08-17-2017, 12:43 AM
As a VNITian, you guys might have observed that VNIT stands out from Nagpur city when it comes to power cut. Power cuts are rare and even when there is a power failure due to some fault we have supply for our mess and in exam time in our hostel even. Wouldn t it be interesting to know how the electrical distribution and substations our college are configured meets the demand of uninterrupted supply? Let s find out!
VNIT receives a special treatment when it comes to power supply, thanks to our director who presented our college as a research institute which requires 24 hours uninterrupted power supply in front of Chief Minister. As a result our college was given a separate 11kv line from MSCDCL which parts it from the rest of Nagpur city.
There are 3 substations within campus Substation A, B, C. The 11kv 3phase supply is directly received at Substation A. From there we have 11kV feeder running to Sub B and C. For the purpose of distribution it is first step down to 440V. Single phase lines of 230 V are distributed among the various loads (department, hostel, lab, library etc.).
For the purpose of backup each substation is equipped with 250kVA diesel generator. Its kVA rating is not enough to drive both the departments as well as the hostel at the same time. So it is usually switched between them depending upon the requirement. During day time, most of are gone for classes so in case of power failure, diesel generator if run supplies to the department only. Whereas at night, the authorities give priority to water pumping and then to the mess and the hostel.
In VNIT you won t find overhead cables. The large number of trees falling during rainy season leading to interruption in power supply plus increased maintenance expenditure had forced the authorities to shift all the cables underground.