Power Distribution and

Utilization
How Electricity is delivered to us?

1-When electricity leaves a power plant

2- its voltage is increased at a “step-up” substation
3- Next, the energy travels along a transmission line to the area where the power is needed
4- Once there, the voltage is decreased or “stepped-down,” at another substation
5- and a distribution power line carries the
6- electricity until it reaches a home or business areas.
 Distribution System

Power Distribution System

is that part of an electric
power system which is
dedicated to delivering
electric energy to end
users. It is part of the
system between
transmission and the
consumer service point.
 Power Distribution
Power distribution System is
the penultimate stage in the
delivery (before retail) of
electricity to end users. It is
generally considered to
include medium-voltage (less
than 50 kV) power lines,
electrical substations and
pole-mounted transformers,
low-voltage (less than 1000
V) distribution wiring and
sometimes electricity meters.
 Power Distribution System Development

 In the early days of electricity distribution, direct current DC generators were

connected to loads at the same voltage.

 The generation, transmission and loads had to be of the same voltage because
there was no way of changing DC voltage levels, other than inefficient motor-
generator sets.

 Low DC voltages were used (on the order of 100 volts) since that was a practical
voltage for incandescent lamps, which were then the primary electrical load.

 The low voltage also required less insulation to be safely distributed within
buildings.

 The losses in a cable are proportional to the square of the current, the length of
the cable, and the resistivity of the material, and are inversely proportional to
cross-sectional area.
Power Distribution System Development
 Early transmission networks were already using copper, which is one of the best
economically feasible conductors for this application.

 To reduce the current and copper required for a given quantity of power
transmitted would require a higher transmission voltage, but no convenient
efficient method existed to change the voltage level of DC power circuits.

 To keep losses to an economically practical level the Edison DC system needed

thick cables and local generators.

 Early DC generating plants needed to be within about 1.5 miles of the farthest
customer to avoid the need for excessively large and expensive conductors.
Power Distribution System Development
The adoption of alternating current (AC) for
electricity generation dramatically changed the
situation. Power transformers, installed at power
stations, could be used to raise the voltage from the
generators and transformers at local substations
reduced it to supply loads. Increasing the voltage
reduced the current in the transmission and
distribution lines and hence the size of conductors
required and distribution losses incurred. This made
it more economical to distribute power over long
distances. Generators (such as hydroelectric sites)
could be located far from the loads.
 Systems of Distribution Lines

According
According According According According According
to
to to to to to
Connection
Voltage Current Service Construction No. of Wires
Scheme

Primary Secondary
Domestic Industrial Overhead Underground Ring Inter-
Distribution Distribution Radial
Mains Connected

DC AC
2 Wire 3 Wire 4 Wire
Distribution Distribution
 Overhead and Underground
(According to Construction)

The distribution system can be either overhead or

underground. It is usually overhead, though for
higher load densities in cities or metropolitan areas,
it is underground. The choice between overhead and
underground depends upon a number of number of
widely differing factors, such as the;
 importance of service continuity,
 improvement in appearance of the area,
 comparative annual maintenance cost,
 capital cost
 and useful life of service
 Overhead System
In this system, long RCC or steel towers/poles
are erected on the surface of earth, and, with
the help of cross arms and insulators, naked
wires are run overhead at a height, not less
than 10m from ground. overhead lines are
exposed to trees, animals and birds , to wind
and lightning, and to traffic and kites,
therefore this system has less reliability.
 Mechanical Components of O.H Lines:

 Line Supports
 Line Insulators
 Line Conductors
 Miscellaneous components like cross-
arms, earth wire, ground wire, bird
guard, stay wire, lightning arrestor, anti-
climbing devices, phase-plates and
danger plates etc.
 Line supports
Line supports, as the name suggest, support
the O.H line, cross-arms, insulators,
conductors, earth wire, etc. They should
therefore be mechanically strong, cheap and
light in weight for easy transport and long life.
Various types of
(a) Wooden Poles
(b) RCC/PCC Poles
(c) Steel Poles
 Overhead System
Wooden Poles:
Wooden poles are made of impregnated
sal/chir/teak,deodar/kail wood. The poles are
generally 10-11m in length with sufficient
base. They may be of simple design (Fig.1) or
having shape ‘A’ (Fig.2) or having shape ‘H’
(Fig.3). The ‘H’ type is stronger.
Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3
 Wooden Poles
The wooden poles may be used upto 11KV.
Their use is limited to rural areas. These poles
do not need earthing but their life is short.
The maximum span, for which they are used,
is 150 meters. Usually aluminium cap is
provided on the top of these poles to protect
the end grains.
 RCC Poles
The reinforced cement concrete poles are very much
in use in rural as well as urban areas. (See Fig.4).They
are, generally, of square cross section which goes on
reducing towards the top. They are also 10-11
maters long and are used up to 33KV with span of
250m.They do not need earthing. They are more
expensive than wood poles but cheaper than steel
poles. They are preferred where decorative
consideration is predominant Their life is long but
have shattering tendency when hit by a vehicle.
Fig.4
 Steel Poles
Steel poles are stronger than RCC poles and,
therefore, have a long life, up to 50 years or
more, if they are regularly painted and
protected against atmospheric reaction.
They may be
 Rail Poles (Rail Track shape)
 Tabular Poles (Round)
 Rolled steel joint
 Steel Poles

They are 10-13 meter length and are used up

to 33KV distribution purposes. Their cost is
high. They need earthing and precaution
against electric shocks. Generally they are not
buried in in the ground but are set in concrete
foundations.
 Line Insulators
Line insulators are installed on line supports.
These help in avoiding direct contact of the
conductors with poles. Thus, any leakage
through the support to the earth is stopped,
and the risk of electric shock from poles is also
minimized.
On the basis of material used, they are of two
types.
(1) Porcelain
(2) Glass
 Comparison of Porcelain and Glass
Insulators
Porcelain Glass
1. It is mechanically stronger It is not strong; it is fragile

2. Its surface may be glazed to The surface cannot be glazed; it may,

prevent accumulation of water, dust therefore, cause surface leakage.
and dirt, and, thus , surface leakage
can be minimized.
3. Internal cracks or faults cannot be It is transparent; even visual
easily detected as it is not transparent. inspection can detect internal
cracks/faults
4. Its dielectric strength is about Its dielectric strength is about
70KV/cm 150KV/cm

5. It can be used at any high voltage. Its use is limited upto 33KV.
On the basis of construction , main types are as
follows

(1) Pin insulators

(2) Shackle Insulators
(3) Disc or suspension type Insulators
(4) Guystrain or Egg type or Stay Insulators
(5) Strain or tension type Insulators
 Pin type insulators
These insulators are mounted on the pole
with the help of pin, hence, the name. they
have a groove at their top, and the conductor
is tied in the groove by a binding wire going
through its neck.
These are manufactured for voltages up to
33KV and are cheaper than other types.
 Shackle Insulators
Shackle insulators are used on low tension
(L.T) lines up to 1000V. They are fixed with the
pole though nut and bolt, with the help of a
clamp D-strap. They can be used in horizontal
as well as vertical positions. The conductor is
fixed on its neck and tied with a binding wire.
 Disc or Suspension type Insulator
They are used as insulators on high voltage
lines for suspension and dead ending. They
can be assembled with each other through
ball and socket joints to form string
assemblies to suit a particular voltage level.
Another advantage of string is that, in case of
fault in any disc, they whole string need not to
be replaced, only faulty piece is replaced.
 Guystrain or Egg type or Stay
Insulators
They are of egg shape and are used on stay
wires. Therefore, they are also, sometime,
called stay Insulators. Their purpose is to
protect human beings and animals against
shock through stay wires. They are used
wherever it is not possible to earth the stay
wires or guard wires.
 Strain or Tension Type Insulators
Strain or tension type insulators are designed
for handling mechanical stresses at angle
positions where there is a change in the
direction of the line or at termination of the
line.
 Line Conductors
The conductors used distribution of power should have the
following properties:
1. They should have low resistivity (or high
conductivity) in order to carry more current.
2. They should have high mechanical (or tensile)
strength to withstand mechanical loads like ice,
stones, wind etc., otherwise they may sag.
3. They should be corrosion free.
4. They should be light in weight.
5. They should be cheap.
6. They should cause minimum voltage drop (IR) and
power loss (I2R) .
7. They should be flexible. This is the reason that
stranded conductors are preferred.
 Types of Conductors
In view of mentioned requirements, the
following types of line conductors are used.
(1) Copper
(2) Aluminium
(3) A.C.S.R
(4) Galvanized Steel
 Copper Conductors
Copper conductors give a relatively high
tensile strength. It has a good electrical
conductivity, long life, and high scrape value.
Copper conductors is most suitable for
distribution work where spans are short. Their
only negative point is that it is costly.
 Aluminium Conductors
Aluminium is the next best conducting material after copper.
Its conductivity is less (2/3rd of copper) but it is lighter in
weight(1/3rd of copper). It is more effected by sag due to weak
mechanical strength. With aluminium conductors, the length
of span is also reduced. However, it is very much in use in
place of copper due to low costs. Several types of aluminium
conductors are as follows.
(a) AAC (All-Aluminium Conductors)
(b) ACSR (Aluminium conductors Steel Reinforced)
(c) AAAC (All-Aluminium Alloy Conductors)
(d) ACAR (Aluminium Conductors, Alloy Reinforced)
 AAC
AAAC
 ACSR
Due to less availability of aluminium and also
for reducing cost, ACSR(Aluminium Coductor
with Steel reinforced) has become very
popular now.It has core of galvanized(to
prevent corrosion) steel surrounded by
aluminium strands.
 Galvanized Steel
Due to high tensile strength, galavanized steel
can be used at extremely large
spans.Galvanization protects steel against
corrosion.They are more in use in rural areas
where cost is the main consideration.They are
also used as earth wire on poles, as stay wires
and have other similar applications
 Miscellaneous components
Cross arms:
These are the wooden arms (sisso or sal) of two poles which
supports insulators.
Earth wire:
This wire runs at the top of the pole. It must be properly
earthed. It protects against lightning.
Guard Wire:
These wires are provided above or below power lines
crossing the telecommunication lines.
Bird Guard:
It is an ebonite stick, with round top and fixed near the
insulator insulators to prevent flashover due to birds sitting on
the conductors. This protection is provided only with pin
insulators.
Phase Plates:
One each phase, R, Y,B marked plates are put so that
different plates may be identified.
Danger Plates:
A danger plate, marked with the line voltage, is fastened on
poles as a caution to the public
 Underground System
In this system, properly insulated cables re run in
pipes, underground. It needs lot of earth work as
well as heavy insulation on the wires. However cost
of poles, cross arms and insulators are eliminated.
underground system is more reliable than O.H
system. Unlike overhead distribution, underground
lines reduce hazards to the general public, improve
the aesthetics of our landscape and aren’t exposed
to natural weather forces that can decrease
efficiency and the longevity of your electric system.
Underground system is expensive than O.H system.
 Comparison b/w O.H and U.G systems
O.H System U.G System

1.The O.H system is laid on the It is laid underground, it does not

ground, it disturb public life. disturb public life.

2.It gives a shabby look and It maintains the beauty of

damages the beauty of surrounding.
surrounding.
3. Repair and extension is easy Repair and extension is difficult
4.It has high cost of maintenance Maintenance cost is low.
5.It disturb the communication as 6.It does not disturb the
well as transport system. communication and public
transport system.
 Comparison b/w O.H and U.G systems
O.H System U.G System

6.It can work up to 400KV. It is not used above 66KV due to

insulation problems,

7.It needs protection against It does not need any protection

lightning surges. against lightning surges.

8.Fault occurs frequently. Very little chance of fault exists.

9.Initial cost is high. Its initial cost is higher.
10.Interruption of supply is It has very little chance of
common. interruption of supply.
11.It is flexible It is less flexible.
Thank you
Transmission Sub-Station
Steel Transmission Tower
Distribution system lines and
associated equipment
Service line to residence
Secondary to underground service via
a riser