DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DESIGN

AHMED-ALARASHI

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OUTLINE
Distribution system design
 Introduction
 Distribution network arrangements
 Factors affecting distribution system design
- Fault level
- Characteristics of the load
- Voltage drop
- Reliability
- Maintenance
- Simplicity of protection
- Cost
 Design procedure
Load allocation
Selection of network configuration
Deciding equipments rating
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INTRODUCTION

Distribution systems includes much wider variety of voltage

levels, components, loads and interconnections than
the generation or transmission system.
Voltage levels of the distribution system varies from high
voltage, for large consumers, to medium and low
voltage for the majority of the consumers.
The distribution voltage may be as high as 66 kV for large
loads. Increasing the voltage reduces the system
current which in turns reduces the cable size and hence
the copper losses.
The distribution network may include the following:
 Distribution sub stations
 Primary feeder
 Secondary circuits 3
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1 Simple radial system

A single primary service and distribution transformer supply all the
feeders. There is no duplication of equipment and hence system
investment is the lowest of all circuit arrangements. This
arrangement is shown in Fig.

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1 Simple radial system (cont.)

This arrangement has the following advantages :-
 Satisfactory for small loads where shut down of the supply
to allow repair of the faulty plant is allowed.
 Operation and expansion are simple.
 The simplicity of the lay out gives high reliability provided
plant is reliable.
The advantages are balanced by the following limitations:-
 Loss of cable, primary supply, or transformer will cut off
services.
 Equipment must be shut down to perform routine
maintenance. 5
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1 Simple radial system (cont.)

Example (1)

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1 Simple radial system (cont.)
This system may be applied to large loads by using a primary distribution
system to supply a number of unit substations located near to the
loads and supplying the loads through radial secondary system as
shown in the next Fig. If the load is of high power then it is possible that
the primary distribution system will be at a higher voltage than the
secondary distribution system.

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1 Simple radial system (cont.)

Example (2)

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2 Primary selective system
Each substation is connected to two separate primary feeders. This
arrangement can be used as protection against loss of a primary
feeder. The arrangement is shown in the Fig. below.

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2 Primary selective system (cont.)
This arrangement has the following advantages and
disadvantages:-
 In case of a fault on a primary feeder the transformer feeding
normal service loads can be supplied from the alternative
feeder.
 Each feeder must be capable of supplying both the transformers
and hence cost is higher than the radial system due to
duplication of the cables and switchgear.
 Feeder maintenance can be performed with out interruption of
the power supply.
 If the reliability of the transformer is in doubt this arrangement is
not suitable.
The advantage of duplicate feeder will be lost if they follow a route
where both would be lost from service by a single incident.
Hence they should not be a double circuit on one set of towers
nor should under ground cables be placed in the same trench 10
where an excavator could damage both simultaneously.1/31/2020

NETWORK CONFIGURATIONS
2 Primary selective system (cont.)
Example

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3 Primary loop system
This system has a combination of the advantages and
disadvantages of the primary selective system. A fault in one
of the normal source of primary supply fault can be isolated
and service restored by sectionalizing. The system is shown
in the Fig. below.

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3 Primary loop system (cont)

Advantages and disadvantages
 Finding a fault in the loop may be difficult.
 Cost may be less than selective primary system, but
saving is not justified because of the disadvantage
of fault location problem.

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3 Primary loop system (cont)
Example

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4 Secondary selective system
When pair of substations (busbars) are connected through a normally
open (N.O) secondary tie circuit breaker the resulting network is
called a secondary selective system. If one of the transformers fails
the main secondary circuit breaker in the effected transformer
opens and the tie circuit breaker closes. this arrangement is shown
the Fig. below.

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4 Secondary selective system (cont.)

Advantages and disadvantages
 Maintenance of feeder transformer and main secondary
circuit breaker is possible without shutdown.
 Both transformers must be over sized.
 The arrangement is more complex especially if excessive
fault level make it essential to prevent all three breakers
(two transformer feeder breaker and the tie breaker) being
closed at the same time.
 Even higher reliability can be achieved by combined with
the primary selective system, but this increases complexity
and is more expensive.
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4 Secondary selective system (cont.)
Example (1)

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4 Secondary selective system (cont.)
On the secondary selective system the total load supply is
limited by the transformer size, cable size and secondary
circuit breaker. This can be overcome by using spare
transformer arrangement as shown in the Fig. below.

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4 Secondary selective system (cont.)
Example (2) spare transformer

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5 Secondary spot system
In this system two or more distribution transformers are each supplied
from separate feeders. The secondary of the transformers are
connected in parallel through circuit breakers. If a primary feeder
or transformer fail the appropriate circuit breaker opens and the
load is fed through the other transformers. This system is shown in
the Fig. below.

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5 Secondary spot system (cont.)

Advantages and disadvantages
 Most reliable for large loads.
 Long term power interruption can only happened when all
feeders simultaneously fail.
 Only momentary interruption is likely because the load is
soon supplied from other transformers.
 Voltage dip is reduced.
 Fault level is higher.
 Expensive because of the duplication of transformer rating
and circuit breakers.
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5 Secondary spot system (cont.)
Example

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