LOAD MANAGEMENT AUTOMATION FOR ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM OPERATION CONTROL IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research work is borne out of the interest to examine whether poor system operation control is what is responsible for power instability in Nigeria. The author researched into the system operation control of the power holding company of Nigeria centralized at the national control centre in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The control centre was visited and the operation control engineers interviewed on the operation mode of the system. The information obtained was analyzed based on the available theoretical guides and the level of success recorded so far by the method. The result of the analysis reveals that a virile and more reliable system for load management need be discovered for effective system operation and increased overall power availability. A load management automation system was designed which has the ability to compare the power allocated and the instantaneous power being consumed by the regional  stations and then instruct any station that is consuming excess to cut down the amount of power corresponding to the difference within the limit of stability factor of the system at which the system automatically effect the command if no action is taken  by the station. The system is believed to have what is required to prevent under-frequency system collapse.