Wireless-Controlled Load Shedding Scheme Case Study: Al-Quba Feeder in Gaza City

Abstract

Electric power system operators resort to load shedding in electric distribution grid in areas that suffer from power shortages as a last measure after exhausting all other techniques. Scheduled load shedding is the process of cutting off service in parts of the grid for specific periods and durations to match power demand. Load shedding scheme must meet a number of constraints that ensure equality, economics and safety. Power utilities in some regions around the world still employ manual schedule load shedding and thus they are far away from meeting these constraints. This study introduces an automatic scheme for the load shedding process based on wireless control in the purpose of overcoming deficiencies of the manual scheme. As a case study Al-Quba feeder has been selected for the application of the suggested scheme. The automation process consists of two main tasks, firstly developing an automatic control program with a high capability to distribute the available power fairly between customers connected to the feeder in a repeated sequence even in case of failure conditions in the hardware, and secondly suggesting the most suitable tools and devices for applying such a technique. The outcomes have proven that suggested scheme works efficiently and ensures equality, economics, and safety.