EL403 POWER SYSTEMS

AMIE SECTION-B

Q.1. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT STRUCTURE OF A POWER

SYSTEM
Solution:
Electricity is the only form of energy used in the industrial, domestic, commercial,
and transportation sectors. It is a coveted form of energy; since it can he generated in bulk
and transmitted economically over long distances. Electric power system deals with the
generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy associated with the unique
feature of control of the flow or demand of energy at desired nodes throughout the power
network. Figure 1.1 represents the fundamental structure of a power network where
generators produce electric energy, transformers transform this energy into one voltage
level from another voltage level, and transmission lines wheel the power from the
generating stations to the load centres for the final distribution of electrical energy to
different loads. Tie-lines interconnect one system with the neighbouring electric system
belonging to the same grid. The circuits breakers isolate a faulty part of the network (the
fault being sensed by the relays) while static/rotary compensators may be used for voltage
control at load or remote buses. Conventionally, loads are represented in a lumped or
composite form.
The best location of a generating station being at a place very close to electrical load
centre (i.e., the region where the major energy demand exists), the practical location of
the primary conventional energy sources does not necessarily coincide with the urban
centres. The location of a power plant is frequently governed by its closeness to the
energy resource and transportation facility of the fuel as well as availability of nearest
load centre. Environmental aspects are also key factors in determining the site of the
plant. Mostly, a generating plant consists of generating units complete with necessary
accessories. Control elements like different valves, exciters, regulators etc., also step up
transformers, and instrument transformers along with breakers are intended in the station
switchyard for the transmission of power and protection of the system. Sources of input to
the generating system are conventionally fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil and gas), hydrosource
and nuclear fuel. However, non-conventional sources such as wind power, solar energy,
tidal power, geothermal power etc. are also being used for stand-alone systems.
An electric power system. even a small one, usually constitutes an electric network
of vast complexity. The diversity of the system magnitude being great, there is no general
rule regarding the structure of the system that applies to any power system. However, any
power system could be categorised by a combination of generation, transmission and
distribution networks. After generation, transmission
plays a vital role in transporting power from the generating, station to load centres.
Transriiission of power is usually done at HV / EHV / UHV range due to the known fact
that it reduces the power loss in the line as well as improves stability. The common
transmission voltages across the globe are 33 kV/66 kV/114kV/132 kV/138 kV/ 161
kV/220 KV/230 kV/345 kV/400 kV/500kV in the HV and EHV ramzcs and 765 kV/800
kV/ 1100kV/ I500kV in the UHV ranges in most parts of the world while the generation
voltages have commonly been 6 kV/11 kV/12.47 W/13.2. KV/13.8 kV/ 15 kV/16 kV/22
kV (all are line-to-line voltage).
In sub-transmission level, the circuits distribute electric power to a number of
distribution centres in a certain geographical region at a voltage level that typically varies
between 23 kV and 138 kV, the most common grades being 33 kV/66 kV/110
kV/120kV/132kV. The sub-transmission circuits may also receive electric power directly
from any generator bus. Larger customers are mostly served by sub-transmission level

circuits. In small power systems, the sub-transmission level may coincide with the
distribution level.

Figure 1.1 Basic structure of a power system.

The distribution level consists of the distribution circuits in the overall region of
distribution. The larger consumers. i.e. high tension (H.T.) have been termed as primary

EL403 POWER SYSTEMS

AMIE SECTION-B

distributors while low tension (L.T.) consumers are the secondary distributors. The
consumers consuming energy between 3kV and 23kV are H.T. consumers while the
consumers in the category of 110 V-400/440 V lie in the class of secondary or L.T.
consumers. The increasing demand on the electrical energy has led not only to
diversification of the generation. transmission and distribution network but also raised the
points of proper utilisation and reliability of the electric power. This, in turn, has
necessitated the pooling of larger number of power Systems into a common grid and
consequently insisting for proper scheduling of generation and demand. It also turned out
that the incorporation of a large number of systems into a common grid makes the
operation of the entire system very sensitive to the operating conditions. Thus in addition
to the study of power system operation, the knowledge of power system ontrol is very
much required in order to run the system economically and to maintain a continuous
balance between generation and varying load demand. In one way, the problems of
dynamic and transient stability, steady state stability, voltage and frequency regulation,
power optimisation need to he properly analysed and on the other hand. a methodology of
overall system control is to be devised. Digital computers are the most effective tool for
the analysis of a power system.