POWER GRID FAILURE

BY
G.SRI KEERTHI
09241A02A6
 INTRODUCTION
India is divided into five electrical regions.
INDIAN POWER GRID

NORTH-
NORTHERN EASTERN WESTERN SOUTHERN
EASTERN

NEW GRID
 Very complex power transmission network
Its functioning, from power generation to power distribution
is more or less the same across all regional zones.
 STABLE GRID
The stability of a grid is determined by keeping a check on the
demand and supply.
Power frequency reflects the balance between load and power
generation in the grid at a given instant.
Permissible frequency band specified by the Indian Electricity Grid
Code (IEGC) of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission,
effective May 3, 2010, is 49.5 to 50.2 Hz.
 Stability of the grid depends on a delicate equilibrium of
demand-supply chain.

LOAD DEMAND CURVE

 CAUSES FOR GRID FAILURE
Natural causes:
( lightening, rain, snow, ice, wind, dust, floods, storms )
Brown out:
( drop in electric power supply )
Black out:
( complete loss of power to a geographic area )
Power surges:
( leads to rapid overheating and loss of critical and expensive
equipment )
Electrical treeing:
( effects high power installations )
 BLACKOUT IN INDIA 2012
According to the data available from the Power System
Operation Corporation Ltd. (PSOC), the grid frequency was in
between the specified limits.

49.9
49.85
49.8
49.75 July
Frequency 30,2012
49.7
49.65
49.6
49.55
0 2 4 6
Time 8 10 12 14
 Factors that led to the initiation of the
Grid Disturbance on 30th July, 2012
Weak Inter-regional Corridors due to multiple outages:

oSystem was weakened by multiple outages of transmission lines in the

WR-NR interface.

o400 kV Bina-Gwalior-Agra (one circuit) was the only main AC circuit

available between WR-NR interface prior to the grid disturbance.

High Loading on 400 kV Bina-Gwalior-Agra link:

oOverdrawal by some of the NR utilities contributed to high loading on this

tie line.
 Inadequate response by SLDCs to the instructions of RLDCs to
reduce overdrawal by the NR utilities and underdrawal/excess
generation by the WR utilities.

Loss of 400 kV Bina-Gwalior link:

oDue to load encroachment (high loading of line resulting in high line

current and low bus voltage).
 Factors that led to the initiation of the
Grid Disturbance on 31st July, 2012
Weak Inter-regional Corridors due to multiple outages:

oSystem was weakened by multiple outages of transmission lines in the NR-

WR interface and the ER network near the ER-WR interface.

oOn this day also, effectively 400 kV Bina-Gwalior-Agra (one circuit) was the
only main circuit available between WR-NR.

High Loading on 400 kV Bina-Gwalior-Agra link:

oAlthough real power flow in this line was relatively lower than on 30th
July, 2012, the reactive power flow in the line was higher, resulting in
lower voltage at Bina end.
 Inadequate Response by SLDCs to RLDCs instructions on this
day also to reduce overdrawl by the NR utilities and
underdrawal by the WR utilities.

Loss of 400 kV Bina-Gwalior link:

oTripping of 400 kV Bina-Gwalior line on zone-3 protection of

distance relay, due to load encroachment, caused the NR system
to separate from the WR system.
 A similar near-miss situation occurred on November 28,
2009, when the same circuit carrying around 1000 MW
tripped on one of its phases.

led to subsequent cascade tripping of other parallel lines in

the corridor.

the system survived because of support from generators

and quick operator action.
 CASCADING EFFECT
Acascading failureis a failure in a system of interconnected parts in
which the failure of a part can trigger the failure of successive parts.
It may happen in many types of systems, including power
transmission, computer networking, finance and bridges.
common inpower gridswhen one of the elements fails (completely or
partially) and shifts its load to nearby elements in the system.
nearby elements are then pushed beyond their capacity so they
become overloaded and shift their load onto other elements.
The primary problems with preventing electrical grid failures is that
the speed of the control signal is no faster than the speed of the
propagating power overload.
They are overcome by using superconducting magnetic energy storage
units at critical junctions can store or release power for a few seconds
to allow control systems to catch up and actuate isolating procedures.
 IMPACT OF THE FAILURE
It led to 14,000 MW generation losses.
684 million people from 21 states & UTs were affected.
Power supply to the Indian rail network was also hit which lead
to over 300 trains coming to a standstill. More than 100 Delhi
Metros stalled.
Traffic signals went on the blink.
The water distribution system, major water treatment plants
across the states came to a halt.
 PREVENTIVE MEASURES
At a hospital or other piece of vital public infrastructure,
make sure the back-up generators are maintained at optimum
levels at all times.
Businesses need to keep track of their transformers, insuring
that theyre serviced, tested, and cleaned.
Making sure that plant technicians are aware of all requisite
safety information.
Power plant operators must consistently follow the strictures
and operating procedures presented to them by the individual
plant manufacturer.
 CHANGES TO BE ADOPTED IN THE
POWER SYSTEM
CREATING REDUNDANT LINES:
The combination of power lines provides excess capacity. Circuit
breakers disconnect a power line when monitors detect an overload.
Power is redistributed across the remaining lines.
UPGRADATION OF TRANSMISSION LINES:
Upgrading the existing lines to higher value can also help in prevention
of frequent tripping of the lines.
SMART GRID APPLICATION.
DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MEET PEAK
DEMAND.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRY TO ENFORCE THE LAWS VERY
STRICTLY LIKE IN USA AND UK.
UNEVEN REGULATION SHOULD BE PREVENTED.
 CONCLUSION
In July 2012, for two consecutive days millions of people in
India suffered from a crippling power crisis after power grids
failed in many parts of the country.
India is not the only country that suffers from grid issues.
But India seems to have suffered arguably the worst crisis in
terms of the population that got affected.
A variety of urgent measures are needed to overcome the
various challenges that are spreading like a wildfire.
THANK YOU
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