EE-404 Power Transmission & Distribution

Lecture 1 : Electric Supply System

Instructor: Engr. Kamran Mehmood

 Electric Supply System

• The delivery of electrical power from a power generating station to

consumer’s premises is known as electric supply system.

• Electric Supply System Consists of three main Components:

 Power Generating Station

 Transmission Lines

 Distribution System
 Electric Supply System
• Electric power is produced at the power stations which are located at
favourable places, generally quite away from the consumers.

• It is then transmitted over large distances to load centres with the

help of conductors known as transmission lines.

• Finally, it is distributed to a large number of small and big consumers

through a distribution network.
 Typical A.C Power Supply Scheme
• The large network of conductors between the power station and the
consumers can be broadly divided into two parts
1) Transmission system 2) Distribution system

Each part can be further sub-divided into two—primary transmission

and secondary transmission and primary distribution and secondary
distribution according to their voltages Level
 A.C Power Supply Scheme
Generating station
• G.S. represents the generating station where electric power is
produced by 3-phase alternators operating in parallel.
• For economy in the transmission of electric power, the generation
voltage (i.e., 11 kV) is stepped upto 500 kV.
• The transmission of electric power at high voltages has several
advantages
a) The saving of conductor material
b) High transmission efficiency
 A.C Power Supply Scheme
Primary transmission.

• The electric power at 500KV/400KV/765 KV/1000KV is transmitted by

3-phase, 3-wire overhead system to reach boundary of the city. This
forms the primary transmission

• The primary transmission line terminates at the receiving station (RS)

which usually lies at the boundary of the city.
 A.C Power Supply Scheme
Secondary transmission

• At the receiving station, the voltage is reduced to 132KV/220KV by

step-down transformers
• From this station electric power is transmitted a by 3-phase, 3-wire
overhead system to various sub-stations (SS) located at the strategic
points in the city.
 A.C Power Supply Scheme
Primary distribution
• The secondary transmission line terminates at the sub-station (SS)
where voltage is reduced from 132 kV to 11kV, 3-phase, 3-wire.

• The 11 kV lines(Feeders) run along the important road sides of the

city. This forms the primary distribution.

• The user having commercial Load(> 50KW) are generally supplied

power at 11 KV
 A.C Power Supply Scheme
Secondary distribution
• The electric power from primary distribution line (11 kV) is delivered
to distribution sub-stations (DS).
• These sub-stations are located near the consumers’ localities or Load
Centers.
• Distribution Transformer step down the voltage to 400 V, 3-phase, 4-
wire for secondary distribution.
• The voltage between any two phases is 400 V and between any phase
and neutral is 230 V.
 Electric Supply System
• The Electric Supply System Can be classified into two categories:

1) Overhead or Underground System

2) AC or DC System.

• For transmission of electrical power 3-phase, 3 wire AC system is universally

adopted.

• Distribution of electric power is done by 3-phase, 4-wire AC system.

• The overhead system is mostly used.

 Overhead System

An overhead power line is a structure used in

electric power transmission and distribution to
transmit electrical energy across large distances. It
consists of one or more conductors (commonly
multiples of three) suspended by towers or poles
 Overhead System

Advantages
• It is easy to repair and maintain.
• They are not restricted by landscape i.e. they can be easily installed
over river or motorway or hilly regions
• Cheaper to setup compare to underground transmission.
• Chances of electrocution (hazards due to electricity) are less as they
run high above the ground.
• Relative immunity to short circuits caused by external forces (wind,
fallen branches), unless they abrade the insulation.
 Overhead System
Disadvantages
• These lines suffer from problems such as terrorism, vandalism and
lightning
• Insulation degrades due to sun exposure.
• Shorter spans and more poles due to increased weight.
• Failure modes through punctures, electrical tracking, and erosion
Underground System

• Underground cables or system essentially consist of a

conductor, an insulating system, a wire screen and a sheath.
The conductor is enclosed by an insulating system (dielectric)
whose main component is made of plastic, for example.
Underground System
Advantages
• Suitable for congested urban areas.
• Require low maintenance as damage rate is low.
• Ensure small voltage drops.
• Protection from environmental stresses like wind, storms, and
thunder.
• Not easy to steal and damage.
Underground System
Disadvantages
• High installation cost.
• Difficult to repair.
• Difficulty in finding the actual location of underground buried cables.
• Extensive insulation required.
• Inability to connect at any point in a span.
Comparison of D.C. and A.C.
Transmission
• The electric power can be transmitted either by means of
d.c. or a.c.

• It is, therefore, desirable to discuss the technical advantages

and disadvantages of the two systems for transmission of
electric power.
D.C. Transmission
Advantages
• It requires only two conductors as compared to three for a.c.
transmission
• There is no inductance, capacitance, phase displacement and surge
problems in d.c. transmission.
• Due to the absence of inductance, the voltage drop in a d.c.
transmission line is less than the a.c. line.
• There is no skin effect in a d.c. system.
D.C. Transmission
Advantages
• A D.C. line has less corona loss and reduced interference.
• The high voltage D.C. transmission is free from the dielectric losses,
particularly in the case of cables.
• In D.C. transmission, there are no stability problems and synchronizing
difficulties.
D.C. Transmission
Disadvantages
• Electric power cannot be generated at high d.c. voltage due to
commutation problems.
• The D.C. voltage cannot be stepped up for transmission of power at
high voltages.
• The D.C. switches and circuit breakers have their own limitations.
A.C. Transmission
Advantages
• The power can be generated at high voltages.

• The maintenance of a.c. sub-stations is easy and cheaper.

• The a.c. voltage can be stepped up or stepped down by transformers

with ease and efficiency.
A.C. Transmission
Disadvantages
• An a.c. line requires more copper than a d.c. line.
• The construction of a.c. transmission line is more complicated than a
d.c. transmission line.
• Due to skin effect in the a.c. system, the effective resistance of the
line is increased.
• An a.c. line has capacitance. Therefore, there is a continuous loss of
power due to charging current even when the line is open.