A power system that anticipates faults and allows preventive action was unveiled by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in East Delhi on Monday. The system known as MIDAS (Modular Integrated Distribution Automation System) and developed by power distribution company BYPL remotely monitors a host of functions including the condition of equipments like transformers, energy meter data, detection of faults, fire and intrusion and even helps in reducing aggregate technical and commercial losses.
“This highly intelligent and interactive system is designed to substantially improve the reliability and quality of power supply for over 12 lakh customers of BYPL in East and Central Delhi. MIDAS will reduce the distribution transformer downtime at the 11 kV sub-stations by up to 80-90 per cent,” said a company spokesperson.
For its pilot project, BYPL has tested out MIDAS at the local 11 kV level in over 20 transformers situated in the group housing societies in the Indraprastha Extension area. In the coming months, MIDAS will be rolled out in Mayur Vihar Phase I, II and III that has over 200 cooperative group housing societies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Explaining the dynamics of MIDAS, BYPL Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Narayanan said: “The BYPL has seen an over 80 per cent rise in power demand in its area. To meet the ever rising power demand in the coming years, it will be even more imperative to have an intelligent and an interactive network. Technology is aiding BYPL in managing and monitoring its network. MIDAS allows for predictive remote monitoring of the health of 11kV network equipment, quicker location of faults and even predicts faults prior to their occurrence. This will not only substantially reduce the time taken to address local faults at the locality level, but also improve the quality of power.”
According to the company, MIDAS is a research and development initiative developed by the in-house pool of engineers keeping in mind the typical Indian power distribution network in mind and can be retrofitted on the existing distribution network.
“Since MIDAS will substantially reduce maintenance costs for a discom by optimising the existing networks to deliver more, it is a win-win for all stakeholders and easily replicable across India,” added Mr. Narayanan.
ADVERTISEMENT