Module IV

Power Distribution
That part of power system which distributes electric power
for local use is known as distribution system.
ie between substation and consumers
Consists of
Feeders
Connects the substation to area
Where power is to be distributed
-no tappings
Current remains the same.
Distributor
Supply to consumer by tapping.
Voltage drop
Service mains -connect distributor to
To consumer terminal

Classification of Distribution Systems
Nature of current
d.c. distribution system
a.c. distribution system
Type of construction
overhead system
underground system.
Scheme of connection.
radial system
ring main system
inter-connected system

AC distribution

Electrical energy is generated and distributed in
the form of a.c.
The reason for using a.c is that, a.c voltage can be
change in magnitude by means of a transformer.
Transformer has made it possible to transmit a.c
power at high voltage and utilize it at a safe
potential.
High transmission and distribution voltages have
greatly reduced the current in conductors and
also the line losses.

The a.c distribution system is classified in to
(i) primary distribution system and
(ii) secondary distribution system.

A.C. Distribution
1. Primary distribution system.










Part of a.c distribution system which operates at
voltages somewhat higher than general utilization and
handles large block of electrical energy than the
average low voltage consumer uses.
The voltage used for primary distribution depends
upon the amount of power to be converged and the
distance of the substation required to be fed.
The most commonly used primary distribution voltages
are 11kV, 6.6kV and 3.3kV or even higher
Primary distribution is carried out by 3 phase 3 wire
system.
Secondary distribution system.

It is that part of a.c distribution system which
includes the range of voltage at which the
ultimate consumer utilizes the electrical
energy delivered to him.
The secondary distribution system employs
400/230V, 3 phase, 4 wire system.

D.C. Distribution

D.C. Supply is required for the operation of
variable speed machinery (i.e. dc motors).
For this purpose, ac power is converted into
dc power at the substation by using
converting machinery e.g rectifiers, rotary
converters and motor generator sets.
The d.c. supply from the substation may be
obtained in the form of (i) 2 wire or (ii) 3 wire
for distribution.

D.C. Distribution
(i) 2-wire d.c. system.





+ ve and ve return conductor
This system consists of 2 wires.
One is the outgoing or positive wire and the
others are the return or negative wire.
The loads are connected in parallel between
the two wires.

ii)3-wire d.c. system.

Two outers and a neutral middle conductor
It consists of 2 outers and a middle or neutral
were which is earthed at the substation.
The voltage between the outers is twice the
voltage between either outer or neutral wire.

ADVANTAGES
It makes available two voltages at the consumer
terminals, ie V between any outer and the neutral
and 2V between the outers.
Loads requiring high voltage (e.g. motors) are
connected across the outers where as lamps and
heating circuits requiring less voltage are
connected between either outer and the neutral.

Connection Schemes of Distribution System
1. Radial System:
In this system, separate feeders radiate from
a single substation and feed the distributions
at one end only.

The radial system is
employed only when
the power is generated
at low voltage and the
substation is located at
the centre of the load
Drawbacks:
The end of the distributor nearest to the
feeding point will be heavily loaded.
The consumers are dependent on a single
feeder and single distributor. There fore, any
fault on the feeder or distributor cuts off
supply to the consumers who are on the side
of the fault away from the substation.
Due to these limitations, this system is used for
short distances only.

2. Ring main system
primaries of distribution transformers form a loop.
This system employs a feeder which covers the whole
area of supply finally returning to the substation. The
feeder is closed on itself. The arrangement is similar to
two feeders in parallel on different routes.
Adv:

The system is very reliable as each distributor is fed via
two feeders. In the event of fault on any sections of the
feeder, the continuity of supply is maintained. The
supply to all consumers can continue to be available by
isolating the faulty section.

3. Interconnected system.
When the feeder ring is energised by two or
more than two generating stations or
substations, it is called inter-connected
system.
Requirements of a Distribution System
Proper voltage.
Availability of power on demand.
Reliability.
Design considerations in a Distribution System
Feeders-
Distributors-
TYPES OF D.C.DISTRIBUTORS

According to the method of feeding, dc
distributors are classified as
Distributor fed at one end.
Distributor fed at both ends.
Distributor fed at centre.
-Ring distributor
Distributor fed at one end

In this type of feeding, the distributor is connected to
the supply at one end and loads are taken at different
points along the length of distributor.
The current in various sections of the distributor away
from feeding point goes on decreasing.
The voltage across loads away from the feeding point
goes on decreasing, ie minimum voltage occurs at the
load point D.
In case of fault occurs on any sections of the
distributor, the whole distributor will have to be
disconnected from the supply mains.

Distributor fed at both ends


The distributor is connected to the supply mains at
both ends and loads are tapped of at different points
along the length of distributor.
The voltage at the feeding points may or m ay not be
equal.
The load voltage goes on decreasing as we move away
from one feeding point and reaches a minimum value
and then starts rising and reaches maximum value at
another feeding point.
The minimum voltage occurs at some load of point and
is never fixed. It is shifted with the variation of load on
different sections of the distribution.

Adv:
It a fault occurs on any feeding point at the
distributor, the continuity of supply is maintained
from the other feeding point.
In case of fault on any section of the distributor,
the continuity of supply is maintained from the
other feeding point.
The area of cross section required for a doubly
fed distributor. Ie much less than that of a singly
fed distributor.


Distributor fed at Centre

The centre of the distributor is connected to
the supply mains.
It is equivalent to two singly fed distributors,
each distributor having a common feeding
point and length equal to half of the total
length.

Ring Mains
The distributor is in the form of closed ring.
It is equivalent to a straight conductor fed at
both ends with equal voltage, the two ends
being brought together to form a closed ring.
The distributor ring may be fed at one or
more than one point