Lecture 1

Introduction to Distribution System

Course Teacher:
Dr. Muhammad Mohsin Aman
Course Code:
EE-524
Course Title:
Electrical Power Distribution System Engineering -1
Venue:
Department of Electrical Engineering , NED University Karachi.
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Course’s Outline

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Course’s Outline
 Distribution System
 Approximate Methods of Distribution System Analysis
 Design considerations for primary systems, secondary
system and distribution substation
 Load Characteristics
 Distribution Transformers
 Distribution System Voltage Regulation and Voltage
regulating equipment
 Distribution System Load Flow Analysis
 Distribution system reliability 3
1st Lecture’s Outline

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1st Lecture’s Outline
 Distribution System (DS) - Definition
 Types of Distribution System
 Sub-transmission System Arrangement
 Distribution Substation Arrangement
 Primary Feeders Arrangements
 Distribution Transformers, Secondaries and Service
 Differences between European and North American
Distribution Systems
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Distribution System - Definition

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Distribution System
An electric distribution system is that part of an electric power
system between the bulk power source or sources and the
consumers’ service switches.
The bulk power sources are located in or near the load area to be
served by the distribution system and may be either generating
stations or power substations supplied over transmission lines.

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 K-Electric System
Gen:
21kV

Bulk Transmission:
220kV

Sub-transmission:
132kV, 66kV

Primary Distribution
11kV

Secondary Distribution
400V

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Distribution System
Distribution systems can, in
general, be divided into six
parts, namely,
1. Sub-transmission circuits,
2. Distribution substations,
3. Distribution or primary
feeders,
4. Distribution transformers,
5. Secondary circuits or
secondaries
6. Consumers’ services.

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Types of Distribution Systems

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1. The Radial System
• The radial type of distribution
system, a simple form of which
is shown in Figure 2, is the
most common.
• It is used extensively to serve
the light- and medium-density
load areas where the primary
and secondary circuits are
usually carried overhead on
poles.

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1. The Radial System (cont..)
• The distribution substation or substations can be supplied from the bulk power
source over radial or loop sub-transmission circuits or over a sub-transmission grid
or network.

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2. Loop System
• The loop type of distribution system is used most frequently to supply bulk loads,
such as small industrial plants and medium or large commercial buildings, where
continuity of service is of considerable importance.
• The subtransmission circuits of the loop ,system should be parallel or loop circuits
or a subtransmission grid as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

What is the difference between network and Grid?

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2. Loop System
• These subtransmission circuits should supply a distribution substation or
substations shown in Figs. 13 or 16.

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2. Loop System

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 2. Loop System
• These substations must supply
power to the loop-primary feeders
shown in Fig. 22 and 23.
• One of the most common forms of
loop-primary feeder for supplying bulk
industrial and commercial loads is
shown in Fig. 22.

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2. Loop System
A common
arrangement of a
loop-primary
feeder for
supplying
distributed loads is
shown in Fig. 23.

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Concluding remarks
• The radial type of distribution system is most extensively used to serve the
light- and medium-density load areas where the primary and secondary circuits are
usually carried overhead on poles.
• The loop type of distribution system is used most frequently to supply bulk
loads, such as small industrial plants and medium or large commercial buildings,
where continuity of service is of considerable importance.
• The distribution substation or substations can be supplied from the bulk power
source over radial or loop sub-transmission circuits or over a sub-transmission grid
or network.
• Usually the subtransmission circuits and distribution substations are often
common to both radial- and loop-type distribution systems. This is because a fault on
a subtransmission circuit or in a distribution substation transformer results in an
interruption of service to the loads supplied over the more reliable loop-primary
feeders. 19
 Differences between
European and North American
Distribution Systems

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Differences between European and North American Systems

• Distribution systems around the world have evolved into different

forms. The two main designs are North American and European.
• For both forms, hardware is much the same: conductors, cables,
insulators, arresters, regulators, and transformers are very similar.
• Both systems are radial, and voltages and power carrying capabilities
are similar. The main differences are in layouts, configurations, and
applications.

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Differences between European and North American Systems
• Some of the differences are obvious due to differences in loads and
infrastructure. For example: In Europe, the roads and buildings were
already in place when the electrical system was developed, so the design had
to “fit in”. While in North America, many of the roads and electrical
circuits were developed at the same time. Also, in Europe houses are packed
together more and are smaller than houses in America.
• Relative to North American designs, European systems have larger
transformers and more customers per transformer.
• Most European transformers are three-phase and rating of 300 to 1000 kVA,
much larger than typical North American 25- or 50-kVA single phase units.

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Differences between European and North American Systems

• Voltage Levels: North America has standardized on a 120/240-V secondary

system; on these, voltage drop constrains how far utilities can run secondaries,
typically no more than 250 ft.
• In European designs, higher secondary voltages allow secondaries to stretch to
almost 1 mi. European secondaries are largely three-phase and most European
countries have a standard secondary voltage of 220, 230, or 240 V, twice the
North American standard.
• With twice the voltage, a circuit feeding the same load can reach four times the
distance. And because three-phase secondaries can reach over twice the length of
a single-phase secondary, overall, a European secondary can reach eight times the
length of an American secondary for a given load and voltage drop.

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Differences between European and North American Systems

• In European designs, the primary is not tapped frequently, and primary-level

fuses are not used as much.
• European utilities also do not use reclosing as rigorously as North American
utilities.

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Differences between European and North American Systems

• Each type of system has its advantages. Some of the major differences
between systems are the following:

1. Cost — The European system is generally more expensive than the

North American system, but there are so many variables that it is hard to
compare them on a one-to-one basis. For the types of loads and layouts in
Europe, the European system fits quite well. European primary
equipment is generally more expensive, especially for areas that can be
served by single-phase circuits.

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Differences between European and North American Systems

2. Flexibility — The North American system has a more flexible primary

design, and the European system has a more flexible secondary design.

For urban systems, the European system can take advantage of the flexible
secondary; for example, transformers can be sited more conveniently.

For rural systems and areas where load is spread out, the North American
primary system is more flexible. The North American primary is slightly better
suited for picking up new load and for circuit upgrades and extensions.

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Differences between European and North American Systems

3. Safety — The multi-grounded neutral of the North American primary system

provides many safety benefits; protection can more reliably clear faults, and the
neutral acts as a physical barrier, as well as helping to prevent dangerous touch
voltages during faults.

The European system has the advantage that high-impedance faults are easier to
detect.

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Differences between European and North American Systems
4. Reliability — Generally, North American designs result in fewer customer
interruptions.
Nguyen et al. (2000) simulated the performance of the two designs for a
hypothetical area and found that the average frequency of interruptions was
over 35% higher on the European system.

Although European systems have less primary, almost all of it is on the main
feeder backbone; loss of the main feeder results in an interruption for all
customers on the circuit.
European systems need more switches and other gear to maintain the same
level of reliability.
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Differences between European and North American Systems

5. Power quality — Generally, European systems have fewer voltage sags and
momentary interruptions. On a European system, less primary exposure should
translate into fewer momentary interruptions compared to a North American
system that uses fuse saving.
The three-wire European system helps protect against sags from line-to-ground
faults. A squirrel across a bushing (from line to ground) causes a relatively
high impedance fault path that does not sag the voltage much compared to a
bolted fault on a well-grounded system. Even if a phase conductor faults to a
low-impedance return path (such as a well-grounded secondary neutral), the
delta – wye customer transformers provide better immunity to voltage sags,
especially if the substation transformer is grounded through a resistor or
reactor. 30
Differences between European and North American Systems

6. Aesthetics — Having less primary, the European system has an

aesthetic advantage: the secondary is easier to underground or to
blend in. For underground systems, fewer transformer locations and
longer secondary reach make siting easier.

7. Theft — The flexibility of the European secondary system makes

power much easier to steal. Developing countries especially have this
problem. Secondaries are often strung along or on top of buildings;
this easy access does not require great skill to attach into.

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