Overview of Electrical Engineering Practices & Application of building Services

Topic 1
Power Supply System

Electricity is generated in power stations, usually

located far from the consumers. After generation, the
electricity is being transmitted to sub-stations near the
load centres and then distributed to consumers.

Figure 1-1 Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electricity

1.1 Generation

One form of electricity generation is by thermal power

station. These power stations employ steam turbines
to run the alternators.

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Overview of Electrical Engineering Practices & Application of building Services

The steam is obtained from high-pressure boilers.

The fuel burnt in the boilers can be solid, liquid or
gaseous. The liquid fuels used are fuel oil, crude oil,
petrol or paraffin oil. Generally fuel oil is used for
firing the boilers. The other types of fuels are better
quality and are used in internal combustion engine.

The scheme of thermal generation can be divided into

two phases:
 Formation of steam in the boiler house
 Generation of electrical power in the generation
(Turbine) room

Figure 1-2 Thermal power station

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Overview of Electrical Engineering Practices & Application of building Services

Figure 1-2 shows a power flow diagram for a thermal

power station. In the boiler house the fuel is burnt
and the water is converted into high-pressure steam
[converts chemical energy to thermal energy], which
is further heated in a superheater. The superheated
steam passes the turbine rotating the turbine blades.
Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy.

The pressure of the steam decreases and its volume

increases, after imparting energy to the turbine rotor it
passes out of the turbine blades into the condenser
(vacuum). In the condenser the cold water is
circulated with the help of pump that condenses the
low-pressure wet steam. This condensed water is
then heated again and converted into high-pressure
steam to rotate the turbine blades.

The turbine in the generation room acts as a prime

mover [converts mechanical energy to electrical
energy] of the alternator, which generates electrical
energy generally at a voltage of 11–16kV. This
energy is then fed through the generator switchboards
and circuit breakers to transformers. The transformer
step-up the voltage of the generator to a higher
values at 400kV or 230kV for transmission.

The overall efficiency of the Thermal Power Station

varies from 20% to 26% depending on the plant
capacity.

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1.2 Transmission

The ideal arrangement for supply of electricity is to

have a power station located right at the load centre
and generate power at the utilisation voltage. Then
transmission system can be eliminated. However, it
is obviously not feasible to have a power station right
in the city centre and also it is not technically feasible
to generate power in a large scale at the utilisation
voltage. An electrical system operated at 400V can
only supply up to a maximum demand of 3 to 4MW.
At a higher voltage of 22kV, the maximum demand
can be increased to 200MW.

Transmission of electrical energy by high voltage

circuit is required in order to bring bulk energy from a
remote source to a load centre and at the same time
to interconnect power stations. The interconnection
would increase the reliability of supply and provide the
spooling of generating plants so that the standby
capacity can be reduced.

The reason for the transformation from a lower

voltage to one considerably high for transmission is
that it is much more economical to transmit bulk
supplies of electrical energy by using the highest
voltage possible. In this way, the overhead lines or
underground cables need have only comparatively
small conductors, with the minimum electrical losses
(I2R).

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To illustrate this aspect of electricity transmission, a

conductor of 18mm diameter is sufficient to transmit
50000kW at 132000V. To transmit the same amount
of power at 250V, the conductor diameter would have
to be something like 400mm.

In Singapore the transmission network consists of

three levels, 400kV, 230kV and 66kV. The
transmission system in Singapore is totally using the
UNDERGROUND CABLE NETWORK.

1.3 Distribution

The main function of a distribution system is to

receive electric power from large, bulk power sources
and to distribute electric power to consumers at
various voltage levels with acceptable degrees of
reliability. The most commonly used nominal
voltages are 3.3kV, 6.6kV, 11kV, 22kV and 33kV.

Depending on the load density and the annual growth

rate in a service area, the tendency is toward higher
distribution voltage especially for urban areas that
have an increasing consumption of electrical energy.

By selecting a higher distribution voltage, appreciable

savings in overall cost can be achieved if the load
density within the service area is high.

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Figure 1-3 Electricity Transmission and Distribution System

A simple transmission and distribution system is

shown in Figure 1-3. In Singapore, the primary
distribution voltages adopted are 22kV and 6.6kV,
and the secondary distribution voltage at utilisation
level is 400V.

In the city centre or industrial estate, where the load

density is high, it is distributed at 22kV and stepped
down directly to the utilisation voltage through
22kV/400V transformer. In areas where the load
density is low, it is distributed at 6.6kV and stepped
down through 6.6kV/400V transformers.

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The voltage variation or fluctuation at the supply point

is maintained, as far as it is practical, to within 6% of
the normal voltage. The supply frequency is 50Hz
and the variation is maintained at 1%.

All distribution networks in Singapore are by

underground cables from substations placed near to
the load centre and supplied at 22kV or 6.6kV.
Transformers in these local substations reduce the
voltage to 400V, three-phase and neutral distributor
cables connect this supply to consumers.

Connecting to one phase and neutral of a three-

phase 400V supply gives 230V single-phase supply
suitable for domestic consumers.

Figure 1-4 A typical 400V/230V distribution system

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Three-Phase Four-Wire AC System

A three-phase, four wire AC system is illustrated in

Figure 1-5. There are three ‘live’ conductors called
‘phases’ or ‘lines’. The voltage between any of these
three phases is usually 400V. The star point is
earthed to an earth electrode sunk into the ground
below the substation, and from this point is taken the
fourth conductor, the ‘neutral’.

Figure 1-5 Three-phase four-wire distribution system

The voltage between any phase conductor and the

neutral will be 230V, known as single-phase. Colours
Red, Yellow and Blue identify the three phases. The
neutral is always black. Supplies to premises are
always connected to different phases to balance the
loads.
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Overview of Electrical Engineering Practices & Application of building Services

If the consumer is a small one, a house for instance,

the supply cable contains two cables, a live and
neutral. The colour of the live will depend on the
phase from which it has been taken.

A three-phase 400V supply is used for supplying

small industrial and commercial loads such as factory,
schools, blocks of flat, commercial building, etc. The
higher voltage (400V) is used generally for motors.
The lighting loads are connected across the other
phases and the neutral such that when the whole
installation is operating, the loads across the three
phases are reasonably balanced so that each phase
conductor carries approximately the same current.

A single-phase 230V supply is usually provided for

individual domestic consumers like our home.

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