KADUNA POLYTECHNIC

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SCHOOL OF UNDERGRADUATE

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

PRESENTATION ON:
DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF VOLTAGE DROP IN POWER
DISTRIBUTION SYSMEM

Submitted

by

PAUL PATIENCE
U19PR2003

OCTOBER 2021.

Introduction
A distribution system in electrical is the final stage in the delivery of electrical power; it carries electricity
from the transmission system to individual costumers. Distribution substations connects to the
transmission system and lowers the transmission voltage to medium ranging from 2KV to 35KV with the
use of primary distribution transformers. Primary distribution lines carry this medium voltage power
transformers located near the costumer’s premises which again, lowers again the voltage to the
utilization voltage. In this presentation, we will be discussing voltage drop in distribution system.

CONSTITUENT OF POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1. Distribution substation:
2. Feeders: A feeder is a conductor which connects the sub-station (or localized generating
station) to the area where power is to be distributed. Generally, no tappings are taken from
the feeder so that current in it remains the same throughout. The main consideration in the
design of a feeder is the current carrying capacity
3. Distribution transformer:
4. Distribution conductor:
5. Service mains: mains is generally a small cable which connects the distributor to the
consumers’ terminals.

CLASSIFICATION OF POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1. According to nature of current

 DC distribution system
 AC distribution system
2. According to type of construction
 Overhead distribution
 Underground distribution
3. According to scheme of connection
 Radial distribution system
 Ring main distribution system
 Network distribution system

AC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
In the beginning of electrical age, electricity was generated, transmitted and distributed as direct
current. The principal disadvantage of d.c. system was that voltage level could not readily be
changed, except by the use of rotating machinery, which in most cases was too expensive. With the
development of transformer, a.c. system has become so predominant as to make d.c. system
practically extinct in most parts of the world.

A.C DISTRIBUTION CALCULATIONS

In D.C systems, voltage drop is due to resistance only. However, in A.C systems, voltage drop is due to
resistance and reactance (inductor and capacitance reactance). In A.C systems, power factor is taken
into account. Therefore ,the loads tapping out from a distribution system are at different power factor
which are:

1.POWER FACTOR REFERRED TO RECEIVING END VOLTAGE

Consider an a.c. distributor A B with concentrated loads of I1 and I2 tapped off at points C and B as
shown in Fig. Taking the receiving end voltage VB as the reference vector, let lagging power factors
at C and B be cos φ1 and cos φ 2 w.r.t. VB . Let R1 , X1 and R2 , X2 be the resistance and reactance
of sections A C and CB of the distributor.
Fig 1.2 PHASOR DIAGRAM
2: POWER FACTOR REFERRED TO RESPECTIVE LOAD VOLTAGE

Suppose the power factor of loads in fig 1.1 are referred to their respective load voltages. Then φ1
is the phase angle between Vc and I1 and φ2 is the phase angle between VB and I2. The vector
diagram under these conditions is shown in Fig 1.3

Fig 1.3 PHASOR DIAGRAM