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

Abstract

The present investigation determined that the automation of the distribution network allows to have a reliable electrical energy system for users who carry out remote work activities, virtual classes and telehealth; activities generated during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in rural areas in Peru. The proposed objective explains that the communications architecture using equipment with General Package Radio Service (GPRS) technology and interconnected with a relational database and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) graphical interface, allowed the supervision of analog signals and status in real time, as well as precise and fast control of the protection and reconnection equipment responsible for the automatic correction of faults in the distribution network. The maximum energy demand during the 2020 period has had a significant reduction due to the cessation of activities of a large part of the industrial, commercial and services sector, caused by the declaration of the state of emergency for the management of the health crisis caused by COVID-19, this atypical behavior caused power outages due to system failures, short circuits and overloads, determining a series of problems for users as the development of their activities was affected. It is concluded that the equipment used in automation allows to record the failure reasons, the protection functions used, the phase in which the failure occurred, among other parameters that are very useful for the location and correction of the electrical failure without the presence of maintenance personnel. This equipment are installed in the substations of the electrical distribution network, in different geographical locations in the concession areas, of the company Hidrandina S.A.