Electrical Power Transmission & Distribution

Introduction
• Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of
electrical energy from the generating station to the step-
down transformer at the distribution station near the
consumer’s end.
• The distribution system encompasses the wiring and
other interconnected systems from the step-down
transformer to the final user’s house or industry where
electricity is used.
• Most transmission lines are high-voltage three-phase
alternating current (AC).
• Electricity is transmitted at high voltages (115 kV or
above) to reduce the energy loss which occurs in long-
distance transmission.
Introduction
• Electrical energy must be generated at the same rate at which it is
consumed because there are no large scale efficient storage
mechanisms. A sophisticated control system is required to ensure that
the power generation very closely matches the demand.

• If the demand for power exceeds supply, the imbalance can cause
generation plant(s) and transmission equipment to automatically
disconnect or shut down to prevent damage.
• Transmission systems can be classified as:
• DC – Direct Current
• AC – Alternating Current
Advantages of D.C transmission:
► It requires only two conductors.
► There is no problem of inductance and capacitance.
► There is no surge problem.
► Voltage drop is less than A.C, so better voltage regulation.
► There is no skin effect. So can utilize the entire cross-section.
► Less corona loss – less interference with communication circuit.
► Less insulating material than A.C is required.

Disadvantages:
► Due to the commutation problem, electric power cannot be
generated as D.C voltage.
► D.C voltage cannot be stepped up or down because transformer
uses only A.C. voltage and current.
► D.C. switch, circuit breaker has its own limitations.
Advantages of A.C transmission:
► A.C voltage can easily be stepped up and stepped down at desired
level by a transformer.
► Maintenance of A.C. substation is easy and cheaper.
► In electric power system, from generation to distribution, throughout
the network, a.c. voltage is handled. So no extra care is needed like
D.C. voltage.

Disadvantages of A.C transmission:

► A.C. lines require more copper as it requires more conductor material
than D.C.
► A.C. transmission line construction is more complicated than D.C.
► As skin effect occurs only in A.C, effective resistance of the line
increased.
► For line capacitance, continuous loss of power occur due to charging
current.
► The voltage drop is greater than D.C.

Power transmission is largely done as HVAC.

Power transmission is also done using:
Underground cables
Overhead cables

Due to many advantages, large scale, long

distance power transmission is done using
overhead lines.
Components of a overhead
transmission line
1. Insulator.

2. Bundle of two conductors (some lines have

4).

3. Spacer to hold the two conductors apart.

4. Earth wire at top of tower or pylon.

5. The three bundles on one side of the tower

make up one electrical circuit. Most lines have
two circuits, one each side.

6. Identity plate saying which line it is and who

owns it. Also usually has a safety warning
notice about the dangers of electrocution.

7. Anti-climbing device - barbed wire to stop

unauthorized climbing
Power Distribution
In general, the AC distribution
system is the electrical system
between the step-down
substation fed by the
transmission system and the
consumers’ meters. According to
scheme of connection, the
distribution system may be
classified as:
1.Radial system
2.Ring main system
3.Inter-connected system.
Radial Power Distribution
This is the simplest
distribution circuit and has
the lowest initial cost.
Disadvantages:

1.The end of the distributor

nearest to the feeding point
will be heavily loaded.

2.The consumers are

dependent on a single feeder
and single distributor.

3.The consumers at the

distant end of the distributor
would be subjected to serious
voltage fluctuations when the
load on the distributor
changes.
Ring Main Power Distribution
The ring main system has
the following advantages:

1.There are less voltage

fluctuations at consumer’s
terminals.

2.The system is very reliable

as each distributor
is fed via two feeders.
In the event of fault
on any section of
the feeder, the
continuity of
supply is
maintained.
Interconnected Power
Distribution
When the feeder ring is energized
by two or more than two source, it
is called interconnected
system.
The interconnected system
has the following advantages:

1.It increases the service

reliability.

2.Any area fed from one

generating station during peak
load hours can be fed from the
other generating station. This
reduces reserve power capacity
and increases efficiency of the
system.
Example:

The system has concentrated load Ia, Ib, Ic, Id and Ie at load point A,B,C,D
and E respectively. The resistance of different section has been shown in the
Figure above.
The feeder is fed at point O. Let the voltages at different nodes are Va, Vb,
Vc, Vd and Ve and the feeder is fed at the voltage Vo . Hence the voltage
drop is given by: VDTotal =VDOA + VDAB +VDBC + VDCD + VDDE
Current flowing in sections:
•The current flowing in the section ‘OA’ is: Ioa = Ia + Ib + Ic + Id + Ie
•The current flowing in the section ‘AB’ is: Iab = Ib + Ic + Id + Ie
•The current flowing in the section ‘BC’ is: Ibc = Ic + Id + Ie
•The current flowing in the section ‘CD’ is: Icd = Id + Ie
•The current flowing in the section ‘DE’ is: Ide = Ie
The total voltage drop therefore, is given by:
VDTotal = IoaRoa + IabRab + IbcRbc + IcdRcd + IdeRde
Example:
A 2 wire distributor cable AB is 2km long and supplies loads of 100 A, 150
A, 200 A and 50 A situated 500 m , 1000 m , 1600 m and 2000 m from the
feeding point A . Each conductor has a resistance of 0.01 Ω per 1000 m.
Calculate the potential difference at each load point if the potential at point A
is 300 volt .
Example:
An electric train runs between two sub- stations 6 km apart maintained at
voltage 600 V and 590 V , respectively and draws a constant current of 300 A
while in motion. The track resistance of go and return path is 0.04 Ω/km .
calculate 1-The point along the track where minimum potential occurs. 2-The
current supplied by the two sub- stations when the train is at the point of
minimum potential.

Suppose that minimum

potential occurs at point
M, at distance X km
from the substation A .
as in the fig. below
For Vm to be a minimum, the differential coefficient must be 0.
Example:
A 2-wire ac distributor AB is 300 m long. It is fed at point A. Various loads
and their loading positions are as follows:
Point Distance from Concentrated load
A in m in Amperes .
C 40 30
D 100 40
E 150 100
F 250 50
If the maximum permissible voltage drop is not to exceed 10V, find the
cross-sectional area of the distributor. Take ρ = 1.78 x 10-8 Ωm.

A 40 C 100 D 150 E 250 F 300 B

30A 40 A 100 A 50 A 30 A
250 A
 Example:
A 2-wire ac street mains AB is 600 m long. It is fed from both ends at
220V. Loads of 20A, 40A, 50A and 30A are tapped at distances of 100m,
250m, 400m and 500m from the end A respectively. If the area of cross-
section of the distributor conductor is 1 cm2, find the minimum consumer
voltage. Take ρ = 1.7 x 10-6 Ωcm.

A 100 C 250 D 400 E 500 F 600 B

I - 140
20A 40 A 50 A 30 A
Assume as I ?
Solution:
Resistance per 100m = 0.022 Ω.
Composite resistance (for both lines) = 0.043 Ω.

Vc = 220 – 0.043 x I = 217.5

Vd = 220 – 0.043 x I – (I – 20) 0.043 x (250 – 100) / 100
= 221.29 – 0.1075 x I = 215.06
Ve = 221.29 – 0.1075 x I – (I – 60) x 0.043 x (400 – 250) / 100
= 225.16 – 0.172 x I = 215.18
Vf = 225.16 – 0.172 x I – (I – 110) x 0.043 x (500 -400) / 100
= 229.89 – 0.215 x I = 217.42
Vb = 229.89 – 0.215 x I – (I – 140) x 0.043 x (600 – 500) / 100 = 220
 235.91 – 0.258 x I = 220
 I = 58
 I – 140 = -82
Vc, Vd, Ve, Vf can be calculated now.

From those, it is apparent that Vmin = Vd = 215.06

Example:
Example:

80 A

80 + 120 A A 240 V
B

120 A
End: Transmission