10th May 2022

MEP 401 – ENERGY DISTRIBUTION Dr. Ahmed Yahia

ENERGY DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY DISTRIBUTION
What are the form of energy distribution?
• Steam (Piping),
• Hot water (Piping),
• Chilled water (Piping),
• Hot air/gases (Ducts),
• Natural gas (Piping),
• Electricity (Cables),
• Green hydrogen (Piping),
• Thermal oil (Piping),
• Oil (Trucks, Piping)
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
A WAY TO PROVIDE HIGH EFFICIENCY, SAFE LOW
VOLTAGE step-down,
High Voltage

back to Medium Voltage ~5,000 Volts

step-down to 220 V
Low Voltage

High Voltage Transmission Lines

Low Voltage to Consumers
TRANSMISSION STRUCTURES three-phase “live” wires

to house

500,000 230,000 138,000 69,000 7–13,000

long-distance neighborhood
TRANSFORMER IS JUST WIRE COILED AROUND METAL
Magnetic field is generated by current in
primary coil
Iron core channels magnetic field through
secondary coil
Secondary Voltage is V2 = (N2/N1) V1
Secondary Current is I2 = (N1/N2) I1
But Power in = Power out
 negligible power lost in transformer

Works only for AC, not DC

If the primary wires and secondary wires don’t actually connect, how does the
energy get from the primary circuit to the secondary circuit?!
TYPICAL TRANSFORMERS

transformers usually heavy due to iron core

THERMAL ENERGY
STEAM NETWORK
STEAM NETWORK
• Pressure reducing stations • Steam piping
STEAM NETWORK
Common Best Practices:
1. Repair steam leaks
2. Ensure that steam system is well insulated (piping,
valves, fittings and vessels)
3. Minimize vented steam
4. Isolate steam from unused lines
5. Drain condensate from steam headers
6. Minimize flows through pressure reducing stations
7. Reduce pressure drop in headers
STEAM NETWORK
Repair steam leaks
Steam leaks occur everywhere but most common are places
such as:
 Pipe fittings, Relief valves, Stems and packing's
 Flanges and gasket joints
 Steam traps
 Pipe failures, etc.
STEAM NETWORK
Repair steam leaks
Condensate leakage can be measured by stop watch and bucket
methodology
STEAM NETWORK
Steam System Insulation
insulation necessary on steam systems
 Personnel safety –high temperatures
 Minimize energy losses
 Protection from ambient conditions
 Preserve system integrity
STEAM NETWORK
Steam System Insulation
Typical areas of insulation improvement opportunities
 Distribution headers
 Valves
 Condensate return lines
 End-use equipment
 Storage tanks, vessels, etc.

Common Insulation Issues

 Missing insulation due to maintenance activities
 Missing insulation due to abuse
 Damaged insulation
 Valves and other components not insulated
THANKS