Chapter – 7: Planning and Design of Rural Electrification

Layouts

 Concept of distributed generation

 Off-grid and Grid-connected Rural Electrification

 WhyRural Electrification (‘RE’) ?
 Electrical energy considered superior over other energy forms on account of its Convenience to use, Easy
to control, andCleanliness
 Electricity : An important input for economic and social development
o Energisation of pump sets - Increase in irrigated area, Higher intensity of irrigation , Better Cropping
o Increased commercial activities –Availability of Longertime
o Productive loads of small / village industries
o Generation of employment, Elimination of poverty, Human Development
o Improved medical facilities, communication, education and entertainment
 Rural Electrification – Challenges
 Different from National Highways?

 Rural Electrification –4 major facets

o Setting up of rural electricity infrastructure –Providing access to electricity
o Providing connectivity to households
o Supply of adequate power of desired quality
o Supply of power at affordable price

 While progress on creating access and providing connectivity is encouraging, supply of

adequate powerat affordable price is a majorchallenge
 Structural disincentive to DISCOMs to supply power to rural areas
o High initial capital cost for extending grid because of geographical spread
o Low load density and slower load growth leading to unfavorable consumer mix
o Higher cost of delivery and lower tariff leading to further financial distress to utilities\Low consumer density
o Thefts & Pilferage leading to high AT& CLosses
Definition Regarding Rural Electrification

 Villages : Revenue Villages as per census

 Habitation: Cluster of households in a village.
 Access to Electricity to households : Providing electrical infrastructure nearby
to the household so that electrical connection can be provide on demand.
 Village Electrification
o Prior to October 1997
• Village wasclassified as electrified if electricity is being used within its
revenueareafor anypurpose whatsoever.
o In 1997, the definition was modified to provide for the use of electricity to village
habitations.
• Avillage will be deemed to be electrified if the electricity is used in the
inhabited locality within the revenue boundary of the village, for any
purpose whatsoever.
OUTLINE OF THE BASIC DESIGN PROCEDURE ,THE STAGES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DESIGN OF ELECTRICITY PROJECTS TO BE LINKED TO THE NATIONAL GRID .
1) Survey Of Line
2) Span Length Requirement
3) Load Survey Requirement
4) Conductor Clearance
5) Tension And Sag At Erection
6) Method Of Checking Sag At Erection Of Overhead Lines
7) Electrical Material And Equipment Assessment
8) Construction Detail Consideration
SURVEY OF OVERHEAD LINE/PRELIMINARY SURVEY
The proposed is visited to access the nearest available grid system and identify the voltage level.
This is quite important as it is the determining factor for linking the area to the National Grid system .
In order to determine the route along the overhead line to be laid it is necessary that the area is surveyed ,noting the
route nature and terrain.
The survey of the line must be carried out accurately and expeditiously .
METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS USED FOR SURVEY
The detailed survey can be conducted by:
1) Theodolite,
2) Dump level,
3) Staff ,
4) Chain or tachometry ,
5) Using the instrument and staff only,
6) Using speedometer on the car.
SPAN LENGTH REQUIREMENT
The construction of overhead (O-H) transmission ,sub-transmission and distribution lines should be executed at the
lowest possible cost without compromising safety .
Therefore the span of OH line must be optimum to reduce the number of poles and other fittings thereby reducing
the overall cost of the entire electricity(network) project.
There is no definite rule or expression for the most economical span length but it may depend on factors such as:
 route terrain s(e.g. gully, hilly, water log area ,etc. . ),
 voltage ,
 maximum tension on the poles at any time of the year,
 public safety and the imposed requirement of the Electricity Act and any other government regulation.
The usual span length commonly adopted for electricity projects nationwide are:
1) 45/50 meters for LT.O-H lines and for HT/LT O-H lines within built up areas
2) 60/70/90 meters for inter-town (ITC) high voltage O-H lines and 100m ,maximum for special application and
construction.
3) Other spans for higher voltages especially voltages for steel towers could be up to between 100m and 300m
meters construction.
It is good to note that , conductors expand in the summer and contract in winter, thereby increasing or decreasing
the O-H line tensioning respectively.
LOAD SURVEY REQUIREMENT
The load requirement for any electricity or electrification scheme is usually analyzed based on the existing
dwelling houses ,offices, hotel premises, hospitals, and cottage industries giving room for future expansion .Based
on the arrived load in KW or KVA the transforming ,distribution(R.M.U(Ring Main Unit)/feeder pillar),fusing
equipment etc .are determined.
CONDUCTOR CLEARANCE
The conductor height from ground at any point in span, at the average ambient temperature of 60°C for
0.415/11/33 KV O-H lines, shall not be less than:
a) open lane -------5.2/5.8 meters
b) Township/along roadway-----5.2/5.5/5 meters
c) Road/Express crossing ------5.2/5.5/6.0 meters
TENSION AND SAG AT ERECTION
In practice, the conductors are first suspended /hanged from pulleys ,pulleyed up to desired tension and sag
before they are transferred to the insulators.
Electricity and temperature will cause the sag and tension to vary and it may be necessary to know such
variation for guidance.