Electric Power Electric Power Distribution Distribution Electric Power Distribution 2 Introductory Question Introductory Question Electric power reaches our city via high Electric power reaches our city via high voltage transmission lines. What fraction of voltage transmission lines. What fraction of the electric charges traveling on those the electric charges traveling on those transmission lines pass through this room? transmission lines pass through this room? transmission lines pass through this room? transmission lines pass through this room? A. A. About 1% About 1% B. B. About 0.01% About 0.01% C. C. Exactly 0% Exactly 0% Electric Power Distribution 3 Observations about Observations about Electric Power Distribution Electric Power Distribution Household electricity is alternating current (AC) Household electricity is alternating current (AC) Household voltages are typically 120V or 240V Household voltages are typically 120V or 240V Power is distributed at much higher voltages Power is distributed at much higher voltages Power transformers are common around us Power transformers are common around us Power substations are there, but harder to find Power substations are there, but harder to find Electric Power Distribution 4 4 Questions about 4 Questions about Electric Power Distribution Electric Power Distribution Why isnt power transmitted at low voltages? Why isnt power transmitted at low voltages? Why isnt power delivered at high voltages? Why isnt power delivered at high voltages? What is alternating current and why use it? What is alternating current and why use it? How does a transformer transfer power? How does a transformer transfer power? Electric Power Distribution 5 Question 1 Question 1 Why isnt power transmitted at low voltages? Why isnt power transmitted at low voltages? Electric Power Distribution 6 Electric Power and a Wire Electric Power and a Wire An electric current passing through a wire An electric current passing through a wire converts electrical power in thermal power converts electrical power in thermal power power wasted = current voltage drop in wire. power wasted = current voltage drop in wire. Si th i b Oh l Si th i b Oh l Since the wire obeys Ohms law, Since the wire obeys Ohms law, voltage drop in wire = resistance current voltage drop in wire = resistance current,, the power that wire wastes is the power that wire wastes is power wasted = resistance current power wasted = resistance current 22 .. Doubling current quadruples wasted power! Doubling current quadruples wasted power! 2 Electric Power Distribution 7 Clicker Question Clicker Question Two long wires will carry electrical power most Two long wires will carry electrical power most efficiently from a generator to a community if efficiently from a generator to a community if the voltage difference between the wires is the voltage difference between the wires is A. A. large and the current they carry is large. large and the current they carry is large. B. B. large and the current they carry is small. large and the current they carry is small. C. C. small and the current they carry is large. small and the current they carry is large. D. D. small and the current they carry is small. small and the current they carry is small. Electric Power Distribution 8 Large Currents are Wasteful Large Currents are Wasteful The goal of a power distribution system is to The goal of a power distribution system is to transmit lots of electric power to a city, transmit lots of electric power to a city, power transmitted = current voltage drop at city power transmitted = current voltage drop at city,, hil ti littl l t i i th i hil ti littl l t i i th i while wasting little electric power in the wires, while wasting little electric power in the wires, power wasted = resistance current power wasted = resistance current 22 .. That energy efficiency can be achieved by using That energy efficiency can be achieved by using a small current, a small current, a huge voltage drop, a huge voltage drop, and low and low- -resistance wires. resistance wires. Electric Power Distribution 9 Question 2 Question 2 Why isnt power delivered at high voltages? Why isnt power delivered at high voltages? Electric Power Distribution 10 High Voltages are Dangerous High Voltages are Dangerous When large voltage drops are available, When large voltage drops are available, strong electric fields are present, strong electric fields are present, charges experience enormous forces, charges experience enormous forces, nd rr nt t nd t fl thr h n p t d p th nd rr nt t nd t fl thr h n p t d p th and currents tend to flow through unexpected paths. and currents tend to flow through unexpected paths. High High--voltage electrical power in a home is voltage electrical power in a home is a spark hazard, a spark hazard, a fire hazard, a fire hazard, and a shock hazard. and a shock hazard. Electric Power Distribution 11 The Voltage Hierarchy The Voltage Hierarchy Large currents are too wasteful for transmission Large currents are too wasteful for transmission High voltages are too dangerous for delivery High voltages are too dangerous for delivery So electric power distribution uses a hierarchy: So electric power distribution uses a hierarchy: high high--voltage circuits in the countryside voltage circuits in the countryside medium medium- -voltage circuits in cities voltage circuits in cities low low- -voltage circuits in neighborhoods and homes voltage circuits in neighborhoods and homes Transformers transfer power between circuits! Transformers transfer power between circuits! Electric Power Distribution 12 Question 3 Question 3 What is alternating current and why use it? What is alternating current and why use it? 3 Electric Power Distribution 13 Alternating Current (AC) Alternating Current (AC) In alternating current, In alternating current, the voltages of the power delivery wires alternate the voltages of the power delivery wires alternate and the resulting currents normally alternate, too. and the resulting currents normally alternate, too. Al i l i h US Al i l i h US Alternating voltage in the US Alternating voltage in the US completes 60 cycles per second, completes 60 cycles per second, reversing every 1/120 second. reversing every 1/120 second. Electric Power Distribution 14 AC and Transformers AC and Transformers AC has little effect on simple electric devices AC has little effect on simple electric devices (e.g., (e.g., lightbulbs lightbulbs, space heaters, toasters) , space heaters, toasters) AC is a nuisance for electronic devices AC is a nuisance for electronic devices (e g comp ters televisions so nd systems) (e g comp ters televisions so nd systems) (e.g., computers, televisions, sound systems) (e.g., computers, televisions, sound systems) AC permits the easy use of transformers, AC permits the easy use of transformers, which can move power between circuits: which can move power between circuits: from a low from a low- -voltage circuit to a high voltage circuit to a high- -voltage circuit voltage circuit from a high from a high--voltage circuit to a low voltage circuit to a low- -voltage circuit voltage circuit Electric Power Distribution 15 Question 4 Question 4 How does a transformer transfer power? How does a transformer transfer power? Electric Power Distribution 16 Electromagnetism Electromagnetism (Version 2) (Version 2) Magnetic fields are produced by Magnetic fields are produced by magnetic poles (but free poles dont seem to exist), magnetic poles (but free poles dont seem to exist), moving electric charges, moving electric charges, nd h n in l tri fi ld [m r l t r ] nd h n in l tri fi ld [m r l t r ] and changing electric fields [more later] and changing electric fields [more later].. Electric fields are produced by Electric fields are produced by electric charges, electric charges, moving magnetic poles moving magnetic poles,, and changing magnetic fields and changing magnetic fields.. Electric Power Distribution 17 Electromagnetic Induction Electromagnetic Induction Moving poles or changing magnetic fields Moving poles or changing magnetic fields produce electric fields, produce electric fields, which propel currents through conductors, which propel currents through conductors, which produce magnetic fields. which produce magnetic fields. p g p g Changing magnetic effects Changing magnetic effects induce induce currents currents Induced currents produce magnetic fields Induced currents produce magnetic fields Electric Power Distribution 18 Lenzs Law Lenzs Law Lenzs law predicts the nature of the induced Lenzs law predicts the nature of the induced magnetic fields: magnetic fields: When a changing magnetic field induces a current in a When a changing magnetic field induces a current in a g g g g g g conductor, the magnetic field from that current conductor, the magnetic field from that current opposes the change that induced it. opposes the change that induced it. 4 Electric Power Distribution 19 Transformer Transformer Alternating current in one circuit can induce an Alternating current in one circuit can induce an alternating current in a second circuit alternating current in a second circuit A transformer A transformer i d i i d i uses induction uses induction to transfer power to transfer power between its circuits between its circuits but doesnt but doesnt transfer any charges transfer any charges between its circuits between its circuits Electric Power Distribution 20 Current and Voltage Current and Voltage A transformer must obey energy conservation A transformer must obey energy conservation Power arriving in its primary circuit must equal Power arriving in its primary circuit must equal power leaving in its secondary circuit power leaving in its secondary circuit Si i h d f Si i h d f ll Since power is the product of Since power is the product of voltage current voltage current,, a transformer can exchanging voltage for current a transformer can exchanging voltage for current or current for voltage! or current for voltage! Electric Power Distribution 21 Clicker Question Clicker Question If you increase the number of turns of wire in If you increase the number of turns of wire in the secondary coil of a transformer, each charge the secondary coil of a transformer, each charge traveling through that wire will experience traveling through that wire will experience A. A. the same forward force for a longer distance. the same forward force for a longer distance. B. B. a larger forward force for a longer distance. a larger forward force for a longer distance. C. C. a larger forward force for the same distance. a larger forward force for the same distance. D. D. the same forward force for the same distance. the same forward force for the same distance. Electric Power Distribution 22 Step Step- -Down Transformer Down Transformer A step A step- -down transformer down transformer has relatively few turns in its secondary coil has relatively few turns in its secondary coil so charge is pushed a shorter distance so charge is pushed a shorter distance nd p ri n m ll r lt ri nd p ri n m ll r lt ri and experiences a smaller voltage rise and experiences a smaller voltage rise A larger current A larger current at smaller voltage at smaller voltage flows in the flows in the secondary circuit secondary circuit Electric Power Distribution 23 Step Step- -Up Transformer Up Transformer A step A step- -up transformer up transformer has relatively many turns in its secondary coil has relatively many turns in its secondary coil so charge is pushed a longer distance so charge is pushed a longer distance nd p ri n l r r lt ri nd p ri n l r r lt ri and experiences a larger voltage rise and experiences a larger voltage rise A smaller current A smaller current at larger voltage at larger voltage flows in the flows in the secondary circuit secondary circuit Electric Power Distribution 24 Power Distribution System Power Distribution System A step A step- -up transformer increases the voltage up transformer increases the voltage for efficient long for efficient long- -distance transmission distance transmission A step A step- -down transformer decreases the voltage down transformer decreases the voltage for safe delivery to comm nities and homes for safe delivery to comm nities and homes for safe delivery to communities and homes for safe delivery to communities and homes 5 Electric Power Distribution 25 Introductory Question Introductory Question (revisited) (revisited) Electric power reaches our city via high Electric power reaches our city via high voltage transmission lines. What fraction of voltage transmission lines. What fraction of the electric charges traveling on those the electric charges traveling on those transmission lines pass through this room? transmission lines pass through this room? transmission lines pass through this room? transmission lines pass through this room? A. A. About 1% About 1% B. B. About 0.01% About 0.01% C. C. Exactly 0% Exactly 0% Electric Power Distribution 26 Summary about Summary about Electric Power Distribution Electric Power Distribution Electric power is transmitted at high voltages Electric power is transmitted at high voltages Electric power is delivered at low voltages Electric power is delivered at low voltages Transformers transfer power between circuits Transformers transfer power between circuits Transformers require AC power to operate Transformers require AC power to operate The power distribution system is AC The power distribution system is AC