NERGY LOSSES IN POWER

SYSTEM NETWORKS

2008-2009
Introduction
Electrical power generated in power stations reaches the end
users through a large & complex networks.

The power system networks comprise tranformers,overhead

lines, cables & other equipments to facilitate the transfer of
electricity to consumers.

Hard fact about the supply of electric energy is that the units
generated do not match with the units distributed to the
consumers.

Some percentage of the units is always lost in the network. This

difference in the generated & distributed units is known as energy
loss.
 Types Of Losses

Technical Non-technical

Permanent Loss Variable Loss

Thefts Overloading
(Fixed Loss) (Copper Loss)

Meter Error

Unmetered Supply
A. Permanent technical losses:
corona
leakage
· dielectric losses,
· open-circuit losses,
· losses caused by continuous load of measuring elements,
· losses caused by continuous load of control elements.

B. Variable technical losses

· joule losses in lines in each voltage level,
· impedance losses,
· joule losses in protection components.
Technical Losses
Defined as the "physical" losses corresponding to "Joule
effect" or heat losses, affected by the flow of the current in the
equipment. (transformers, transmission lines, circuit breakers
etc.).

•Fixed Losses: Occur mainly in the transformer cores and do not

vary according to current.
•These losses take the form of heat and noise and occur as long as
transformer is energized.
•Between 1/4and 1/3 of technical losses on distribution networks
are fixed.
 Corona

 When an alternating potential difference is applied

across two conductors, whose spacing is large in
comparison with diameter, then the atmospheric
air surrounding the conductor is subjected to
electro-static stresses.
 At low voltage there is no change in the condition
of atmospheric air around the air.However,when
the P.D. is gradually increased, a stage arrives
when a faint luminous glow of violet colour
appears together with a hissing noise. This
phenomenon is called corona. Corona occurs in
power lines of 100kv and above
Effect Of Corona
1.A violet glow is observed around the conductor.

2.At the time a hissing noise can be heard and the

characteristic smell of ozone can be detected.

3.The glow is maximum over the rough and dirty

surfaces of the conductor.

4.It is accompanied by a power loss – the wattmeter

connected in the electric circuit will show a reading.
Factors affecting Corona
Loss
 Effect of frequency:- corona loss is directly
proportional to the system frequency.

 Effect of voltage:-

 Effect of conductivity of air:-

 Effect of density of air:-

 Effect of conductor radius:-

 Effect of conductor heating by load

current:-

 Effect of rain, dust :-

 How the level of variable losses on
distribution n/w can be influenced
 Higher voltages:-

 Shorter or more direct lines:-

Balancing three phase loads:-

 Fixed Losses
Fixed losses on network can be influenced
in the way set out below:

 Quality of transformer core material:-

 Switching off transformers:-

 Lower Power Factor:

Shunt capacitors can be connected in the following ways:
1.Shunt capacitors are connected on the secondary
side (11 KV side) of the 33/11 KV power
transformers.
 ii) Line losses in LT distribution lines may also be
considerably reduced by installing shunt capacitors
of optimum rating at vantage points.
 iii) A more appropriate manner of improving this PF
of the distribution system and thereby reduce the
line losses is to connect capacitors across the
terminals of the consumers having inductive loads.
Many electricity supply authorities are modifying
their tariff conditions to make it compulsory for the
consumers to provide capacitors for all types of
installations with connected loads of 5 HP and
above.
 By connecting the capacitors across individual loads,
the line loss is reduced from 4-9% depending upon
the extent of PF improvement.
How can network losses be reduced?

 A few basic rules exist to minimize network losses. 

The first rule is to design the network
system in such a way that power lines to large
consumers are as direct as possible. The second basic
rule is to reduce the number of transformation steps,
since transformers account for almost half of network
losses.

 A similar reasoning accounts for the cross-section of

lines and cables:- The higher the cross-section, the
lower the losses.
Statistical analysis of sources of losses:

Non-technical 8%
Mains EHV 12%
Other E nginee ring 3%

Tra nsfo rmers- HV/LV Mains HV 16%

15%

Tra nsfo rmers- S ystem

17%
Mains LV 29%
 Bad Workmanship Resulting in Poor
Contacts at Joints and Connections:
 Bad Workmanship contributes significantly towards
increasing distribution losses.
 Efforts should, therefore, be made to have the best
possible workmanship. In this context the following
points should be borne in mind.
 i) Joints are a source of power loss. Therefore the
number of joints should be kept to a minimum. Proper
jointing techniques should be used to ensure firm
connections.
 ii) Connections to the transformer bushing-stem, drop
out fuse, isolator, and LT switch etc. should be
periodically inspected and proper pressure maintained to
avoid sparking and heating of contacts.
 iii) Replacement of deteriorated wires and services
should also be made timely to avoid any cause of leaking
and loss of power.
Recloser Usage

 The main function is to

switch, but also to switch
off fault. Reliability is
maintained, because a new
network is
protected by this recloser
and in a case of fault in
line, only part of the
supplying line will be
disconnected.
 Non-technical losses:

 Meter errors: The meter over or under recording

and assumptions of average consumptions
against dead stop meter.
 Unmetered supply: It is a significant source of
errors in assessing accurate consumption.
 Theft of energy: Illegal abstraction of energy by
meter tampering or illegal connections.
 Electricity Consumption Statistics of
Selected Countries
Country Total Consumption Energy Losses Per capita Percentage
(Million KWh) (Million KWh) use(KWh) losses

USE 3,717,000,000,000 233,119,000,000 12,343.098 6.27

CHINA 2,494,000,000,000 123,931,000,000 1,886.747 4.97

JAPAN 946,300,000,000 49,786,000,000 7,425.834 5.26

RUSSIA 940,000,000,000 110,503,000,000 6,648.854 11.76

INDIA 587,900,000,000 174,035,000,000 520.327 29.60

GERMANY 524,600,000,000 30,996,000,000 6,366.428 5.91

CANADA 522,400,000,000 38,315,000,000 15,645.337 7.33
UK 345,200,000,000 31,524,000,000 5,679.851 9.13
 Standby Power Losses of Some
Equipments
Appliance Standby Power (Watts)

Maximum Minimum Average

VCR 30 1 9.9

Voltage Stabilizer 18 14 15.7

Kitchen oven 18 6 14.5

Television 22 1 7.3
 Ranking of countries in per capita
consumption

Rank Country Per capita consumption

*3 Canada 15,645.337 KWh
*9 United states 12,343.098 KWh
*11 Australia 10,525.432 KWh
*22 Japan 7,425.834 KWh
*30 Russia 6,648.854 KWh
*35 Germany 6,366.428 KWh
*41 United kingdom 5,679.851 KWh
*93 China 1,886.747 KWh
*144 INDIA 520.827 KWh
*152 Pakistan 452.951 KWh
*154 Sri Lanka 390.418 KWh
 Dielectric Loss
 A cable has a capacitance between
core & sheath. When a vtg. is
applied to an unloaded cable a
capacitive current (charging current)
flows. Since the resistivity of
insulation is not infinite, leakage
current flows & power loss occurs.
The current leads the voltage not by
90’ but by an angle (90- δ ) as
shown.
Pd =VICOSØ=VISinδ =wCV^2Sin δ
 Dielectric losses in different electrical
equipments
Sr.No. Equipment % Tan Delta

1. New High voltage Transformer 0.25 % to 1%

2. In Service 0.75 % to 15%

3. LV Distribution Transformer 1% to 5 %
4. OCB 0.4% to 2%
5. Cable with solid Insulation 0.5% to 15%
6. Cable Oil filled/Pressurized 0.2% to 0.5%
7. Motors 2% to 8%
8. Capacitor without Discharge Device 0.05% to 0.5%
 Air conditioners
Check and clean the air conditioner's filter once a month;
make sure the air conditioning unit is the proper size for the room it
is cooling; locate the air conditioner on the north or east side of a
house in a shady area; ventilate the house's attic to reduce heat
buildup; install ceiling fans to improve air circulation.

Computers
Turn off computers when not in use or set the computer to
energy-saving mode.

New appliances
Replace aging appliances with new, more energy-efficient
models when possible; look for Energy Star label designating an
energy-efficient appliance.
 Ovens and stove tops
Use microwave instead of oven where possible; food in glass
dishes can be cooked at lower temperature; preheating oven is
usually unnecessary; on the stove top cook with covered pans
and match pan size to the size of the burner.

Refrigerators
Check door seals to make sure there are
no air leaks; clean condenser coils on the back of
the refrigerator; keep refrigerator away from oven
or dishwasher and give the unit breathing.
 Conclusion

From above paper, we studied the various types

of technical as well as non-technical losses in
power system network and their effects on
performance of system. Also, we studied the
remedies over it.