BSQ3143 Building Services II

Briefing:
 3 credit hours
 Synopsis
 Course Learning Outcomes
 Chapters
 Assessment strategy
 Important reminders
 Reference
 Google Classroom
BSQ3143 Building Services II

Greeno, R. & Hall, F. (2017). Building

Services Handbook, 9th Ed. USA &
Canada: Routledge.
Chapter 1: Electricity Supply System

The topics:
 Generation, transmission & distribution systems
 Substation
 Transformer
 Ring final circuit
 Radial circut
1.0 Generation, transmission & distribution
1.1 Electricity sector in Malaysia ranges from
energy resources, electricity generation,
electricity transmission, and electricity
distribution.
1.2 The flow of electricity is as follows:
1.3 The electricity is generated at a power plant. The
first issue is that most power generation stations
are situated far from users. The electricity
generated is not strong enough to reach to the
end user.
1.4 It thus goes by wire to a transformer that
“steps-up” the voltage so that the power can
be transmitted over a long distance.
1.5 The electricity is then sent to large towns and
cities on a nationwide network of overhead
transmission lines made of aluminum.
1.6 The transmission lines are either underground
cables or overhead lines in between pylons.
1.7 The electricity may flow along the transmission lines and
vary in voltage level through different intermediate
substations. Once the high-voltage electricity reaches
populated areas, the step-down transformers of the
substations located at these areas would reduce the
voltage.
1.8 From these substations, the electricity is then carried over
the distribution lines that bring electricity to the end users
at local areas of different streets or properties.
1.9 Depending on the local design and the required voltage
level, the voltage is further stepped down by the
distribution transformer mounted on the poles or a group
of properties sharing a transformer in a local substation to
single-phase supply or three-phase supply.
1.10 Generally, most residential houses are supplied with
single phase electricity that flows through one live wire
and one neutral wire.
1.11 The difference in between step-up transformer and step-
down transformer is as follows:
Step-up transformer
 Step up the level of low
voltage to high voltage power
when transmitting the power
through transmission lines
 The current in the secondary
coil is more than that in the
primary coil
 The number of turns in the
secondary coil is more than
that in the primary coil
 Used for power transmission
purpose, i.e. generator
transformer in a power plant
Step-down transformer
 Step down the level of high
voltage to low voltage power
when distributing power to
the end users
 The current in the secondary
coil are less than that in the
primary coil
 The number of turns in the
secondary coil are less than
that in the primary coil.
 Used in power distribution,
i.e. distribution transformer in
the local substation
1.12 The difference in between single-phase and three-phase
supply is as follows:
Single-phase supply
 Used in most residential and
domestic buildings
 Ideals for small loads like
lighting and heating
 Required one live wire and one
neutral wire
 Supply voltage is 230 volts
 The chance of fault is higher as
it only has a single phase. If
there is a fault in the single
phase, there will be no power
supply.
 Less effective than three phase
for the same power deliver
 Quick installation due to less
complexity of the configuration.
 Lesser design costs
Three-phase supply
 Used in large business i.e
industry and manufacturing
 Ideals for large industrial
motors
 Required three lives wire and
one neutral wire
 Supply voltage is 400 volts
 The chance of fault is lesser.
Even if there is a fault in one or
two phases, the remaining
phases will continue to supply
power
 More effective as it can deliver
three times the power
 Required time to install due to
more complex of configuration
 Required more design costs
 Petanak 33/11kV Substation

Kemena – Selangau
275kV Transmission Line

Local Substation Petanak Substation – Control room

 Bakun Hydroelectric plant

Transformer mounted on
post

275kV/132kV/33kV Serudit Substation

Compact switchgear for Betong Division
2.0 Private Substation

2.1 A sub-station converts,

transforms and control the
electrical power.
2.2 It is used where large buildings
or complexes require greater
power than the standard low
or medium potential voltage.
2.3 It must be constructed on the
customer’s premises.
2.4 It is supplied by high voltage
cables from the electricity
authority’s nearest switching
station.
2.5 The requirements for a sub-
station depend upon the
number and size of
transformers and switchgear.
3.0 Transformer
3.1 A transformer is basically two electric windings,
magnetically interlinked by an iron core.
3.2 An alternating electromotive force applied to one of
the windings produces an electromagnetic induction
corresponding to an electromotive force in the
other winding.
3.3 If the number of turns in the secondary coil is
reduced, the voltage is reduced and the current
increase and vice-versa.
4.0 Types of electrical
circuit
4.1 A ring final circuit
is used for single-
phase power supply
to three-pin sockets.
4.2 It consists of PVC
sheathed cable
containing line and
neutral conductors in
PVC insulation and
an exposed circuit
protective conductor
to earth looped into
each socket outlet.
4.0 Types of electrical
circuit
4.3 In a domestic
building a ring final
circuit may serve an
unlimited number
of sockets up to a
maximum floor area
of 100 m2 .
4.4 A separate circuit is
also provided solely
for the kitchen, as
this contains
relatively high rated
appliances.
Important Note:
Fixed appliances such as
fires, heating controls and
low powered water heaters
can be connected to a fused
spur from a ring socket.

Appliances with a load

factor above 3 kW, e.g.
immersion heater, cooker
must not be connected to
any part of a ring final
circuit.

These are supplied from a

separate radial circuit from
the consumer unit.
4.0 Types of electrical circuit
4.5 A radial circuit is a type of fixed wiring that feeds one
piece of suitable cable from one socket to another.
4.6 It continues in this fashion until it reaches the last point on
the circuit and does not return back to the consumer unit .
4.7 This type of linear electrical circuit is commonly used to
wire household equipment such as cookers and boilers,
lighting points and sockets.
Tutorial
Identify the differences between ring
and radial circuit.
Reference Video:
Live, neutral & ground wire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJYh4HgovaE

What is a Neutral Wire & How Does it Work?

https://electriccitycorp.com/what-is-a-neutral-wire/

Differences between ring and radial circuit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GNb1SSEjQg

Wiring of Distribution Board from Energy Meter to Consumer Unit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7z1RoLgpes