Electrical Power Distribution

Distribution

o What it is?
o Requirements of a Distribution System
o Levels of Distribution
o Terminology
o Classification
o Layout of HT & LT Distribution Systems
o Line Hardware
o Line Construction
o Line Maintenance
 Distribution

o What it is?
• The arrangement of conveying electrical power from bulk
power sources to various consumers.
o Requirements
(i) Economical
(ii) Efficient
(iii) Proper Voltage (Discuss : pg 17 Notes)
(iv) Reliability
(v) Availability of power on demand
o Distribution can be sub-divided into 3 – parts (Terminology)
(1) Feeders
(2) Distributors
(3) Service mains
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o Terminology
o Feeder
A conductor which connects s/s or gen. stn to the place where the
power is to be distributed. The conductor can be bare wire or cable.
Generally there is no tappings are done en route so that the current is
the same throughout. A feeder is designed from the point of view of its
current carrying capacity so that the voltage at the receiving end can be
regulated by regulating equipment
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o Distributor
This is the conductor from which tappings are made to consumers.
The current loading of a distributor varies along its length. A distributor
is designed from the stand point of voltage drop in it since the voltage
drop is dependent on the loading by the consumers.
There is a limit for the variation of voltage at any point of the
distributor: 5% or 10% of declared voltage
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o Service Main
A short cable which connects the distributor to the consumer
terminals.

o Design Considerations of a Feeder & a Distributor:

• Feeder
• Distributor
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o Distribution Levels
• Primary Distribution (HV Distribution): 66, 33, 22, 11, 6.6, 3.3 kV
Note:
(a) The supply voltage depends on (i) amount of power to be supplied
(ii) distance
(b) For economic reasons, primary distribution is done at 3- phase, 3 –
wire system
• Secondary Distribution (LV Distribution): 380 V, 3 – phase or 220V,
1- phase
 Distribution

o Classification
According to nature of construction
• O/H
• Underground
According to nature of current
• AC
• DC
According to number of wires
• 2 – wire DC system
• 3 – wire DC system
• 1 – phase 2- wire AC system
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o Classification
According to number of wires (ctd)
• 1 – phase 2 - wire AC system with mid – point earthed
• 1 – phase 3 - wire AC system
• 2 – phase 3 – wire AC system
• 3 - phase 3 - wire AC system
• 3 - phase 4 - wire AC system
According to the Scheme of Connections
• Radial
• Ring Main
• Interconnected
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o Radial System
The distributor is fed from 1 end only

Advantages & Disadvantages : Discuss

o Ring Main
A number of s/s’s of the same voltage level are interconnected such as to form a
“ring”. The feeders form a ring, and the ring is fed from one source.

Advantages & Disadvantages : Discuss

Comparison of the above 2: Table
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o Inter – Connected
The feeder ring is energised by 2 or more sources

Advantages & Disadvantages : Discuss

o
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o Design Considerations of a Feeder & a Distributor : Reading Ex

• Type of Loads: Residential, Commercial, Industrial
• PF & PFC
• Utility Factor
• Layout
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o Distribution Equipment
1. Conductor : bare wire (single or bundled) or cable
2. Support Structures : Poles, X – arms, etc
3. Insulators
4. Lightning arresters
5. Transformers
6. C.B.s
7. CT’s, VTs, CVTs
8. Protective Relays
9. Isolators
10. Sectionalisers
11. Auto – Reclosers
12. Earth Mats
13. Metering
 Distribution

o Distribution Substations Reading Ex

• S/S Layout Criteria
• S/S Layout
Some common ones are
(i) Single Source, 1 – feeder s/s
(ii) Single bus s/s: Single Source; Double Source
(iii) Double Source, Double Tx Distribution s/s
(iv) Double Bus Distribution s/s
•
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o Bus Arrangement
• Ring Bus
• Breaker and ½ Bus
• Double Bus Double Breaker Bus
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o Distribution Substation Protection

• Zone Protection
• Tx Protection
• Bus Protection
• Feeder

o Substation Grounding