(CHAPTER 1: DISTRIBUTION LINE Electrical Distribution syster : Overview Modem power grids are extremely complex and pidesbread. Surges in power lines can cause massive network failures ond permanent damage to mulimilion-dollar equipment in Power generation plants. After electicily is produced at power Plants it hos to get to the customers that use the electticily. As genetators spin, they produce electricily with a voltage of about 25,000 volts [a volt is a measurement of electromotive force in electricity. the electic force that pushes elections around a FLCUIN. The transmission and! cistibution system delivers electicity from the generating site (electric power plan!) to resident, commercial, and industrial facilities, e Utility transmission and distribution systems [T&D] systems fink electric generators with end users through a network of powerlines ORG associated components. A further distinction is offen made between primary cistibution (voltages between 2.4 and 35 kv) and, secondary distribution (110 to 600 voll) systems. Industial, and SSmeTCial customers with large power demands often recsive See ee teCtty ftom the primary distribution system. Transformers (Fe @ crucial linkin the electric power distribution system, industrial buildings require several low-voltage decrease the voltage of elex transtormers to Chricily received from the utility to the levels Used to power lights, computers. and ollvee electric-operated equipment. An electrical utility which experiences an operating ety emergency seeks to balance ils generation fo ils load 10 void prolonged outages of service, The emergency ee inherent in frequency deviation may be used os a temporary 1source of emergency energy. A uty unable to balance sete on fo ls load removes sffcient load fo permit corecion eno jage. In he event of a copacily deficiency, generation Gnd transmission facilities are used to the fullest extent practicobig eromplly restore normal system frequency and voltage, a 1 root rove inadequate to relieve the capacity emergency. Me ystem may take immediate action which includes bu! no Ie syste manual odd shedding, Unilateral acustmen’ ot Generation to relum frequency 10 normal may jeopardize Overloaded transmission facilities. Voltage reduction for load relief is made on the distibution ™m, Voltage reduction on the sub-transmission or transmission syster voltage reduction system may effective in reducing load; however, would not be made on the transmission system unless the system has-been isolated from other interconnected systems. If the ‘overload on a transmission facility or abnormal voltage/reactive condition persists and equipment is endangered, the affected system or pool may disconnect the affected facility. Distribution system is to distribute the electricity to each customers residence, business, or industrial plant. It is primarily composed of the distribution substation and distibution feeders, but also contains many other pieces of equipment including reclosers, sectionalizes, fuses and capacior. Electricity is “stepped down" from a high to low voltage by transformers located at the distribution substation. The electricity i reduced to a lower distribution level voltage, usually less than 39,000 volts, and distributed on three phase lines. A very common three phase distribution line voltage is 13,800 volts or 13.8 kV. 5 Distribution line supplies the final step down transformer at the customer location where the voltage is stepped down. Electricity flows through the service drop to the electrical meter at the service 1 be measured for billing purposes. Distribution lines may be located either overhead or underground.Overhead distibullon tines - distribution, 7 wites are allached 10 poles high above the ground as well as transformers and other equipment. “still widely used despite recent advancements in wifing Materials that have increased the popularity of underground systems, -less expensive to build and maintain they ore subject to many weather elated problems. Traditional method of electricity Underground Distribution Lines - Underground lines are protected from severe weather by their location, but are more expensive to build and maintain. Because of earthen conditions, underground distribution is nearly impossible. Even in ideal conditions, underground is stil more expensive for utilities to install and maintain than overhead. Distribution Voltages Electric energy leaves the distribution substation and is distfibuted to different areas by distribution lines. Distribution lines on the high voltage side of the distribution transformer are called primary distribution lines or primaries. Those on the low-voltage side of the distribution transformer are called secondary distribution lines or secondaries.| Primary lines have voltages ranging from 2,300 to 39,000 volts, ‘Common primary line voltages cre 2,300, 4,160, 12,470, 13,800, 25,000 and 34,500 valts depending on which distribution voltages a uiilty uses. Common secondary line voltages are 120, 208, 240, 277 ‘and 480 volts. POLES - Support the overhead distribution wires by eliher lorge wood, steel, or concrete poles. WOOD - stil the most common choice of poles for economic reasons. The higher the voltage of the distribution fine, the larger the disfonce electrical codes require between the wires and ground. Distribution lines can be run on poles with or without cross-arms. A eross-arm is the’ smaller horizontal piece of wood attached near the top of the pole. \ ‘An example of concrete poleUNDERBUILD - the distibution line 1s supported underneath the ransmission circuit. Distribution voltage circuit is placed undemeath the transmission circuil thereby reducing the number of poles along roadways. ‘An example of a steel pole Guying of Poles “The proper anchoring and guying of pole lines is essential. -Poles must be strengthened sufficiently to cary heavy conductors and pole-mounted equipment. Various types of guy anchors have been developed to hold imposed loads securely in varying soil conditions, ANCHORS:DOWN GUYS -The mos! common Iype of guy. “Wire is run from the top of the pole fo an anchor in the ground. sibe GUY -A side guy Is used fo reinforce a pole line against an Gnbolanced side pull of the conductors, Such pulls cre developed ‘angles, or sharp tums in the line, at curves, TERMINAL DOWN GUY This type of guy is usually placed at the end of a pole line to counterbalance the pull of the line conductors, The terminal down ‘guy can, at fimes, be called a comer guy. oP view 6CORNER GUY. The comer guy is used where there is a directional change in the line, — Guy WIRE LINE GUY. A line guy is installed in a straight pole line where an unusual stress or strain comes from farther down the pole line or where there is a chance the conductors may break and cause excessive damage. Many times, line guys are installed in pairs. line guy is often called a storm guy.HEAD GUY Io the next pole down the line. Itis ‘Ahead guy runs from one pole I .d by one line pole to another. used to transfer the load supporter t PUSH BRACE ‘A push brace is used where a pole cannot be guyed and is foo ‘small to be self-sustaining, It is used in marshy, or sandy soils where ‘anchors cannot be firmly embedded, The upper end of the brace is bolted to the pole.WIRES The circuit wires used on overhead distribution lines is generally large un-insviated stranded aluminum wires. The large wire is made Up of a series of smaller wires twisted around each other; hence the name “stranded” wire, Cable rather than individual wires is used with underground Gishibution cicuits. An underground distibuti several insulated conductors, usually copper. wrapped in a Protective insulated outer jacket or covering. Each wie in the Cable has a different colored insulation for identification of that wire in the circuit ion cable consists of[ — — | INSULATORS - Material that resisls the flow of electric current. vAn object inlended fo support or separate electrical conductors without passing current through iiself. “An insulalion material has atoms with tightly bonded valence electrons, Electrical codes dictate the minimum distance a given voltage on a circuit may be to the cross-arm or the pole. The higher jhe voltage, the larger the distance required. I is not usually necessary to “stack” insulators together for distribution system voltages like they commonly are on the transmission system. DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER PROTECTION Lightning Arrester A protective device for electrical equipment that reduces excessive voltage resulting from lightning to safe level by grounding the discharge. 10 keFuse Cut Out Porcelain fuse cutouts, also known as suicide boxes, consist of porcelain housing bolted onie a cross arm with a fuse inserted info the body. The fuse consisted of a thin piece of soft wire screwed to one side of a porcelain “stick,” run over the top of the Stick. and screwed into the other side. The stick was held in places by copper clips that were attached to heavy wires leading out the side of the housing and connecting to the distribution line. u} Current Limiting Fuse AA qurentiimiting fuse lnk irils the current fo o substortioly lower vave thon tne peck valve ef the prospecive curent ding ‘and by ifs operation in a specified current range. Secondary Lines What are the Secondary Lines? “secondary lines, 0s s known in the language ofall linemen, ore Te Conductors sirung u on the poles carrying voltages suitable for commercial and residential purposes. | Secondary ines for industrial or large commercial purposes are oeeiy 220V, 30 and may be with or without a neutral wire tree wires would be used without neutral, four wires if neutral | line were also requited. | roe Srdory for Residential or small commercial purposes are Sweaty 220V or 110V, single phose. The 220V secondary line has hwo wires. The IOV requiements are served from three Conductors with secondary rated 110/220 vols. Conductors vary with the load demands, being largest in the heavy industial disticts and smallest in the light residential istics. ‘Common secondary conductor sizes vary from No. 4 conductor fo 4/0 conductors. Types of Construction “Secondary lines are either supported in horizontal or verticul position, 2{When supported in a horizontal position, the usual cross orm with braces, pins and pin insulator are required, Secondary ines are installed on cross arms only when necessary to Obiain clearances from buildings, trees or other hazards jihen the secondary ines are Usec in the vertical position they are supported by secondary 1 rack. This is the usual and preferred construction, -When services are attached t rack is installed on the op; services, 'o both sides of a pole, a secondary posite side of the pole to support the The Secondary Neutral Zhe neutral conductor on secondary lines, when used, is the conductor of the secondary line, -Itis abo identified os the c insulator. nthe three phase with Conductor is sung on white spool insulator 8" the three spool secondar Placing the neutral cor ‘onductor strung on a white spool Neutral secondaries, the neutral Separate |-spool secondary racks with above the three phase ‘conductors on IY FOCk with 3 brown spool insulators. nductor which is grounded, above the ieconday offers advantage of protecting the secondary lines week? Of @ primary or any other line located above the secondaries should break and fell across il aInstalling Secondary Racks “Secondary racks must alwoys be installed on poles in accordance with Distribution Stendard Specification, “Secondary racks are usually installed on poles with 5/8" x 12" machine bolts on its upper pert and a /4"x 4" lag screw to suppatt it lower section, “For dead ends and for racks which will support secondaries with pull off angles from 16 degrees to 60 degrees. Two 5/8"x 12" bolts are used tg fasten both the upper and lower sections of the rack. -On concrete poles used two machine bolts in all cases. (On secondaries with pull of angles over 40 degrees install in two dead end racks. InstallationVOLTAGE ALLOWED BY THE DISTRIBUTION CODE i Aiwa MS seme! eee ay Minimum (-10%) | Moximurn (10%) } (0%) 207 V 253 | —— | av 506V S4SiVilerpimary | 31 ob 3795 metered customer) Connector as\) bh Pad tap connector ALUMINUM PAD TAP CONNECTORS - use in connecting aluminum Conductor to a variety of two or four hole NEMA standard devices. Some examples of applications are in mounting sectionalizing switches or in connecting compression lugs for risers. The Pad Tap Utiizes the industry-proven wedge connecting principle while eliminating the need for expensive fire-on or crimp-on tooling. Pad Tops can be connected with any socket or impact wrench Stirup connector 16Ground grid connectors GROUNDING GRID CONNECTORS - Use in connecting copper wire and rod for a variety of grounding applications in both Substation and Transmission Space Allocation on Poles JOINT POLE: A Utlity pole which supporis the facililies of two or More companies. A typical joint pole supporls three facilities: electric power, cable television, and telephone. Some joint poles also support all manner of other cevices: streetlights, signs, traffic signals, seasonal decorations, fire ond police call boxes, antennas, Municipal communications systems, OPGW {optical ground wire) fire- and police-clarm signal wiring, eet] m=" supPLY | SPACE | [NEUTRAL | SPACE THA Mewae | [ COMMUNICATIONS | SPACE v7[fe 7 This figure ilustrates the typical allocation of space on joint | ullity poles in the United States; the allocation is similar in Canada i} ‘excep! that cable television and telephone are sometimes lashed | to the same supporting strand. Sterling at the top and working I} down, faciities on the pole are allocated into three spaces: Supply Space, Safety Zone Space, and Communications Space. supply Space The Supply Space is reserved for electrical supply facilities. Most i supply-space wiring consists of uninsuiated conductors. The supply space moy include separate tccillies operating at different voltages; for safety reasons, the highest voltages are located wppermost on the pole. Starling at the top and working down, the facilities in the supply space are: ‘STATIC WIRE fe | marassion Aa H TEA 000K | | aN aK | Primary ! SB We 590 Kv seconary §—[S | “ralpLex" sTerDoWmi vate H resto ov | Static wire: a grounded wire at the very top of the pole intended to protect lower conductors from lightning, Transmission (sometimes called sub-transmission fo distinguish it from transmission lines supported by steel structures): three uninsulated conductors which camry 3-phase high voltage (typically 6? 10 200 kilovolts) circuits among substations. Ths circuit or may be wye-connected delta-connecied; if wye- connected, a fourth conductor, called Ihe MGN, is required.-MGN (multi-grounded neutral): @ single uninsulated grounded conductor. The currents in the three phases of the transmission (or sub-transmission) line are never quite equal: if they are wye- Connected, the MGN caries the residual unbalance current. Al many poles, the MGN is physically grounded to a ground rod at the base of the pole. “Primary Distribution: one to four uninsulaled conductors, frequently supported on a cross am, which carry power from substations fo pole-mounted step-down transformers. The. primary circuit (so named because it feeds the primary winding of the step-down transformer) may be single-phase or three- Phase, and typically operates at 4 10 15 kilovolts “Secondary Distribution: One or more insulated conductors, ‘accompanied by an uninsulated grounded neutral conductor (which may be the MGN). The secondary circuit {so named because it is fed from the secondary winding of the step-down transformer) provides the standard 3-wire Single-phase 115/230 volt electric service for residential and small commercial customers. On special order, three-phase service and/or higher voltages can be provided for specific customers Secondary distribution conductors are usually twisted together in a bundle called duplex (hwo conductors, triplex {three conductors), or quadruplex four conductors), although older secondary distribution circuits may consist of separale open wire conductors ‘Step-down transformer: an cil-cooled transformer which Senverts the primary distribution voltage to the secondary Gisttbution voltage. Most step-down transformers are designed! for single-phase operation; i 0 three-phase secondary circuit is required: three physical transformers are usually required Safely Zone Space The Safety Zone Space is cn unused space separating electric Supply facilities from communications facilities This space is specified by the National Electr Separate electric supply conductors Eonductors. Under this code, the ‘highest cable ons Soci tcotions space must be separated from the lowest faomePOMet conductor in the supply space. ‘by specmien SHreneSS. The separations shown in this diego de 'ypical, atlhough there are numerous exceptions and spsciol coves. ical Safety Code to from communications 19$Olnches below grounded transformer