PUNE (Metro Rail News): The Metro Train runs on electricity and is therefore an eco-friendly urban transport mode. A large amount of electricity is required to run metro trains. Carrying out structural works related to uninterrupted power supply for Metro is a challenging task. In the near future, a large number of passengers will travel by metro, so it is important to provide a continuous power supply for 17 to 18 hours of metro service and related facilities.
Recently, Pune Metro has completed the power supply work required to run the metro along the entire 33.2 km route. For continuous power supply, MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) has taken electricity supply from three grids. It is called Receiving Sub Station (RSS). The power supply is taken from the Chinchwad grid for receiving substation at Pimpri-Chinchwad station, the Ganeshkhind grid for Range hill receiving substation, and the Parvati grid for Vanaz receiving substation. For this, 5 to 6 km long 133 kV power cables have been laid using the latest technology. Due to this, in case of any technical failure in one grid, it will be possible to continue the metro service by providing electricity from the other grid. The receiving substation at Range Hill has been built with the capacity to supply electricity to both corridors of the metro simultaneously.
Four transformers have been installed in each receiving substation and the 132 kV power supply has been stepped down to 25 kV, 25 kV, 33 kV, and 33 kV. 25 kV power supply is used for traction and its feed is released in train Overhead Electric Wires (OHE). The 33 kV power supply has been given to all metro stations. For this, electric cables of 33 kV capacity have been laid along the entire 33.2 km route. An Auxiliary Sub Station (ASS) is constructed at each station. This power is supplied to elevators, escalators, air conditioning (AC), and electrical systems in the station through the auxiliary substation.
Pune Metro has planned to generate solar power on a large scale. Solar power generation sets have been installed on the roofs of each station and on the roofs of buildings. Through this, it will be possible to generate 11 megawatts of solar power. Integration of solar-generated energy with the power supply system is done. This will save a lot of energy.
A SCADA system has been installed to control all receiving substations (RSS), auxiliary substations (ASS), and OHEs. The entire traction and power supply system can be controlled through this SCADA system. The main computer of the SCADA system is installed at OCC at Range Hill. Complete traction and power supply information is available online on the display at OCC. So it is easy to control.
On this occasion, the Managing Director of Maha Metro, Dr. Brijesh Dixit said, “World-class traction and power supply systems have been installed for Pune Metro. Therefore, it is planned that Pune Metro will continue to get uninterrupted power supply.”
