A novel data-acquisition system for improving electric power distribution planning

This paper reports on the application of a computer-based data-acquisition system to electric power distribution planning. A microcontroller-based mains data-acquisition device was designed to measure voltage and frequency of mains supply over a long span of time and the data acquired stored on the computer system. The data were subsequently analyzed to show discrepancies from the lower and upper boundary of nominal voltage values (220V±5%) of measured values. The values of voltages recorded fall outside of the range for more than 70% of the total period recorded and only about 30% of the readings were within the nominal range of values. This indicated notable discrepancies in the actual voltage supplied to consumers in the residential area and the nominal values. Thus, power in the area considered can be improved by reducing the number of consumers in the area connected to the distribution transformer. The method can be deployed to acquire electric power distribution data in any location of interest. The analysis of the data can prove to be a useful tool in the hands of power distribution engineers to achieve better distribution planning.