ECCE3015

Fundamentals of Power System

Chapter1 Fundamentals of Power System

Basic Components of Power System

Basic Components of Power System

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Introduction Power plants Transformers Transmission Lines Circuit breakers and disconnecting switches 6) Loads 7) Voltage and Frequency Standard

1. Introduction

Power Generation
(generators, turbines)

Transmission Systems

Distribution Systems

Loads Energy Sources

Light, AC, Motors, Heaters, etc.

Energy Sink

Introduction

(Cont.)

Components Of Electric Energy Systems

Power Plants Transformers Transmission Lines Circuit Breakers & Disconnect Switches Loads

Power Plants

At the power plant, the energy resources such as fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal), hydro and nuclear are converted into electricity The main parts of power plant are:

the burner (in fossil fuel plants), the reactor (in nuclear power plants) , the dam (in hydro plants), the turbine and the generator
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2. Electric Power Generators or Alternators

3. Prime Movers for Electric Generators

Most of electric power is obtained by electromechanical energy conversion, whereby mechanical energy is converted into electric energy by means of electric generators.

The source of mechanical energy is the prime mover which is directly coupled to the generator.
Mechanical Energy Prime mover Rotating electric generator Electrical Energy

Fuel

4. Transformers

Step-Up Transformer: Used to step the voltage up

(as the current is proportionally stepped down) at a much higher level so that power can be transmitted up to hundreds of kilometers while conductor size and losses are kept down within practical limits.

Step-Down Transformer: Used to step the

voltage down (current stepped up) at a much lower level so that power can be distributed safely to consumers and loads.

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5. Transmission Lines
The transmission line delivers the electrical power from the generating plant to the customer The bulk power of the generating plant is transmitted to the load centers over long distance line called High Voltage lines The transmission consists of three conductors (either as three single wires or as bundles of wires) and one or more Shield conductors. The conductors are hanged to insulators (non conductive material) to hold them away from the tower structure The insulators must withstand the forces during wind storms & freezing rain conditions.
shield conductors Three-phase conductors Insulators

Supporting structure

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Cont. Transmission Lines

The transmission lines that distribute the power within a city are called medium voltage distribution lines Since the voltage distribution is much lower, the distribution towers are shorter and their insulators are smaller (wooden, steel, concrete poles)

Commercial and industrial customers use transmission lines and their own transformers to step down the voltage to the level required In residential areas utilities install transformers to reduce the voltage to 100 -240 V level depending on the standard practice of the country.
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6. Circuit Breakers & Disconnect Switches

Circuit breakers are large three-pole switches located at each end of every transmission-line section, and on either side of large transformers. They open under control of automatic protective relays in the event of a fault or short circuit in the protected equipment. They can also be opened manually by a local or remote operator to de-energize an element of the network for maintenance.

Circuit Breaker

Disconnect Switches

3-phase Supply

Oil or gas (SF6: sulfur hexafluoride) are used to suppress the arc when the circuit breakers contacts are opened under load.

Disconnect switches are placed in series with circuit breakers to completely isolate (or de-energize) them after they open (no-load).
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10. Loads
Peak load

System load varies through daily and annual cycles, creating difficult operating problems. A typical load curve is shown in the figure.

Power 12

Any device that utilizes electric power can be said to impose a load on the electric system.

8 AM

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8 Time

PM

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Worldwide Standards for Voltage and Frequency

Voltage (V)
110/220 120 220 220 240 230 120 100

Country
Brazil Canada

Frequency (Hz)
60 60 50 50 50 50 60 50/60

China
Egypt Oman UK USA

Japan

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Why different Voltage standards?

120 V was chosen somewhat arbitrarily in the USA.

Thomas Edison came up with a high-resistance lamp filament that operated well at 120 V.

Generally, a wire is less expensive when the voltage is high

the cross section of the copper wires is smaller for higher voltages.

Lower voltage circuits are safer than the high voltage ones

100V is perceived to be less harmful than 240V.

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Why different Frequency standards?

In Europe, Siemens and AEG have established the 50Hz as a standard for their power grid. Most of Asia, parts of South America, all Africa, and the Middle East have adopted the same 50Hz standard. In the USA, Westinghouse adopted the 60Hz standard.

60 Hz is high enough frequency to eliminate light flickers in certain types of incandescent lamps

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