Distribution System Design

A.K.Mishra
 Power Delivery System
The primary mission of Power Delivery System is to deliver power
to electrical consumers at their place of consumption and in
ready to use form.
Place of consumption
• Be dispersed throughout the service territory in rough
proportion to customer location.
• Have sufficient capacity to meet the customer peak demand and
energy demand.

Ready to use form

• Deliver the power at the utilization voltage required for electrical
appliances and equipment.
• provide stable voltage quality to its customer
• provide highly reliable delivery to its customer

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 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
• The part of the Power (delivery) system which
distributes electric power for local use is known as
distribution system.
• Distribution system is the electrical system between
the transmission system and the consumers meters.
• The integral part of a distribution system is
“Distributors”:-A distributor is a conductor from
which tapings are taken for supply to the consumers.
The current through a distributor is not constant.
 What is Transmission And What is Distribution?

By Function:
• Transmission: Transmission of bulk power over large distance
• Distribution: relatively small power over small area.
By voltage Class:
• Transmission: 66 kV -1100kV
• Distribution: 33kV and below (some country up to 132 kV
is categorized as distribution.) includes utilization voltage

By Configuration:
• Transmission: often designed and operates in network
• Distribution: often designed and operates radial.
By Design View:
• Transmission: grid status mainly the power and distance
• Distribution: Consumers demand and location
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 Distribution design aspects:

• Demand of consumers
• Distributers
• Finally must be at utilization level

Added to these;
• Personal safety
• Voltage regulation
Becomes major concern
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 The Distribution System Equipments & Terminology:

• Service Transformer (Distribution Transformer)

The transformer which lowers the voltage at utilization voltage
level.

• Secondary Distribution (LT/LV lines):

The conductor which route power at utilization voltage within very
close proximity to customers.

• Load Center:
Area served by a particular distribution transformer.

• Primary Distribution (HT/HV lines):

The line (conductor) which feds power at to the primary of
distribution transformer.

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 Primary & secondary distribution System
• Primary Distribution System:-
– It is the part of distribution system which operates at voltages
somewhat higher than general utilization
– handles large blocks of electrical energy than the average low
voltage consumer uses.
– Criterion for primary voltage level ???
– The most commonly used primary distribution voltages are 33
kV, 11kV,6.6kV and 3.3kV
– Due to economic considerations, normally primary
distribution is carried out by 3-phase 3- wire system. ??
• Secondary Distribution System:-
– It is that part of distribution system at which the ultimate
consumers utilizes the electrical energy delivered to him.
– The secondary distribution employs 400/230 V, 3-phase,4-
wire system in our case.
 The Distribution System Equipments & Terminology (contd.)

• Substation( Area Substation):

Meeting point between transmission & distribution
the primary distribution lines receives power at this
juncture.
• Service Area:
Service area of a particular substation or feeder is the
area served by that particular substation or feeder
• Sub-transmission Line:
The line (conductor) which feds power to the primary
of transformer at substations.

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In simplest form a distribution system
design includes
• Distribution transformer design (selection)
• Their source (i.e. primary distribution) design
• Their source i.e. substation
Selection of Distribution Transformer means;
• Selection of Transformer Size
• Voltage Level (mainly HT side)
• Configuration
• Location
The size of the distribution transformer depends on,
• Load Center Size
• Load density etc,
What should be the load center Size ? It is the first
choice to be made when starting a distribution system
planning.

Before making this decision we may think first about the

principle scheme i.e.

• Whether primary to close proximity to consumer or

secondary (i.e. HT/LT ratio)
– HT should reach near to consumer smaller Transformer But
more in number.
– Large Load center and large Transformer less in number with
large LT loss

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 Distribution Lines
• In fact the distribution lines, their layouts and
voltage levels vary widely. These can be broadly
classified as:
• Single phase/3phase
• Feeder layouts e.g.
• Radial distribution
• Loop distribution
• Network distribution
• Construction : overhead/ underground

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Single-phase or three phase prospective i.e at which level we
move from 3phase to single phase
• For distribution system, three-phase segments have a
tremendous advantage:
• The current only has to be sent “out” to the load.
• There are no losses or voltage drop associated with bringing
the current “back” to the source in a completely balanced ckt.
• By contrast, if serving a load from a single-phase Y-circuit
(one-phase and neutral) or two-phase delta ckt. Current flows
goes out of the load & then must return and there are losses
associated with each direction.
• Exactly how and where the transition from 3-phase to 1-phase
ckt. Takes place in a distribution system depends on planner
preferences and other situations.
• Two popular methods for 3-phase to one-phase Transition are:
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 • American System:
• Use 1-phase laterals and relatively small 1-
phase transformers:

C
B
A

Consumers
Consumers
Consumers

Consumers

Consumers
Consumers Consumers

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• European Layout uses few laterals and 1-phase primary circuit.
• Service Transformers are larger & often 3-phase

C
B
A

Consumers Consumers Consumers

• As is the secondary ckt. Individual consumers are provided

with single phase Service from Three phase secondary circuit.
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 Overhead versus Underground System
• Public safety:- the underground system is more safe than
overhead system.
• Initial cost:-
– The underground system is more expensive due to high cost of trenching,
conduits, cables, manholes and other special equipment.
– The initial cost of an underground system may be 5 to 10 times than that
of an overhead system.
• Flexibility:-
– In the latter case, manholes, duct lines etc are permanently placed once
installed and the load expansion can only be met by laying new lines .
– However on an overhead system, poles, wires, transformers etc can be
easily shifted to meet the changes in load conditions.
• Faults:-The chances of faults in underground system are very rare
as the cables are laid underground and are generally provided
with better insulation.
• Useful life:- An underground system have more useful life
• Fault Locations and Repair:-
– In general, there are little chances of faults in an underground system.
– however if a fault does occur, it is difficult to locate and repair on this
system.
– on an overhead system, the conductors are visible and easily accessible so
that fault locations and repairs can be easily made.
• Current carrying capacity and Voltage drop:-
– An overhead distribution conductor has a considerably higher current
carrying capacity of the same material and cross section.
– Underground cable conductor has much lower inductive reactance
• Appearance:-The general appearance of an underground system
is better as all the distribution lines are invisible.
• Maintenance Cost:-
• The maintenance cost of underground system is very low
because of less chances of faults and service interruptions from
wind, ice, lightning as well as from traffic hazards.
• No Interference with communications circuits
Connection scheme of Distribution system

• Radial System:-In this system, separate feeders radiate from a

single substation and feed the distributors at one end only.
• Lower cost.
• The biggest advantage of this system is the simplicity of
analysis.
• This system is less reliable than other systems because there
is only one path between the substation and the customer.
Thus if any elements along the path fails, a loss of power
delivery results.
• The end of the distributor nearest to the feeding point will be
heavily loaded.
• The consumers at the distant end of a distributor would be
subjected to serious voltage fluctuations when the load on
the distributor chances.
 Loop system
• In loop systems, there are two paths between the
sources (substations, service transformer) and
customer.
• The system is very reliable as each distributor is fed
via two feeders.
• Slightly more complicated than a radial system.
• A loop must be able to meet all power and voltage
drop requirements when fed from only one end, not
both.
• Equipment is sized and each loop is designed so that
service can be maintained regardless of where an
open point is on the loop.
• There are less voltage fluctuations at consumer’s
terminals.
 Network
• There are multiple paths between all point in the
network.
• More complicated than other forms of distribution
and thus more difficult to analyze.
• It increase the service reliability.
• Power flow between any two point is usually split
among several paths, and if a failure occurs it
instantly and automatically re- routes itself.
• Any area fed from one generating station during peak
load hours can be fed from the other generating
stations. this reduces reserve capacity and increases
efficiency of the system.
Types of Feeder Layouts
 GENERAL
• Why Distribution Planning & Design?
To assure that the growing demand for electricity can
be satisfied by distribution system additions which
are both technically adequate and reasonably
economical.
• Key words:
1. growing demand (Why, How and When?)
2. system additions (Where, What ?)
3. technically adequate (Maintaining the quality and
reliability)
4. reasonably economical (Optimization)
Being more specific Distribution design/planning is to get the
answer for (2) based on (1) satisfying(3) and (4).
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• The natural question arises is why the demand grows?
In general the demand (energy usage) within an electric
utility system grow for only two reasons;
1.New customer additions
2.New uses of electricity.
Both of these continue for ever irrespective of a new expansion or in an existing
areas itself.
• New consumers to existing areas are due to:
1. Immigration trends towards urban (typical in Urban
distribution)
2. Facility exist but previously no connection (typical in
Rural distribution)
• Consumption growths are due to:
1.Consumer’s financial status improvement
2.Addition of new appliances gradually.
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 PREDICTION OF CUSTOMERS DEMAND
CHARACTERISTICS
It is truly very difficult, because
• No customer wants electric energy itself.
• An electric utility’s customers purchase electricity as
a means to some end-uses for which electricity is
only an intermediate means.
And
• These end-uses span a wide range of applications
with its unique behavior.

So for analysis of load characteristics:

It is very important for all planers that they must
have knowledge (through understanding) of Who is
buying their electricity and of curse for what
purpose?.
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 Consumer classifications
• Every customer is somewhat different in his/her
electrical usage.
• There is no even two electrical customers who uses
electrical energy of identical characteristics even a
very small fraction of time.
• For simplicity often electric utilities group their
customers based on similar end-use appliances e.g.
residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation etc.
• A particular class of consumers have usually similar
consumption(load) pattern

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 25.00

20.00 Res idential

15.00

Load (kW)
10.00

5.00

0.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Time (hr)

3.50
3.00 c omerc ial
2.50
2.00
Load (kW)

1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Time (hr)

10.00

8.00 Non c omerc ial

6.00
Load (kW)

4.00

2.00

0.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Time (hr)

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• But truly speaking:
• There is no consumer in any utility whose load curve
is such a smooth curve similar to that.
• The natural question is the smooth representation is
correct?
• If not why people use it?
• To get the answer

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• These peaks are is observable even all the equipments
are connected continuously to the supply, because many
appliances are of its on ON/OFF cycles.
• What would be the case if many such devices connected
in group?

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Suppose
we were to consider one hundred homes served by the
same segment of a distribution feeder.

In this case,
• Though each household will have an individual daily
load curve similar to the erratic and choppy
• Each will be slightly different appliances, is occupied
by people with slightly different schedules and usage
preference,
• The individual peaks are not additives because they
occur at different times. Do not occur simultaneously.
• They are non-coincident.

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 Coincidence Factor
• The tendency of observed peak load per consumer to
drop as the size of the customer group being observed
increases is termed coincidence
• and is measured by the coincidence factor, the fraction
of its individual peak that each customer contributes to
the group’s peak.

Observed peak for the group

C = Coincidence factor =
 individual peaks

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 • Since the load curves vary depending on number of
sample consumers taken.
• Thus coincidence factor, C, can be thought of as a
function of the number of customers in a group.
Observed peak for the group of n customers
C(n) = Coincidence factor =
 individual peaks

• C(n) has the value between 0 and 1 and usually

decreases with increased number of customers
• Sometimes engineers use diversity factor instead of
coincidence factor. D = Diversity factor=1/Coincidence factor

Group peak load for n consumer = C(n) x n x average individual peak load

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 Example
An utility has following observation:

Peak load(kw)
Monthly
energy
1 10 50 100 200
consumption
Kwh/consumer Consumer Consumer Consumer Consumer Consumer
20 0.5 3 10 15 30

Determine the load factor and coincidence factor for each consumer class as
a function of number of consumer.

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 Load factor Lf(n)
Lf(1)=20/(.5*30*24) 0.055555556
Lf(10)=(20*10)/(3*30*24) 0.092592593
Lf(50)=(20*50)/(10*30*24) 0.138888889
Lf(100)=(20*100)/(15*30*24) 0.185185185
Lf(200)=(20*200)/(30*30*24) 0.185185185

Coincidence factor Cf(n)

Cf(1)=.5/.5 1
Cf(10)=3/(10*.5) 0.6
Cf(50)=10/(50*.5) 0.4
Cf(100)=15/(100*.5) 0.3
Cf(200)=30/(200*.5) 0.3

For the consumer group for which energy consumption is

provided LF and coincidence factor gives same information

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• To determine the actual load at any equipment level we
need to consider the coincidence among the classes.
• This is because the load pattern for each class is
different and need not necessarily coincide the peak
value.
Residential
30.00
comercial
25.00
Non comercial
20.00
commulative
15.00
Load (kW)

10.00

5.00

0.00
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Time (hr)

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 Responsibility/Contribution Factor
• Responsibility Factor is the ratio of that part of
an individual load that occurs at the time of
the system Peak load to the individual load
peak.
• It is thus a measure of how much the
individual load contributes to the system peak
load.
Equipment peak load = Rr(n) x group peak load for residential +
Rc(n) x group peak load for residential +……+
Rnc(n) x group peak load for non commercial

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 Example
1. The consumer data for a particular distribution transformer for a specified year is as
Follows;
Table-2
Consumer class Class A Class B Class C
Consumer Number 100 30 40
Monthly energy consumption 30 kWhr 20 kWhr 30 kWhr
No. of effective days per month 30 25 25
Coincidence factor 1 0.9 0.95
Power factor 0.9 0.8 0.8
Load pattern Table 3 Table 3 Table 3

Table-3
Time 0:00 - 6:00 - 10:00- 14:00- 18:00 – 21:00-
(hrs) 6:00 10:00 14:00 18:00 21:00 24:00
Class A 0 0.4 0.2 0.2 1 0.4
Class B 0 0 0.5 1 0.5 0
Class C 0 0 1 1 0 0

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 Determine the Following
For each Consumer Class:
– Peak Load,
– Load Factor (Daily and Annual)
– Contribution factor
– Annual energy sell
• For Distribution Transformer (Neglect LT Losses)
– Peak Load,
– Load Factor (Daily and Annual)
– Load curve
– Annual energy sell

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 Solution
• Daily load factor from load pattern;
– For class A, L.F (daily)
= (0.4*4)+(.2*4)+(0.2*4)+(1*3)+(0.4*3)/(24) = 0.3
– For class B, L.F (daily)
= (0.5*4)+(1*4)+(0.5*30)/24 = 0.31
– For class C, L.F (daily)
= (1*4) +(1*4)/24 = 0.33
• Peak demand of each class ,
– Peak load (kw)A
= (100*30 *1)/(0.3*30*24) =13.88 kw
– Peak load(kw)B
= (30*20*0.95)/(0.31*25*24) = 2.9 kw
– Peak load (kw)C
= (40 * 30 *95)/(0.33*25*24) = 5.75 kw

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• Annual load factor of each class
– L.FA (annual)
= (100*30*12)/(13.88*365*24) = 0.296 (for class A)
– L.FB (annual)
= (30*20*12)/(2.9*365*24) = 0.283 (for class B)
– L.FC (annual)
= (40*30*12)/(5.75*365*24) = 0.295 (for class C

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 Class A
20
Class B
15 Class C
Comulative
Load kW

10

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Hour

 Hence from these curves, we found cumulative

Peak load = 15.33 kw
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• Contribution factor at system peak are;
– Contribution factor for class A = 100%
– Contribution factor for class B = 50%
– Contribution factor for class C = 0%
• Annual Energy sell
– class A = (100*30*12) = 36000 kwh
– class B = (30*20*12) = 7200 kwh
– class C = (40*30*12) = 14400 kwh
– Distribution transformer
= (36000+7200+14400) = 57600 kwh
• Annual load factor (L.F) of Distribution Transformer
= 57600/(15.33*365*24)= 0.43

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