Towards Solving the Problem of Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power in Nigeria via Superconductor Power Cables

U Ofe,Mu Onuu

doi:10.4314/gjpas.v18i3-4.8

Abstract

Data on transmission and distribution losses in some African countries on conventional cables show that Nigeria experiences the highest transmission and distribution losses (=6.81 x 10 15 kWh) among African countries and, certainly, among the highest in the world with per capita consumption of 0.03 kWh/person. The total installation cost comparison between conventional and superconducting cables (SC) has been done and the comparison of the losses in SC cables and the conventional ones has also been analyzed. Some of the parametric properties of superconducting materials and benefits of high temperature superconducting (HTS) cables are discussed. Transmission lines in Nigeria have been found to experience high voltages and very low voltages under light loading and high loading, respectively. It has also been found that with the use of HTS cables, these losses, which are mainly the I2R losses, are negligibly small and almost zero. It is also found that HTS cables would be panacea for these high transmission and distribution losses in Nigeria. KEYWORDS : Transmission, distribution and superconducting cables.

Highlights

A look at the World energy demand clearly shows that unless a radical energy policy is taken and implemented by every country of the world there will be a serious problem of energy crisis in the near future (Onuu, 1998)
Transmission is the moving of electrical energy from the generating plants to bulk delivery point called the substation, from where it is delivered to consumers
The choice of transmission voltage depends on the amount of power to be transmitted and transmission distance

Summary

INTRODUCTION

A look at the World energy demand clearly shows that unless a radical energy policy is taken and implemented by every country of the world there will be a serious problem of energy crisis in the near future (Onuu, 1998). Adeleye (1977) stated that one of the problems associated with transmission and distribution of electricity in Nigeria was that transmission lines were unusually long with insufficient substations for control of voltages. He proffered a solution that the 11kV lines should be limited to about 12km instead of 45km resulting in low voltage. It is clear that Nigeria ranks first in electric transmission and distribution losses in Africa. The same is applicable to Nigeria which has a population of 140 million (Emeka, 2008)

High Temperature Superconducting Cables

Superconducting cable design

Findings

CONCLUSION