RAHUL-19110074 EPS

Comparison of Cost of Conductors-Overhead

Systems:
The assumptions made for comparison are:
(i) In all cases power to be transmitted is same (say, P watts).

(ii) The distance over which the power is to be transmitted is same (say I).

(iii) The line losses are same (say, W watts).

(iv) The maximum voltage to earth is same (say, Vm volts).

(a) DC Systems:
(i) DC 2-Wire System with One Conductor Earthed [Fig. 2.3 (i)]:

Maximum voltage between conductors = Vm volts

Power to be transmitted = P watts

Load current, I1 = P/Vm

This system is usually formed the basis, for comparison with other systems. Thus the
volume of conductor material required in this system shall be taken as the basic quantity
i.e.
(ii) DC Two-Wire System with Mid-Point Earthed:

The maximum voltage between any conductor and earth is Vm volts so,
Maximum voltage between conductors = 2 Vm volts

Hence volume of conductor material required is one-fourth of that required in two-wire dc

System with one conductor earthed.

(iii) DC Three-Wire System:

In a 3-wire d c system, there are two outers and one middle wire, called the neutral wire
which is grounded at the generator end, as illustrated in Fig. 2.3 (iii). For balanced load
on the system, the middle wire carries no current.
Assuming load balanced,

Maximum voltage between the outer and earth = Vm volts

Assuming area of x-section of neutral wire as half of that of any of the outers,

Hence volume of conductor material required is 0.3125 times of that required in two-wire
dc system with one conductor earthed.

(b) Single Phase AC Systems:

(i) AC Single Phase Two-Wire System with One Conductor Earthed Fig. 2.3 (iv):

Peak value of voltage between conductors = Vm volts

RMS value of voltage between conductors = Vm/√2 volts
where cos ɸ is the power factor of the load

Hence volume of conductor material required in this system is 2/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in 2-wire dc system with one conductor earthed.
(ii) AC Single Phase Two-Wire System with Mid-Point Earthed [Fig. 2.3 (v)]:

Peak value of voltage between conductors = 2 Vm volts

RMS value of voltage between conductors = 2 Vm/√2 = √2 Vm volts

Hence volume of conductor material required in this system is 0.5/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in 2-wire dc system with one conductor earthed.
(iii) AC Single Phase Three-Wire System [Fig. 2.3 (vi)]:
Maximum voltage between outer conductors = 2 Vm volts
RMS value of voltage between outer and earth = Vm/√2 volts

Assuming x-section of neutral wire half of that of any of the outers,

Volume of conductor material required

Hence volume of conductor material required in this system is 0.625/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in 2-wire dc system with one conductor earthed.
(c) Two-Phase AC Systems:
(i) AC Two-Phase Four-Wire System [Fig. 2.3 (vii)]:
RMS value of voltage between the outers = 2 Vm/√2 = √2 Vm
Load supplied by each phase = P/2

Hence volume of conductor material required in this system is 0.5/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in two-wire dc system with one conductor earthed.
(ii) AC Two-Phase Three-Wire System [Fig. 2.3 (viii)]:

Considering balanced load, RMS value of voltage between any outer and neutral =
Vm/√2
Assuming current density constant, area of x-section of neutral wire is √2 times of that of
either of the outers.

Volume of conductor material required =

Hence volume of conductor material required in this system is 1.457/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in 2-wire dc system with one conductor earthed.
(d) 3-Phase AC Systems:
(i) AC 3-Phase 3-Wire System [Fig. 2.3 (ix)]:
Hence, volume of conductor material required in this system is 0.5/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in two-wire dc system with one conductor earthed.
(ii) AC 3-Phase 4-Wire System [Fig. 2.3 (x)]:

Assuming balanced load, there will be no current in neutral wire and copper losses will
be same as in 3-phase 3-wire system,

Taking x-section of neutral wire as half of either outer,

Hence volume of conductor material required in this case is 0.583/cos2 ɸ times of that
required in case of two-wire dc system with one conductor earthed