Low Voltage Sensing and Control Applied to the Electrical Distribution Grid

The overhead distribution transformer is one of the most important and expensive equipment in the distribution grid. Without the proper monitoring of its performance, it can become very difficult to detect possible failures or adverse situations of equipment operation. This article describes a system designed for real-time monitoring and protection of transformers in overhead distribution lines via motorized circuit breakers, installed on the low voltage side. The remote control of the circuit breaker and the calculations of the hot spot temperature and the load of the transformer on the low voltage side will be performed by edge computing. The proposed solution aims to provide protection in the low voltage of the distribution grid and provides more information about the main asset of the utility in the distribution grid. The study is part of an innovation project by Enel Distribuição São Paulo, called “Urban Futurability”. This project is located in an area with a diversity of grid types, from underground grids with high load density to overhead grids of medium load density. The application of the proposed solution in this article will be carried out in part of the overhead grid of the project region, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.