Structure of Power

The Structure Of Power System
Posted Aug 9 2012 by Edvard in High Voltage, Transmission and Distribution

with 4 Comments
The first American single-phase ac system was installed in Oregon in 1889.

Southern California Edison Company established the first three phase 2.3 kV
system in 1893.
An interconnected power system is a complex enterprise that may
be subdivided into the following major subsystems:
Generation Subsystem
Transmission and Subtransmission Subsystem
Distribution Subsystem
Utilization Subsystem
Generation Subsystem
Generation subsystem includes generators and transformers.
Generators
Three-phase ac generator from

around 1895
An essential component of power systems is the three-phase ac generator
known as synchronous generator or alternator. Synchronous generators have
two synchronously rotating fields: One field is produced by the rotor driven at
synchronous speed and excited by dc current. The other field is produced in
the stator windings by the three-phase armature currents.
The dc current for the rotor windings is provided by excitation systems. In
the older units, the exciters are dc generators mounted on the same shaft,
providing excitation through slip rings. Current systems use ac generators
with rotating rectifiers, known as brushless excitation systems. The
excitation system maintains generator voltage and controls the reactive
power flow. Because they lack the commutator, ac generators can generate
high power at high voltage, typically 30 kV.
The source of the mechanical power, commonly known as the prime mover,
may be hydraulic turbines, steam turbines whose energy comes from the
burning of coal, gas and nuclear fuel, gas turbines, or occasionally internal
combustion engines burning oil.
A steam turbine used to provide electric

power
Steam turbines operate at relatively high speeds of 3600 or 1800 rpm.
The generators to which they are coupled are cylindrical rotor, two-pole for
3600 rpm, or four-pole for 1800 rpm operation. Hydraulic turbines,
particularly those operating with a low pressure, operate at low speed. Their
generators are usually a salient type rotor with many poles. In a power
station, several generators are operated in parallel in the power grid to
provide the total power needed. They are connected at a common point
called a bus.
With concerns for the environment and conservation of fossil fuels, many
alternate sources are considered for employing the untapped energy sources
of the sun and the earth for generation of power. Some alternate sources
used are solar power, geothermal power, wind power, tidal power, and
biomass.
The motivation for bulk generation of power in the future is the nuclear
fusion. If nuclear fusion is harnessed economically, it would provide clean
energy from an abundant source of fuel, namely water.
Transformers
High voltage transformer 40MVA (Steps down 150kv to 10kV in a substation

in Belgium. Photo taken 1983.)
The transformer transfers power with very high efficiency from one level of
voltage to another level. The power transferred to the secondary is almost
the same as the primary, except for losses in the transformer.
Using a step-up transformer will reduce losses in the line, which makes the
transmission of power over long distances possible.
Insulation requirements and other practical design problems limit the
generated voltage to low values, usually 30 kV. Thus, step-up transformers
are used for transmission of power. At the receiving end of the transmission
lines step-down transformers are used to reduce the voltage to suitable
values for distribution or utilization.
The electricity in an electric power system may undergo four or five
transformations between generator and consumers.
Top
Transmission and Subtransmission

Subsystem
An overhead transmission network transfers electric power from generating
units to the distribution system which ultimately supplies the load.
Transmission lines also interconnect neighboring utilities which allow the

economic dispatch of power within regions during normal conditions, and the
transfer of power between regions during emergencies.
Standard transmission voltages are established in the United States by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Transmission voltage
lines operating at more than 60 kV are standardized at 69 kV, 115 kV, 138
kV, 161 kV, 230 kV, 345 kV, 500 kV, and 765 kV line-to-line.
Transmission voltages above 230 kV are usually referred to as extra-high
voltage (EHV).
High voltage transmission lines are terminated in substations, which are
called high-voltage substations, receiving substations, or primary
substations.
The function of some substations is switching circuits in and out of service;
they are referred to as switching stations. At the primary substations, the
voltage is stepped down to a value more suitable for the next part of the trip
toward the load. Very large industrial customers may be served from the
transmission system.
The portion of the transmission system that connects the high-voltage
substations through step-down transformers to the distribution substations is
called the subtransmission network. There is no clear distinction between
transmission and subtransmission voltage levels.
Typically, the subtransmission voltage level ranges from 69 to 138 kV.
Some large industrial customers may be served from the subtransmission
system. Capacitor banks and reactor banks are usually installed in the
substations for maintaining the transmission line voltage.
Top
Distribution Subsystem
The distribution system connects the distribution substations to the
consumers service-entrance equipment. The primary distribution lines from
4 to 34.5 kV and supply the load in a well-defined geographical area.
Some small industrial customers are served directly by the primary feeders.
The secondary distribution network reduces the voltage for utilization by
commercial and residential consumers. Lines and cables not exceeding a few
hundred feet in length then deliver power to the individual consumers.
The secondary distribution serves most of the customers at levels of 240/120
V, single-phase, three-wire; 208Y/120 V, three-phase, four-wire; or 480Y/277
V, three-phase, four-wire. The power for a typical home is derived from a
transformer that reduces the primary feeder voltage to 240/120 V using a
three-wire line.
Distribution systems are both overhead and underground. The growth of

underground distribution has been extremely rapid and as much as 70
percent of new residential construction is via underground systems.
Top
Load Subsystems
Power systems loads are divided into industrial, commercial, and
residential.
Heavy-Duty Single-Phase Capacitor Start And Run

Induction Motor
Industrial loads are composite loads, and induction motors form a high
proportion of these loads. These composite loads are functions of voltage
and frequency and form a major part of the system load.
Commercial and residential loads consist largely of lighting, heating, and
cooking. These loads are independent of frequency and consume negligibly
small reactive power. The load varies throughout the day, and power must be
available to consumers on demand.
The daily-load curve of a utility is a composite of demands made by
various classes of users.
The greatest value of load during a 24-hr period is called the peak or
maximum demand. To assess the usefulness of the generating plant the
load factoris defined. The load factor is the ratio of average load over a
designated period of time to the peak load occurring in that period. Load
factors may be given for a day, a month, or a year.
The yearly, or annual load factor is the most useful since a year represents
a full cycle of time.
The daily load factor is:
Daily L.F. = average load / peak load
(1.1)
Multiplying the numerator and denominator of (1.1) by a time period of 24

hr, we obtain:
Daily L.F. = average load x 24 hr / peak load

Daily L.F. = energy consumed during 24 hr / peak
load x 24 hr
(1.2)
The annual load factor is:
Annual L. F. = total annual energy / peak load x

8760 hr
(1.3)
Generally there is diversity in the peak load between different classes of
loads, which improves the overall system load factor.
In order for a power plant to operate economically, it must have a high
system load factor. Todays typical system load factors are in the range of 55
to 70 percent. Load-forecasting at all levels is an important function in the
operation, operational planning, and planning of an electric power system.
Other devices and systems are required for the satisfactory operation and
protection of a power system.
Some of the protective devices directly connected to the circuits are called
switchgear. They include instrument transformers, circuit breakers,
disconnect switches, fuses and lightning arresters. These devices are
necessary to deenergize either for normal operation or on the occurrence of
faults.
The associated control equipment and protective relays are placed on
switchboards in control houses.
Reference: Electrical Energy Systems by Mohamed E. El-Hawary (Dalhousie
University)

Structure of Power

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Structure of Power

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Structure of Power

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Structure Of Power System

Posted Aug 9 2012 by Edvard in High Voltage, Transmission and Distribution

The first American single-phase ac system was installed in Oregon in 1889.

Transmission and Subtransmission Subsystem

Generation subsystem includes generators and transformers.

Three-phase ac generator from

A steam turbine used to provide electric

High voltage transformer 40MVA (Steps down 150kv to 10kV in a substation

Transmission and Subtransmission

Transmission lines also interconnect neighboring utilities which allow the

Distribution systems are both overhead and underground. The growth of

Heavy-Duty Single-Phase Capacitor Start And Run

Daily L.F. = average load / peak load

Multiplying the numerator and denominator of (1.1) by a time period of 24

Daily L.F. = average load x 24 hr / peak load

The annual load factor is:

Annual L. F. = total annual energy / peak load x

You might also like