as well as loss of pressure and capacity.
The main types of fuels used in the boilers include coal, oil and gas. A decision on which fuel to use in a
particular case must be made in the context of the complete plant and with the knowledge of the
current market prices of fuels and the likely trend in prices within the lifetime of the plant.

To Say something…….

ELECTRICAL POWER LOSSES

Two types of electrical power losses occurred during the generation, transmission and distribution of
electricity from its sources of generation station to distribution point (Fig. 1).

Fig 1. Electrical power losses in electric power System

These losses are called technical and non-technical losses. The (Fig. 2) shows the infrastructure of
electricity distribution and transmission from source to distribution points (Kumar, et al., 2017). Where
various losses occurred due to different reason such as length wires, transformer heating, grid station
distribution and meter tempering and modification (Jiguparmar in transmission and distribution, 2013).
Fig 2.Generation and Distribution infrastructure of electricity
3. NON-TECHNICAL LOSSES
Non-technical losses are occurred at distribution points such as meter tempering, unregistered
connection, direct hooking system, and meter connection bypassing and meter modifications (Selvam,
et al., 2016). Furthermore, NTLs occurred due to the consumer malpractices and not accountable by
electric power supply companies until the responsible person do not visit the remote site
3.1 Meter tempering.
Meter tempering is type of electricity theft where imposters manipulate the meter reading on
electromechanical meter device. Meter reading shows the actual energy consumption utilized by
electricity consumers but due to this electricity theft method the concrete meter reading cannot be
recorded by meter readers. This is an easy way and technique to manipulate the electromechanical
meter devices to hide the actual meter reading.
3.2 Un-registered connection.
Unregistered connection is thieving technique where consumers does not have registration of their
meter device to respective electric power supply company. This theft technique is undetectable until
the personal of respective company visit the remote places (Saikiran1, 2014).
3.3 Direct hooking.
Direct hooking from the main line of high transmission line (HTL) is a common used method, 80% of
worldwide electricity stealing is by direct tapping from the HTL. The consumers tap wires on HTL from a
point ahead of the electricity meter and acquire the electricity without using electricity meter panel. So
the meter system cannot measure the power consumption of that particular consumer
Technical energy loss
Technical Energy Losses
There are two types of technical energy losses. These are variable losses and fixed losses.
Fixed losses are constant. They are only resolved with network and equipment repairs. Fixed
losses occur in the transformers, lines, and cables in the power distribution network. They
frequently come about on primary and secondary lines.
For example, transformers lose energy in the form of heat and noise due to magnetic forces.
Lines lose energy at high voltages in the form of corona discharge. A sign of corona discharge
is
a hissing or cracking sound heard near the conductors. The charging current that energizes
cables
can also cause a fixed loss. These losses are bigger when cables are very long or carry high
voltage electricity.
Variable losses depend on the amount of electricity flowing through the cables. They arise
from
the current passing through the electrical resistance of network assets. Thus, consumer activity
and consumption determine variable losses. When the network is highly loaded, the system
losses skyrocket and cause significant financial damage.
Fixed losses are more common than variable losses. However, they are not always cheaper
depending on the energy consumption.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Losses are always present in every power distribution system from the point of supply (source) to its
point of utilization. Power distribution losses are the different between the quantity of energy supplied
or delivered to the distribution section from the transmission sector and the quantity of energy
received at the customer’s end that are billed (technical). It can as well state as the revenue lost by
selling non-recorded amount of energy utilized by the customers (non-technical). That is, lost revenue
equals to the bulk quantity of energy purchased minus retailed quantity of energy sold to the customer.
If the degrees of these non-technical losses are not controlled, it would result to financial challenges to
power utilities. Recent research has shown that, electricity theft which contributes much on non-
technical losses account for 30% to 40% of the net yearly revenue accrued in Nigeria [4]. The Nigerian
electric power industry is faced with unique or particular characteristics such as high technical and
nontechnical losses. These occur as a result of undersized cables and conductors used in conveying
electricity to the consumers, undersized transformer fuse ratings, poor relay co-ordination when fault
happen in the system resulting to non-tripping of circuit breakers.

1.3. Aim and Objective of the Study

The aim of this work is to evaluate technical and commercial losses on power distribution networks in
Nigeria using Statistical Analytical Method. The objectives of study are;
1) To determine the amount of power purchased and sold, and the amount of power loss.
2) Collection of data on technical and commercial losses from Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution
Company.
3) Evaluate the data collected on technical and commercial losses from the Port Harcourt Electricity
distribution company as a case study.
1.4. Significance of Study
1) To optimize the distribution system and recover a considerable amount of revenue almost
equivalent to allocated energy.
2) It will reduce the level at which some customers connive with the staff (mainly marketers and
linesmen) to cheat the distribution company by collecting money illegally from the customers and
preventing them from paying their electricity bills, by-passing prepaid meters, and shunting of meters
to read very slowly by metering personnel.
3) To minimize the amount of revenue which the power distribution companies lose due to losses
incurred from the distribution feeders (networks).
4) Reduce technical losses which will prevent the network from frequent or constant tripping.
5) It will make paying customers have value for their money because they experience high bills when
there are many losses. 6) Enactment of useful power sector reform act to help manage the distribution
networks.
1.5. Scope of the Study
The scope of this work covers
1) The losses incurred due to low voltage distribution lines in win water factory
2) feeders radiated from it.
2) Mathematical and analytical computation of collated data so as to know, estimate and evaluate
technical and commercial losses effectively.
3) The work will be limited to determine the overall technical and commercial losses on 11