Power Distribution Systems

and Its Characteristics II

Distribution Feeders
There are various feeder designs that can improve
customer service:
Simple radial feeder (system)
In this system, a given secondary feeder is fed from only one
transformer and one primary cable.
Each substation operates independently and there is no
duplication of equipment.
No extra tie cables, circuit breakers or transformers with large
reserve capacity are needed.
System investment is usually the lowest of all circuit
arrangements.
For a well-planned and well-maintained system, the service
reliability of the radial system is usually high.
Distribution Feeders
Simple radial feeder (system)
The radial system is exposed to many interruption possibilities
(the most important of which are those due to primary
overhead or underground cable failure or transformer failure).
The loss of a primary cable or transformer will cut off service
to the affected loads until repairs can be made.
This is often the reason for design engineers to select one of
the other circuit arrangements, which can minimize production
shutdown.
The system will be satisfactory only if the interruptions
frequency is very low and if there are ways to operate the
system without planned outages.
Distribution Feeders
A typical Simple radial system

Distribution Feeders
Expanded radial system

May be applied to larger loads by using a radial primary
distribution system to supply a number of unit substations
located near the centers of load, supplying the load through
radial secondary systems.
This would result in better voltage regulation and in lower
power loss than in a system using heavy low-voltage feeders of
extensive length
If the transformers are installed without individual primary
protection, a fault in any one transformer will result in loss of
the entire system.

Distribution Feeders
Typical Expanded Radial System




(a)
(b) (c)
Distribution Feeders
Secondary Selective System

This is the next widely used system to radial system
A pairs of unit substations are connected through a normally open
secondary tie circuit breaker.
Use of this type of system result in reliability increase.
It provides flexibility in operation, particularly when equipment is
being maintained or serviced.
Any part of a primary feeder, or transformer and associated
equipment, can be de-energized for inspection or maintenance
without service interruption.

Distribution Feeders
Secondary Selective System




(a)
(b)
Distribution Feeders
Secondary Selective System

Under normal operation:
The tie breaker open and each transformer supplies own load.
For a fault occur in a transformer or its primary feeder, or if a
transformer or primary feeder is de-energized for maintenance, the
transformer secondary switching device or breaker is to be opened
and the tie breaker is to be closed.
The load connected to both buses is supplied by the energized
transformer.
Each transformer and its primary feeder must have sufficient
capacity to carry the total load.

Distribution Feeders
Secondary Selective System

Transformers used in this system are often equipped with cooling
fans to provide additional capacity during emergency operations.
The tie breaker should be interlocked with the transformer
secondary breakers to prevent the transformers from being
operated in parallel.
Parallel operation of the transformers would increase the available
secondary short-circuit current and would risk the loss of power to
both secondary buses in the case of a transformer fault or primary
cable fault.
Distribution Feeders
Primary Selective System

This system is another way of reducing the time required to restore
voltage to a load in the event of loss of a primary feeder as
compared with a radial system.
In this system, two or more primary feeders are provided.
Two primary feeders are extended to each transformer, and
selector switches are provided so that any transformer may be
connected to either of the two primary feeders.
Each primary feeder must have sufficient capacity to carry the
maximum load that may be connected at one time.
Distribution Feeders
Primary Selective System


Distribution Feeders
Primary Selective System

Under normal operation:
The system is operated with the load divided approximately
equally on each primary feeder.
When a fault occurs on one primary feeder, there will be an
interruption of power to the load connected to that feeder.
The interrupter switch connected to the faulted feeder will be
opened and the respective transformer will be reconnected to the
energized feeder.
The two switches associated with one transformer should be
mounted in separate individual metal enclosures in order that a de-
energized feeder may be safely maintained while the other feeder is
energized.
Distribution Feeders
Primary Selective System

The primary selective system has a higher first cost than a radial
system and is usually lower than that of a comparable secondary
selective system.
The service reliability of this system lies between that of a radial
system and that of a secondary selective system.
This scheme is in popular use on many underground systems.
It also offers little remedy for computer problems caused by
temporary faults to the overhead system.

Distribution Feeders
Looped Primary System

Distribution Feeders
Looped Primary System

In Figure (a) looped primary system:
The primary loop is fed by a single medium - voltage circuit
breaker.
One loop-sectionalizing interrupter switch is located at the primary
of each transformer.
One section of the primary loop is connected directly to the
primary of each transformer.
In case of a fault in a transformer or on the primary loop, the
primary circuit breaker will open and clear the fault.
After the fault is located, the two interrupter switched at the ends
of the faulted section are opened and the remainder of the loop is
again energized.
Distribution Feeders
Looped Primary System

In Figure (b) looped primary system:
Two medium-voltage circuit breakers are used, one on each end of
the loop, and two interrupted switches are used at each transformer
location.
With this arrangement, the only time that any part of the load is
without service for a extended period is when a fault takes place in
a transformer or its secondary bus.
Any fault on a section of the primary loop will not affect the
transformers supplying their respective loads.

Distribution Feeders
Looped Primary System

The disadvantage of this arrangement lies in a complex and time-
consuming operation in locating a fault on the primary loop or on any
transformer, because the entire system must be de-energized for a time,
and the time required to restore service may also be lengthy.

When the load centers are located relatively far apart, the looped
primary system will cost little more than a comparable radial system.
The initial cost can be reduced by using fused interrupter switched
instead of medium-voltage circuit breakers.


Distribution Feeders
Secondary Network System

This system can provide a very high degree of service reliability to all
the loads.
The difference with the secondary selective system is in the way the
system is operated.
In the SSS, the tie circuit between secondary buses is normally open
and each transformer supplies its own load.
In the SNS, the secondary buses are tied together and the transformers
operate in parallel to supply the entire load.
In the SNS, the transformer secondary switching and protective device
is a special low-voltage power circuit breaker known as a network
protector.
Distribution Feeders
Secondary Network System

This is an electrically operated circuit breaker provided with relays
arranged to trip the breaker on reverse power flow to the transformer
and to reclose the breaker when normal voltage conditions return to
the primary of the transformer.
Separate low-voltage fuses are usually installed on the load side of the
network protector to mitigate damage to the protector and to protect
the low-voltage system on the occurrence of high-magnitude fault
current.


Distribution Feeders
Secondary Network System
Distribution Feeders
Secondary Network System

Under normal condition
The total load is shared by all of the transformers operating in parallel .
For a Fault in a primary feeder or in a transformer or if voltage fail
The power flow from the secondary bus to the transformer will cause
the network protector to open, thus disconnecting the transformer from
the secondary bus.
The remaining energized transformers will continue to supply power
to the bus, and there will be no interruption of power to the loads.


Distribution Feeders
A Spot Network Arrangement

In this system, there are two or more transformers connected to a
single bus through network protectors.
The transformers and primary feeders must have sufficient capacity to
carry all loads connected to the bus with one transformer out of
service.
For larger installations, a system having a primary selective and
secondary network arrangement can be an advantage.
Each of the primary feeders must have sufficient capacity to supply the
entire load that is connected to it.
If two primary feeders are used to supply the primary selective
network system, half of the transformers would normally be connected
to each feeder with adjacent transformers on different feeders.
Distribution Feeders
A Spot Network Arrangement

In case of a primary feeder fault, the fault is isolated from the system
by automatic tripping of the primary feeder circuit breaker and all the
network protectors associated with the faulted circuit.
Maintenance switching of primary feeders can be done without
customer interruption or involvement.
Spot networks are common in downtown, high density areas and are
being applied frequently in outlying areas for large commercial
services where the supply feeders can be made available.
This system also represents the most compact and reliable arrangement
of components and is the most reliable for all classes of loads.
Distribution Feeders
A Spot Network Arrangement


Factors Effecting Primary Feeder
Rating
The nature of the load connected.
The load density of the area served.
The growth rate of the load.
The need for providing spare capacity for emergency
operation.
The type and cost of circuit construction employed.
The design and capacity of the substation involved.
The type of regulating equipment used.
The quality of the service required.
The continuity of the service required.

Factors Effecting Feeder Routing
Future load growth.
Load density.
Physical barriers.
Voltage drops.
development patterns.
Feeder configuration.
Total cost.

Factors Effecting Number of Feeders
Conductor size.
Voltage drop.
Substation capacity.
Primary voltage levels.
Load density.
Feeder length.
Feeder limitations.

Factors Effecting Conductor Size
Selection
Power losses.
load growth rate.
load forecast.
voltage drops.
Transformer rating.
Conductor rating.
Total cost.

Unit Substations
Unite substations are small, self-contained, metal-clad units,
usually installed in residential areas where large sites are
unobtainable.
They are usually well landscaped, and their incoming and
outgoing feeders are placed underground.
Primary feeders from one substation extend to meet those
from other, adjacent unit substations, this is just to make sure
a continuous supply in case of a unit substation out of service.
Each substation, therefore, must be designed with spare
capacity to enable this transfer of load to made during
contingency conditions.

Unit Substations
A Unite substation consists of the following sections.

1. Primary section: This provides for the connection of one or
incoming high voltage circuits, each of which may or not be
provided with a switching device or a switching and interrupting
device.

2. Transformer section: This includes one or more Transformers with
or without automatic load-tap-changing equivalent.

3. Secondary section: This provides for the connection of one or more
secondary feeders, each of which is provided with a switching and
interrupting device.
Unit Substations
Different Type of Unite substations.

Radial: One primary feeder to a single step-down Transformer with a
secondary section for connection of one or more outgoing radial
feeders.
Secondary selective: Two step-down Transformers, each connected to
a separate primary source. The secondary of each transformer is
connected to a separate but through a suitable switching and protective
device.
Primary selective and primary loop: Each step-down transformer
connected to two separate primary sources through switching
equivalent to provide a normal and alternate source. Upon failure of
the normal source, the Transformer is switched to the alternate source.

Unit Substations
Different Type of Unite substations.
Secondary spot network:
Two step-down Transformers, each connected to a separate primary
source.
The secondary side of each transformer is connected to a common bus
through a network protector that is equipped with relays to trip the
protector on reverse power flow to the Transformer and phase sequence at
the Transformer secondary.
The bus has provisions for one or more secondary radial feeders.
Distribution network:
A single step down transformer having its secondary side connected
to a bus through a network protector, which is equipped with relays
to trip it on reverse power flow and reclose upon restoration of the
correct voltage, phase angle, and phase sequence at the Transformer
secondary.
Unit Substations
Different Type of Unite substations.

Duplex:
Two step down Transformers, each connected to a separate primary
source.
The secondary side of each Transformer is connected to a radial feeder
These feeders are joined on the feeder side of the power circuit breaker by
a normally open tie circuit breaker.
This type is used primarily on electric utility primary Distribution
Systems.

Unit Substations
Advantages Unite substations.

Unit substation has been widely accepted for industrial power
distribution mainly because the engineering of the components is
coordinated by the manufacturer.
The cost of field labor, and installation time are greatly reduced, and it
is safer to operate.
The operating costs are reduced due to the reduced power losses from
shorter secondary feeders.
Besides, a unit substation is very flexible and easy to expand.
Unit substations are available for either indoor or outdoor locations.
Primary unit substations may be located outdoors, particularly when
the primary supply is above 34.5 kV.