Tutorial on Power Distribution Circuits

G. Heydt Arizona State University March, 2003

What is power distribution?

Power systems are made up of: Generation Transmission Distribution
Generation systems are the large generating units that produce AC voltages at high power levels. Transmission systems are long distance, very high power level systems to transmit power from city to city. Distribution systems are local, lower power systems that take power from the intercity grid and bring this to residences, commercial customers, and industrials

Typical numbers
Generation Typical voltages Typical power Typical size 35 kV 800 MW In a power plant Transmission 345 kV 800 MW Inter-city, 200 km Distribution 15 kV 1 MW Local in neighborhood, 5 km

Typical configurations
Transmission systems are NETWORKED usually. That is there are many loads and many sources, and many lines that join these points in a mesh, networked fashion.
PRESCOTT WINSLOW

FLAGSTAFF
PHOENIX NOGALES

TEMPE

HOLBROOK

Typical configurations
Transmission systems are networked so that power can be delivered between load centers by several routes. If a line is removed from service, power can be rerouted. Like power delivered to Nogales from Flagstaff by two different routes.
PRESCOTT

WINSLOW

FLAGSTAFF
PHOENIX NOGALES

TEMPE

HOLBROOK

Distribution systems
Distribution system configuration is usually different -- rather than being networked, distributuin systems are usually RADIAL. That means lines go from A to B to C to D to ...

RURAL RD PRICE RD

MESA-W

MESA-C

MAIN ST

Distribution systems
Power can only flow in one direction in the radial system

RURAL RD PRICE RD

MESA-W

MESA-C

MAIN ST

Distribution systems
Why is this configuration used? Safety (only one source direction - when it is interrupted, the line is dead) Cost -- it is cheaper Easy to locate problems

RURAL RD PRICE RD

MESA-W

MESA-C

MAIN ST

But there are advantages of reliability of networked systems - provided cost, safety, control, and maintenance issues can be resolved.

A TYPICAL RADIAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Research and study areas

The reliability vs cost of networked systems versus radial systems Use of networked systems (they do this in big cities like Chicago and New York) Control of power in a networked distribution system
TOTAL COST INVESTMENT COST

Cost

COST OF SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS AND LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY

Deployment of distribution components, multiple feeds, and over-capacity

Directed reading
Some easy to read texts on distribution engineering:

Acknowledgements
To my colleagues and students who are working on the project To Dr. Momoh at the NSF To the staff at ONR for their input