The project tilted, A detailed investigation into the distribution losses in a typical electrical major section in Kerala and the influence of lower sub-transmission voltages of energy flows within a major section by P. R. Suresh Kumar and his associates, has attempted the following: (i) to determine energy loss in the distribution system in a major rural electrical section, viz. the Kongad Major Section of Palakkad distribution circle; (ii) to estimate the technical losses in the section; (iii) to determine the impact of low voltage levels on the losses; (iv) to formulate strategies for loss reduction with the participation of people's ; and (v) to suggest local level strategies of reduction in loss and voltage improvement.
The main conclusions of the study are the following: (i) the distribution loss in a typical rural transformer was found to be of the order of 35 per cent. The peak load loss is even higher and could be as high as 45 per cent. The power factor during peak load is very near to unity and it comes down to about 0.8 during peak period. The tail end voltage regulation is of the order of 40 per cent during peak load period. The technical loss is the main component of the distribution loss. For a typical rural transformer it could be as high as 85 per cent of the total loss; (ii) about 30 per cent of the energy meters are faulty. Replacement of the faulty meters may reduce loss due to non-technical factors. The average energy consumption of a consumer whose energy meter is faulty is 21 per cent more than his tariff level. This indicates a serious loss of revenue to the Board; (iii) technical loss component of the distribution loss can be reduced considerably by adopting system improvement measures such as (a) replacement of high capacity transformers by more number of lower capacity transformers; (b) conversion of single phase lines to three-phase lines; (c) balancing of loads; (iv) demand management measures, etc. Local bodies can play a major role in reducing distribution loss.
The project Energy consumption pattern: a comparative study by K. Vijayakumar and Srikumar Chattopadhyay conducted a household energy consumption survey in four panchayats in Thiruvananthapuram district. The major sources of energy were firewood, kerosene, and electricity, but the consumption pattern was found related to the socio-economic profile of the households and the villages. Most people are aware of the need for energy conservation. The use of smokeless chullas, pressure cookers, electronic chokes, etc., has improved the energy-use-efficiency. The study also attempted to find out the variation in the gender preference towards energy saving and women were found as much well informed and enthusiastic about energy problems as men were. The study gives some indication about alternative energy sources for the region surveyed.
Electrical energy supply through Grid System is not appropriate for rural areas with their complex heterogamete. In the project, Towards an appropriate rural energy system - a study in selected hamlets in Muthalamada panchayat, Palakkad district, P. Vinod Kumar attempts to develop suitable designs for rural energy grids and their execution with people's participation. He intends to review the energy consumption patterns and power needs, identify potential energy resources, and study suitable energy conversion methods and technologies that will be acceptable to the socio-cultural patterns as part of the project. The survey is over, and the preparation of an energy planning system for one hamlet is in progress.
Decentralised energy planning plays an important role in meeting the energy requirement of Kerala where demand for energy is growing faster than its supply. The scope for alternative energy resources has been explored but conflicts among various interest groups make choices difficult. Recently, energy generation using biomass gasifier has been suggested as one of the options. Kerala has abundant supply of coconut palm products that could be used to enhance energy supply. However, their use as fuel in gasifier for getting optimum performance has not been scientifically investigated.
The project Field testing of wood burning gasifier for energy generation in a Kerala village and evaluation of the performance of the gasifier when using coconut palm products as fuel in actual running conditions by Hassan Sahabudheen under the IRTC, Mundur, proposes to carry out such a scientific investigation. The problem faced in this method is lack of proper technical know-how and field experience. The focus of the investigation, apart from its scientific dimensions, is to examine the feasibility of using coconut palm products as fuel in gasifiers economically and whether the problems generated thereby could be solved through bringing about modifications in the gasifier. The work is done in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. A gasifier will be installed in a remote village for field-level operation and assessment as part of the study. The technical and scientific part of the work is now completed and steps are being initiated to install this in a grama panchayat.
The project Awareness, adoption and impact of electrical energy appliances: a household level study by K. Vijayakumar seeks to find out the ways by which people acquire information about various household electrical gadgets and their uses; the level of adoption of such gadgets and the consequent changes in life styles; the resultant allocation of time among different activities, specially by women members of the household and the constraints faced by people in obtaining the gadgets of their choice. Household-level surveys will be conducted in 100 households each in three panchayats in Thiruvananthapuram district.
Among the various renewable resources, small hydro project is one of the most effective because of its innumerable merits such as flexibility of utilisation, ready availability, and immunity to pollution, etc. In Kerala, the total potential of small hydel projects is estimated to be nearly 1,000 MW. A comprehensive scientific study of the small hydro potential has not yet been conducted in the State. P. V. Anilkumar and his team in the IRTC, Palakkad, in their study on A co-ordinated project for participatory development of mini and micro hydel resources in the Western Ghats, have taken up an important step in this direction.
The main problem in the field of small hydroelectric generation plants is that its megawatt cost is high compared to the bigger projects. The present study is an attempt to reduce per megawatt cost of small hydro plants using standardisation. The research focuses on the feasibility of 31 identified sites in five districts. For the purpose of standardisation, the procedure is the following: (i) to classify the sites according to head categories and thereafter to allocate the schemes to sub-categories based on a set of standardised discharge per unit; (ii) to fix the runner specifications (maximum operating speed of turbine, minimum diameter runner etc.) for each design head and design discharge based on data of available equipment obtained from international engineering design firms and manufacturers in India; and (iii) to fix the specification of generators and controls based on the specs of the turbine and thereafter to revise the preliminary designs prepared for each scheme on the standardised design head, design discharge levels, and installed capacities.
Through standardisation, a model design for a particular head and discharge can be developed and this may be used for other sites, which have nearly the same head and discharge. This would help to reduce the design cost. If there are a number of sites that have the same head and discharge, the implementing agencies could collectively procure turbine generators for all these sites and the cost will come down due to bulk purchase. What the project aims to achieve is the promotion of such co-ordinated approach towards the reduction of unit cost of small hydro projects. The IRTC study team has collected all the technical data from the selected sites and the analysis is in progress.
In a related study Field testing of an induction generator load controller for a micro hydel Station using pump as turbine and unduction motor as generator, Geetha Varma and R. Sunil intend to develop a least-cost turbine generator system using pump as turbine and induction motor as generator. This need has arisen from the fact that conventional methods such as separately manufactured turbines, generators, and controllers are beyond the budget of such small projects. Methodology for selecting a centrifugal pump to be used as turbine for a given site is already available. Using this, it is possible to select a pump from the market and install it as a turbine. Similarly, methodology for selecting induction motor to be used as generator is also available.
The main problem with a stand-alone unit is that where the load changes, the speed, voltage, and frequency of the system vary and hence a load controller is essential. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi recently developed a prototype of this kind of load controller. The attempt in this project is to do a testing of this load controller under actual field conditions and to make the necessary adaptations.
This study is expected to evolve a proper management system for running a micro-hydel power station with people's participation. Progress has been made in selection of site as well as of Pump and Induction Motor, besides designing of the penstock and civil structure and electrical distribution system. A beneficiary society has been formed to take charge of the proper operation and maintenance of the system. IRTC will give the necessary training for the operator of the scheme. All the technical work relating to the project is complete and the field investigation could not be completed so far due to the delay in getting clearance from the State Forest Department.