EEX4542- Power systems I – academic year 2022/23

Assignment 1
Due date: 03rd July 2023

Method of submission: PDF copy must be uploaded to the EEX4542 – LearnOUSL class

Note: This assignment covers Electrical power generation technologies (both conventional and non-
conventional), load characteristics, Electrical tariff. This area of study is given in unit I of the course
material. You also may require some other reference material to answer the assignment. When
explanations are required, you should answer them briefly. In certain questions the maximum number of
words are given. When calculations are required, all the steps with necessary equations should be
provided.

Untidy answers incur penalty marks.

Q1
Refer to the article titled “Coal Fired Power Plants: Emission Problems and Controlling
Techniques” by Shahzad Baig and Yousaf M2. The article can be downloaded from the internet
(ex: google scholar). The link also is given in your LearnOUSL class. Briefly describe

i. environmental impacts due to coal fired plants.

ii. Measures proposed in the article to reduce the environmental impacts.

(Your answer should be limited to 750 words. Try to write the answer in your words after reading
the article)
Q2
a. State the main parts of nuclear power plant and describe function of each part.
b. Assess the suitability of nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka (your answer should be limited
to 500 words)

Q3
A small town consists of loads of three categories: domestic (L1), commercial(L2), and
industrial(L3). Load variation during 24 hours of a day is given in table 1. The town has off-grid
electrical system and the loads are fed from a separate power plant.

Table 1

Time (hrs) L1 L2 L3

(kW) (kW) (kW)

0000-0200 100 40 300

0200-0400 100 40 400

0400-0500 100 40 -

1
 0500-0600 50 40 -

0600-0700 - 40 700

0700-0900 - 400 900

0900-1000 - 500 1000

1000-1100 - 600 1000

1100-1200 - 600 1000

1200-1300 - 300 700

1300-1400 - 600 900

1400-1600 - 600 1000

1600-1700 100 500 600

1700-1800 200 500 500

1800-1900 600 600 300

1900-2000 1000 600 200

2000-2100 900 400 300

2100-2200 700 200 400

2200-2300 400 50 400

2300-0000 200 50 300

I. Sketch daily load curves for all three categories of load in three separate graphs and for each
category calculate average load and load factor. State positive/negative impact of each type of
load category
II. Sketch daily load curve for the city and calculate average load, load factor, and diversity factor.
III. Based on the load factors of load categories and diversity factor of the system load curve, assess
positive / negative effect of each category to plant capacity and energy cost.
IV. Calculate monthly energy requirement of the city.
V. Estimate the capacity of the plant. Consider average power factor of L1 is unity, L2 is 0.9 and L3
is 0.85 and power loss of the network is approximately 8% from the demand.
VI. There are three options for number of generating units of the plant :
a. A single unit equal to plant capacity
b. More than one, but same capacity of units
c. More than one, but different capacities of units
VII. What is the most suitable option among the above three? Justify your choice.
a. 70 mm2 ACSR conductors are used in the electrical network of the city. What are the possible
nominal voltage levels for the network. Explain your answer.

2
 b. Several industrial consumers have decided to install capacitor banks at their premises to reduce
their electricity bills. Briefly describe how the bill is reduced by installation of capacitor banks.

Q4

I. With the aid of block schematic diagram briefly explain two methods of electricity generation
from solar energy
II. A solar panel has been installed on a rooftop of one of the buildings. The total area of the solar
cell module is 0.45 m2. Current voltage variation under three light intensities is shown in figure
Q3.
a. Calculate output power of the module when it operates at points A, B, and C
b. Determine solar to electric efficiency at these three points.

CURRENT VS VOLTAGE VARIATION AT

16 DIFFERENT LIGHT INTENSITIES

14
A

12
B
C 1000 W/m2
10
(V)

800 W/m2
VOLTAGE

6 600 W/m2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
CURRENT (A)