Automation of the electrical power distribution network applying SCADA and GPRS to enhance remote activities in rural areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic in PERU

Abstract

The research describes the automation of the distribution network in order to provide a reliable electrical energy system for the development of the activities generated during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural areas in Peru. The proposed objective is to implement the communications architecture using equipment with General Package Radio Service (GPRS) technology and interconnect it with a relational database and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) graphical interface. The system made it possible to monitor the status signals in real time, as well as to achieve precise and rapid control of the protection and reconnection equipment responsible for the automatic correction of faults in the distribution network. Regarding the maximum demand for energy during the 2020 period, the billing statistics showed a significant reduction due to the cessation of activities in a large part of the industrial, commercial and services sector, caused by the declaration of a state of emergency for management of the health crisis caused by COVID-19; This atypical behavior caused power outages due to system failures, such as short circuits and overloads, determining a series of problems for users as they were affected in their remote work activities, virtual classes and telehealth, among others. It is concluded that the equipment used in automation allows recording the failure reasons, the protection functions used, the phase in which the failure occurred, among other parameters without the presence of maintenance personnel, as well as supplying energy continuously. to meet remote activities in this pandemic.