Development of software tools for load analysis, feeder, substation design and SCADA monitoring and control system: A design for Chiadzwa Mine.

Abstract

The project focuses on the development of two software tools for designing and monitoring. These include a software for design and the other one for monitoring electrical parameters for safe and adequate supply of power. Load forecasts is the predicting of electrical power required to meet the short term, medium term or long-term demand. Electrical feeder is a voltage power line transferring power from a distribution substation to the distribution transformers. Electrical substation is a subsidiary station of an electricity generation, transmission and distribution system where voltage is transformed from high to low or vice versa The first software focuses on load forecast, feeder and substation electrical design. The software is used to calculate various parameters which include cable/conductor sizing, transformer rating, receiving voltage, load demand etc. Currently in Zimbabwe there is no local documented software tool that has been developed to focus on these calculations. The second software tool focuses on the remote monitoring and control of substations within Chiadzwa area using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) tool which I developed using processing 2.1. The monitored parameters include voltage, current, temperature, oil level, buchholz relay status. Currently in Zimbabwe there is no local documented software tool that has been developed to for SCADA operations and also SCADA remote monitoring has been applied at national level that is national grid. There is no organisation that has monitored its power draw trends and monitored its substations remotely.