M'luru gets first GI substation in Karavali

• KPTCL plan; survey completed 
• Aimed to reduce surge due to increase in electricity usage

Mangaluru: In a few days, the 33 kv electricity substation of Mescom near Nehru Maidan will be upgraded to a 110 kv GIS (Gas Insulated Substation) which will also be the first of its kind in Karavali. For now, this latest technology has been installed only in Bengaluru and Mysuru.

Currently, electricity is being supplied from this substation to the DC’s office and the area in its vicinity. Since there was a surge in its usage, Mescom decided that the substation needs to be upgraded and therefore sent a proposal to Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) a few months for the installation of GIS technology. KPTCL has agreed to this proposal and has also decided to take up the installation of GIS as well.

Survey completed

A survey has been conducted next to the former substation. A KPTCL team from Mangaluru has recently visited the GIS substation at Mysuru to study it and complete the project report. Within 15 days of its completion, it will be submitted to the central office of KPTCL. Later a DPR (Detailed Project Report) will be created and submitted to the government for approval post which it will be implemented.

What is GIS?

Gas Insulation method was first developed by Japan in order to increase the capacity of the substation for the distribution of electricity received from various grids. This technology involves housing the main parts used for the transmission of high voltage electricity in a sealed environment with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas as the insulating medium. For the traditional air insulated 110 kv capacity substation, around 100 sq mts of space is required, but for the GIS, only 30 sq mts of space is enough. Though its creation is expensive, its maintenance and operation is easy and economical. Thus it is well suited for urban areas. Besides, it will also provide more protection from the wind in Karavali which contains salt and also from the depreciation factor due to the rain waters.  

Transformer capacity doubled

In the current substation, 2 transformers of 5 mva capacity are being used. In the future, 3 transformers with 20 mva capacity will be brought. Because of this the surge will be reduced and thus distribution will be simplified, informed Mescom Superintending Engineer Manjappa to ‘Udayavani’.

11 kms long underground cable

The 220 kv Sharavati receiving station at Kavoor transmits electricity to the various substations in the district including the substation near the Nehru Maidan. Here, during the installation of the latest GIS technology, the previously existing cable will be replaced by underground cables. Therefore, KPTCL has conducted survey for laying of the underground cables along a distance of 10.5 kms from Kavoor to State Bank bus stop via Padavinangady, Nanthoor, Mallikatte, Jyothi and Hampankatte. For the installation of the new substation, equipments will be imported from Germany, KPTCL Executive Engineer Gangadhar to ‘Udayavani’.

Ready within 15 days

Considering the surge in electricity usage, a survey has been completed for the installation of the GI substation at the location of the present substation near Nehru Maidan and the project report is getting prepared. Within 15 days, the report will be sent to the central office. Later, the DPR will be created and after getting approval, tenders process will be initiated,” said Ravikant Kamat, Superintendent engineer (Work and maintenance), KPTCL

Article by Dinesh Ira translated into English by Aaron Dmello