Basics of Engineering Products

Unit-3:Electric Energy Systems

By
Y. Srinivasa Rao
Asst Prof
Dept of EEE
 Basics of Engineering Products & Solutions

UNIT: 3 - Electric Energy Systems

Over view of Power System Structure – Conventional and Non Conventional

Generations - Types of Turbines, Generators, Substations, Towers – Earthing
procedure – Protection schemes –– Methods of Electrical Wiring Systems –
Wiring procedure and calculations – Wiring methods.

Un-Interruptible Power Supply (UPS) – Components in UPS – its functionality

– Calculation of ratings for UPS components to a specific load.
 Power and Energy are buzz words in today’s world.

 Electricity is emerged as basic necessity with Food,

Shelter and Clothing for human being.

 Life without electricity has become highly unimaginable.

 Electric locomotives, Heating, Cooling, Fans, Blowers,

Motors, Illumination are some applications that converts
electrical energy into useful work.
 Power Generation Scenario In India

 Thermal Power --- 1,00,000MW

 Hydro Power --- 65,000MW
 Nuclear Power --- 10,000MW
 Other sources --- 20,000MW

 Total Installed Capacity--- 1,95,000MW

 Per Capita Energy Consumption
10000
Low per capita
9000
energy
8000
consumption
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Russian Federation

United Kingdom
Germany

Canada

France
Japan
China

India

South Korea
USA

World Average
Progress of any nation is measured in terms of per capita consumption of
electrical energy.(KWH consumed per person per year)

India- 500 KWH /person per year

UK- 8 times that of India
US- 16 times that of India
 What is Power System???
• Power Systems deals with the generation, transmission,
distribution and utilization of electric power.

• The electrical devices connected to such systems including

generators, transformers and motors .

• Generation Generators
• Transmission Transformers
• Distribution Transformers
• Utilization Motors
Structure of Power System
Overview of Power System
 Sources of Electrical Power Generation

A.Conventional Sources
Thermal (Coal)
Nuclear
Water
B.Non conventional Sources
Wind
Solar- PV
 Disadvantages of Conventional Sources

 Fossil fuels shall be depleted, forcing us to conserve them

and find alternative resources.

 Toxic, Hazardous gases, Residues pollute environment.

 Overall conversion efficiency is very poor.

 Sources are located at remote places with reference to

load, increasing transmission cost.

 Maintenance cost is high.

Block Diagram of Coal Fired Thermal Plant
Coal Fired Thermal Plant
Overview of Thermal Power Plant

Thermal Power Plant works on the principle of Rankine Cycle

 Coal Based Thermal Power Plant

 India has rich stock of coal as natural resource.

 Chemical energy stored in coal is transformed to

electrical energy.

 Coal powder is fired in boiler that converts water into

steam at high temp. and pressure.

 This steam is injected over the blades of steam turbine

(prime mover) in controlled way and hence, rotor of 3 PH
a.c. generator rotates.
 Mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy at rated
voltage(10-30KV).

 Used steam is cooled down to water using cooling towers and

condensers.

 This preheated water is again injected in boiler tubes to

convert back to steam.

 Flue gases are passed into atmosphere and fine particles of

ash are collected through ESP.

 Ash(40% of coal weight) is collected and transported to AHP.

 Merits of Coal Fired Thermal Plant

 Coal is cheap and available in abundance at present.

 It is a time tested process, so no experimentation is required.

 Less space required as compared to Hydro based station and

less hazardous than Nuclear power plant.

 Less initial cost as compared to other conventional process of

power generation.
 Demerits of Coal Thermal plant

 Calorific value (Kcal/Kg) of Indian coal is very low and

large ash content.

 Huge volume of ash is produced daily and it’s disposal is

burning issue today.

 Atmospheric pollution is very high.

 Transportation of coal to plant and transmission of

generated power to load centre involves large expenses.
 Nuclear Thermal Power Plant

 Huge amount of thermal energy is produced through Nuclear Fusion

and Fission process of radioactive elements.

 This thermal energy is used to produce steam that can be utilized to

rotate the turbine coupled to 3 PH a.c. generator.
 Nuclear Fusion
 Fusion is the process in which two light weight nuclei combine to
produce heavier nucleus, a neutron and lot of exothermic energy.

 In fusion Deuterium and Tritium nuclei are fused to produce heavy

Helium, Neutron and 17.5 MeV of energy.

 One gram of Deuterium contains 1,00,000 KWh of energy which is 10

million times that released by combustion of one gram of coal.
 Nuclear Fission
 Fission is the reaction in which heavy nucleus is split in to two or
more lighter nuclei with release of neutrons, fission fragment,
gamma rays and lot of thermal energy.

 Released neutrons has high KE and collides with other nuclei

resulting into secondary fission which again produce same
components as before
 This process results into sustained chain reaction producing huge
amount of energy that can be utilized for producing steam that is
subsequently used for rotating turbine.
 The main requirement of fission is such that the reaction
should be self sustained in nature.

 For self sustained reaction the substance should be

fissile, it should not decay quickly and should be
available in nature in moderate quantity.

 All radioactive elements are fissile and satisfy the

conditions as specified for self sustained reaction.
Uranium-235 is commonly used for the process.

 When it accepts neutron, it is fissioned into Barium,

Krypton, neutrons, gamma rays and 200MeV energy.
Block Schematic for Nuclear Power Plant
 All the time this huge heat energy is not required and if it
is not controlled then may result in disaster.

 Speed of neutrons is controlled by moderators like

Graphite and heavy water to achieve critical speed of
reaction.

 Further more, control rods, like cadmium, are placed

between fuel rods that absorb neutrons for regulation of
reaction thereby to obtain power control of generators.

 The control rods are pushed in and pulled out to

decrease and increase power output respectively.
 Advantages of Nuclear Power
Generation

 Less quantity of fuel for generation of given amount of

energy compared to other sources.

 High reliability, Efficient and less running cost.

 Disadvantages of Nuclear Power Generation

 Fuel is expensive and not available in abundance everywhere.

 High capital cost.

 Maintenance cost is very high.

 Nuclear waste disposal is a great problem.

Block Schematic for Hydroelectric Power
Plant
 Hydro-electric power is generated by the flow of water through
turbine, turning the blades of the turbine.

 A generator shaft connected to this turbine also rotates and

hence generates electricity.

 The main components of a hydel power plant are:

1. Dam/Reservoir/Large buffer tank

2. Penstock
3. Power House
a. Turbines
b. Generators
c. Step-up Transformers
Depending on the capacity, hydel power plants
are divided into the following categories:
 Hydel plants are normally not in a continuous operation
mode and used for peak periods during the day like the
wee hours and in the evening.

 Also, they are used when the continuously operating

thermal plants go into overhauling.

 This is possible due to the less start up time required by

hydro power stations which is normally in few minutes as
compared to thermal power plant which is more than 8
hours.

 The command for starting or shutting is issued by from

the related Load Dispatch Center (LDC) of that particular
region
 Advantages of Hydro Power Generation
 Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a
constant rate

 If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut,

stopping electricity generation

 The build up of water in the reservoir means that energy can

be stored until needed, when the water is released to produce
electricity.

 The reservoir's water can be used for irrigation purposes.

 Hydropower is fueled by water, so it's a clean fuel source.

Hydropower doesn't pollute the air like power plants that burn
fossil fuels, such as coal, oil or natural gas.
 Disadvantages of Hydro Power Plant

 Dams are extremely expensive to build and must be built to

a very high standard.

 People living in villages and towns that are in the valley to

be flooded, must move out.

 Hydro power plants can be impacted by drought. When

water is not available, the hydro power plants can't produce
electricity.
 Solar Energy
 Solar energy is produced through nuclear fusion reactions

 The earth receives more energy from the Sun in just one hour than the world'
population uses in a whole year
 Only a small part of the radiant energy that the sun emits into space ever reache
the Earth, but that is more than enough to supply all our energy needs.
 The energy which reaches earth surface (Solar Constant) is taken as
1.367 KW/ m2 approximately.
 In addition, enroute to the earth’s surface, about 30% of this flux is
scattered, and about 19% is absorbed, by the atmosphere and
clouds.
 Hence, the average flux striking the earth’s surface = 1.367 KW/m 2 ·
(1-0.49) = 697.17 W/m2.
 The theoretical potential of solar power is the integral of this average
flux over the earth’s area (πr2):

P = (697.17 W/m2) · (πr2)

= (697.17 W/m2) · π · (6,378 km)2 · (106 m2/km2) · (10-12 TW/W)
= 89,300 TW
• The worldwide energy consumption in the year 2050 will be 27.6 TW 
• The worldwide energy consumption in the year 2100 will be 43 TW
 Photovoltaic Systems

 Photovoltaic comes from the words

photo meaning light and
volt, a measurement of electricity.

 Sometimes photovoltaic cells are called PV cells or solar cells for

short.

 Solar cells are made up of silicon, the same substance that makes
up sand. Silicon is the second most common substance on Earth.

 Electricity is produced when sunlight strikes the solar cell, causing

the electrons to move around.
Sun
Physics of Photovoltaic Generation

n-type
semiconductor
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Depletion Zone
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
p-type
semiconductor
 How Solar Cells Work???
1. Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by
semiconducting materials, such as silicon.

2. Electrons (negatively charged) atoms, are knocked loose from

their allowing them to flow through the material to produce
electricity.

3. An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable amount

of direct current (DC) electricity.
• Cells are arranged in a frame to form a module. Modules
put together form a panel. Many Panels together form an
array.
 Hierarchy of PV
Volt Ampere Watt Size
• Cell 0.5V 5-6A 2-3W about 10cm
• Module 20-30V 5-6A 100-200W about 1m
• Array 200-300V 50A-200A 10-50kW about 30m
Array
10 - 50 kW

Module,Panel
100 - 200 W

Cell
2–3W

6x9=54 (cells) 100-300 (modules)

Solar PV Power Generation System
 Advantages of Solar Energy Systems

 After initial investment, all  the electricity produced is free.

 Clean, renewable energy source.

 No transmission costs for stand alone systems.

 Virtually no maintenance

 Ideal for remote locations that cannot be tied to the grid

 Incentives and rebates from government and utility

companies offset the initial investment.
 Solar Energy Disadvantages

 High initial cost to purchase solar panel system

 A relatively large area is required to install a solar system

 The highest efficiency is dependent on full sun exposure

 No electricity can be produced at night, and reduced

production on cloudy/rainy days
 Wind Power
• Wind Energy is the indirect manifestation of solar Energy
• Air in motion results in Wind
• Caused by a difference in air pressure due to unequal heating of the atmosphere.
Winds are created by….
• Heating the air, decreases pressure (warm air rises creating a low pressure)
• Cool air rushes into replace the warm air (cooler dense air, produces high pressure)
• As air goes from high to low pressure, winds form.

High ‘p’ WIND Low ‘p’

Area Area
Wind Zones in
India
 The wind energy is one of the most effective renewable power
technologies.

 India has the fifth largest installed wind power capacity in the
world.

 A Wind Energy Conversion System is a structure that

transforms the kinetic energy of the incoming air stream into
electrical energy.

 There are two basic configurations namely vertical axis wind

turbines (VAWT) and horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT).

 Today the vast majority of manufactured wind turbines are

horizontal axis with either two or three blades.
HAWT Vs VAWT
Wind Generator
Types of Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS)
 There are two types of Wind Energy Conversion System
(WECS).

1. Variable-speed WECS
2. Fixed-speed WECS

 Variable-speed wind turbines are currently the most used

WECS.  

 Fixed-speed WECS operate at constant speed and Variable-

speed WECS at variable speed.

 In Fixed-speed WECS generated voltage and frequency is

constant but in Variable-speed WECS generated voltage and
frequency is varying with respect to wind speed.
 Advantages of Wind Energy System
 The wind is free and with modern technology it can be
captured efficiently.

 Once the wind turbine is built the energy it produces, does not
cause green house gases or other pollutants.

 Remote areas that are not connected to the electricity power

grid can use wind turbines to produce their own supply.

 Wind turbines are available in a range of sizes which means a

vast range of people and businesses can use them.

 Single households to small towns and villages can make good

use of range of wind turbines available today.
 Disadvantages of Wind Power

 The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero
to storm force.

 This means that wind turbines do not produce the same

amount of electricity all the time.

 There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.

 Wind turbines are noisy.

 Turbines
• A turbine is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy
from a fast moving flow of water, steam, gas, air, or other fluid
and converts it into useful work.
Types of Turbines
• Water Turbine: It is a rotary machine that converts 
kinetic energy and potential energy of water into 
mechanical work.

• Steam Turbine: A steam turbine is a device that extracts

thermal energy from pressurized steam and uses it to do
mechanical work on a rotating output shaft.
• Gas Turbine: A gas turbine, also called a combustion
turbine, is a device that extracts thermal energy from
pressurized flue gases and uses it to do mechanical
work on a rotating output shaft.

• Wind Turbine: A wind turbine is a device that

converts kinetic energy from the wind into electrical
power.
 Generators
• It is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy

• Generators are categories in to two types: 1.Dynamos 2.

Alternators.

1. The dynamo uses electro-magnetic induction to convert

mechanical rotation into direct current.

2. Alternators generate alternating current by the principle of

Faraday’s law of electro magnetism.
Interconnection of Generation, Transmission,
Distribution and Utilization Systems
Location for electrical power plant is normally decided
near the fuel base (coal, gas, water)
The huge power generated cannot be consumed in
the area in which it is generated.
The voltage level at which it is generated is between
10 to 30 KV.
The generated power is to be transmitted to the
locations where it is demanded like Industries, cities,
etc. which we generally refer as ‘Load’.
Distances between generation plant and place where it is
needed is very large.
Hence, to avoid Cu losses specifically, generated voltage
needs to be stepped up to 132 KV , 220 KV, 400 KV, 765 KV
and the latest 1200 KV for Transmission.
Once power is dispatched to Load Centres, the transmission
voltage levels are stepped down to 66KV, 33KV or 11KV for
distribution of power.
Once the power reaches to doorstep of consumer, the
distribution voltage level is again stepped down to utilisation
voltage level i.e. 440V or 230V
 Generator

Single Line
Representation 10 to 30 KV

of Step-up T/F

Power System
132 KV, 220 KV, 400 KV.

Transmission EHV

Step down T/F

66 KV, 33 KV OR 11 KV
Distribution HV Receiving
Station

Step Down
To large Industries at 11 kv or 33 kv or
T/F
66 kv
consumer of HV level
440V (Utilization)

Consumers of LV level
 Change in voltage level is possible due to Transformer.
 Generated power is transmitted and distributed through :
1. Overhead transmission Lines
2. Underground Cables.
 Transmission voltage level is very high and distance between generation
point and receiving station is also very large.
 So, for transmission of power, overhead system is adopted than
underground system considering the voltage drops and cost involved.
 Generation, transmission and distribution is exclusively three phase in
nature and only three conductors are required.
 Utilization network can be three phase or single phase. So, it requires 3
or 4 conductors ( additional conductor for neutral) respectively.
 Sub-Station
• The sub-station may be defined as an assembly of
apparatus used to change some characteristic (e.g.
Voltage, AC to DC, Frequency etc.) of electric supply in
the power system.

Classification of Sub-Stations

• Indoor sub-stations: These substations are installed

indoor (within a building) because of economic
considerations. These substations are generally used
for voltages up to 11 kV only.
• Outdoor sub-stations:
 For voltages beyond 11 kV, equipment is invariably installed outdoor.
 It is because for such voltages, the clearances between conductors and the space
required for switches and other equipment becomes so great that it is not economical
to install the equipment indoor.

• Underground sub-stations:
 In thickly populated areas, the space available for equipment and building is limited
and the cost of land is high.
 Under such situations, the sub-station is created underground.

• Pole-mounted sub-stations:
 These are used for distribution purposes only with equipment installed overhead on H-
pole or 4-pole structure.
 It is the cheapest form of sub-station for voltages not exceeding 11kV (or 33 kV in some
cases). Electric power is almost distributed in localities through such substations.
 Transmission Tower
• A transmission tower or power tower (electricity pylon in the United
Kingdom and parts of Europe) is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice
tower, used to support an overhead power line.
• They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide
variety of shapes and sizes.
 Types of Towers
• Stobie poles:
Stobie poles are single steel-reinforced concrete pole structures on
which power line conductors (wires) are mounted or strung. Pole
construction and type and number of insulators normally indicate the
voltage of the power line.
• Transmission towers:
Transmission towers are large steel structures that are used to carry high
voltage power lines. Transmission towers are usually found on the edge of
or outside metropolitan areas.
 Parts of a Transmission Tower
• Peak of Transmission Tower
• Cage of Transmission Tower
• Cross Arm of Transmission Tower
• Transmission Tower Body
• Peak of Transmission Tower
The portion above the top cross arm is called peak of transmission tower.
Generally earth shield wire connected to the tip of this peak.
• Cage of Transmission Tower
The portion between tower body and peak is known as cage of
transmission tower. This portion of the tower holds the cross arms.
• Cross Arm of Transmission Tower
Cross arms of transmission tower hold the transmission conductor. The dimension
of cross arm depends on the level of transmission voltage.
• Transmission Tower Body
The portion from bottom cross arms up to the ground level is called transmission
tower body. This portion of the tower plays a vital role for maintaining required
ground clearance of the bottom conductor of the transmission line.
 Types of transmission Lines
• Short Transmission Line
Length is about 50 km.
Voltage level is up to 20 kV
• Medium Transmission Line
Length is about 50km to 150km
Operational voltage level is from 20 kV to 100 kV
• Long Transmission Line
Length is more than 150 km
Voltage level is above 100 kV
 Type of Power Lines
From the very beginning of power generation to the user end
transmission lines are broadly classified based on different voltage
levels.
 Why High Voltage is Used for Transmission?
• One of the key concerns in the transmission of electricity is the power loss in
transmission lines, dissipated as heat due to the resistance of the conductors.

• High-voltage transmission lines are used to transmit electric power over long
distances.

• Assume the power to be transmitted is P, and the resistance of the

transmission line is r. If the power is transmitted with voltage V, then the
current flow through the transmission line is I=P/V.

The power loss Ploss=I2*r=(P/V)2*r

Pout = Pin – Ploss

• Since P and r are fixed conditions, less power will be lost if high voltages are
used.
 Types of Distribution System
a) Three phase three wire system :
• This system requires 3 wires or conductors for distribution
• May be connected in Star or Delta. If Star connected, then star point is
connected to earth. i.e. zero potential
• An electric load of single phase nature cannot be connected.

b) Three phase four wire system :

• This system requires 4 wires or conductors for distribution.
• Can be connected in Star only. The star point is also called neutral.
• An electric load of 3 phase and also single phase can be connected.
Star & Delta Configurations
3 Phase 3 wire transmission / 3 phase 4 wire utilization
 What's the difference between single phase and three phase?
• Electricity is either connected at 230 or 240 Volts (single-phase,
which accounts for the majority of domestic situations), or 400 and
415 Volts (three-phase).
• Single-phase comes to the home with two wires: active (phase) and
neutral. The neutral wire is connected to earth at the switchboard.
• Three-phase has four wires: three actives (called phases) and one
neutral. The neutral wire is earthed at the switchboard.
 Single phase Vs Three phase
• Imagine the total electrical load is 24 kilowatts (24,000 watts -
that's a lot for a domestic installation). For a normal, single-phase
power supply at 240 volts, the maximum current would be 100
amps. The current in amps multiplied by voltage in volts gives
power in watts (Power = voltage x current).

• If a three-phase supply is available, then the 24,000 watts are

divided by 3, meaning that 8000 watts is being used per phase. Now
the current per phase is also down to a third of what it would be
with a single phase supply (about 33 amps per phase, rather than
100).

Advantages:
• Cost is less
• Reliability is more
 Earthing

 The potential of the earth is considered to be at zero for

all practical purposes.

 Earthing is to connect any electrical equipment to earth

with a very low resistance wire, making it to attain earth’s
potential.

 This ensures safe discharge of electric energy, which

may be due to reasons like failure of the insulation, line
coming in contact with the casing etc.

 Earthing brings the potential of the body of the

equipment to ZERO i.e. to the earth’s potential, thus
protecting the operating personnel against electrical
shock.
Importance of Earthing
 Points to be Earthed

The star point of a Generator Should be earthed.

Earth wire should be provided to the over head transmission lines against
protection from lightening.

The loads (motors) has to be earthed.

Necessity of Earthing:
• To protect the operating personnel from danger of shock
in case they come in contact with the charged frame due
to defective insulation.
• To maintain the line voltage constant under unbalanced
load condition.
• Protection of the equipments
• Protection of large buildings and all machines fed from
overhead lines against lightning.
Methods of Earthing:
• Plate earthing
• Pipe earthing
 Plate Earthing

Galvanized Iron (GI) Pipe

Surface
Coal
Sand
Cu Strip Salt
Coal
Sand 5-6 Ft
When properly
watered Salt
RE = 0.02 Ω Cu
Plate Coal

Sand

2-3 Ft
 Pipe Earthing

Galvanized Iron (GI) Pipe

Surface
Coal
Sand
Salt
Coal
Sand 5-6 Ft
When properly
watered Salt
RE = 0.02 Ω
Coal

Sand

2-3 Ft
Difference between Earth wire and Neutral wire

Neutral wire :
1. In a 3 phase 4 wire system, the fourth wire is neutral wire.
2. It acts as a return path for 3 phase currents when the load is not
balanced.
3. In domestic single phase AC circuit, the neutral wire acts as a return
path for line current.

Earth wire :
1. Earth wire is actually connected to the general mass of the earth and
metallic body of the equipment.
2. It is provided to transfer any leakage current from the metallic body to
the earth.
 Fuse
 A fault in an appliance can cause the current to be
too great and can lead to the wire overheating and
possibly causing a fire.

 A fuse is designed to melt if the current through a

circuit is too high, thereby breaking the circuit

 The fuse should be just higher than the normal

working current
 Fuses in plugs are made in standard ratings.

 The most common are 3A, 5A and 13A. The

fuse should be rated at a slightly higher
current than the device needs

 if the device works at 3A, use a 5A fuse

 if the device works at 10A, use a 13A fuse
Selection of Fuses

For the following devices choose fuses from 3A, 5A and 13A.

Operating Fuse
Current
2.1A 3.0A
11.2A 13.0A
4.7A 5.0A
6.0A 13.0A
4.5A 5.0A
8.2A 13.0A
Types of Fuses
Plug Fuse
 When Occurs………..
When Fault occurs, fuse wire melts , no current flows through the circuit and
so the equipment is safe.
Cartridge Fuse
 When Occurs……….. ???
When Fault occurs, fuse wire melts , no current flows through the circuit and
so the equipment is safe.

Cartridge fuses are used for sensitive equipments.

 Wiring Methods

• There are two types of wiring methods

1.House Wiring
2. Staircase Wiring
House Wiring
Stair Case Wiring
Function of Staircase wiring

Position of switch Position of switch Condition of Lamp

(S1) (S2) (L)
1 1’ ON

1 3’ OFF

3 1’ OFF

3 3’ ON
 UPS
 An uninterruptible power supply (ups) is a device that has
an alternate source of energy that can provide power when
the primary power source is temporarily disabled.

 The switchover time must be small enough to not cause a

disruption in the operation of the loads.

Offers protection against :

Equipment not operating properly
Computer and equipment damage
Data loss
Time and expense to recover back to where you were,
if even possible
 UPS Block Diagram

CRITICAL
AC SUPPLY AUTOMATIC LOAD
SWITCH
CONVERTER INVERTER (AC)
AC TO DC DC TO AC

BATTERY
 UPS Components

 CONVERTER
 Converters/rectifiers change Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current
(DC).

 BATTERY
 Energy Storage Device

 INVERTER
 Inverters change Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC).
 Stand-Alone inverters can be used to convert DC from a battery to AC
to run electronic equipment, motors, appliances, etc.
Working of UPS
How to choose the right inverter &
battery for your home?
 Steps for Selection
1. Understand your Power Requirement
2. Find the VA rating of the inverter you need
3. Know the battery your inverter needs
 1. Understand your Power Requirement

• One of the most important factor that you must

know before buying an inverter is your “Power
requirement”.

• In simple words- what all electrical appliances (like

fan, tube lights, television, CFL etc.) you want to run
at the time of power failure.

• The power requirement is addition of the power

consumed by various electrical equipments.
• Suppose you want 3 Fans, 3 Tube lights, 1 CFL & 1
television to operate at the time of power failure.

• The power consumed by these items:

– 1 Fan – 90 Watts
– 1 tube light – 50 watts
– 1 CFL – 25 watts
– 1 Television – 120 watts

• Therefore total power requirement

= 3*90 +3*50 + 1*25 + 1*120 = 565 watts
 2. Find the VA rating of the inverter you need

• It stands for the Volt ampere rating.

• It is the voltage and current supplied by the inverter to the

equipments.

• If an inverter operates with 100% efficiency, then the power

requirement of the electrical items and power supplied by inverter is
same.

• But we all know that 100% or ideal conditions don’t exist in real.  
• Most  inverters have the efficiency range from 60 % to
80%.

• This efficiency is also called power factor of an inverter

and is simply  the ratio of power required by
the appliances to power supplied by an inverter.

• Power factor of most inverters ranges from 0.6 to 0.8

  Power supplied (or VA rating of inverter) = Power
requirement ( power consumed by equipments in watts)
/Power factor( efficiency).

• Here average value of power factor or efficiency  is

considered i.e. 0.7

• Power of inverter (VA) = 565/0.7 = 807.14 VA

• In the market 800 VA inverters are available. So an inverter

with 800 VA will be the right choice for your home.
 3. Know the battery your inverter needs
•  Battery is the backbone of an inverter system.

• The performance and life of an inverter largely depend

upon the battery quality.

• The next big question is “how much back up will

an inverter provide?” or for “how many hours it can run
all of your equipments?”.

• This is what is called the battery capacity. It is the battery

capacity that decides the back up hours. It is expressed
in Ah (Ampere Hours).
• In the market batteries with capacity of 100 Ah, 120 Ah, 150 Ah, 180
Ah, 200 Ah  are readily available.

• So how to decide which one do you need?

• To find this out lets do a reverse calculation.

• Consider that you need a battery that provides back up for 3 hours.
Battery capacity = Power requirement  (in watts) * Back up hours ( in
hrs) / Battery Voltage (in volts)

• Battery Capacity = (565 * 3) / 12 = 141.25 Ah

• Value of Battery voltage is taken 12V

• Therefore a battery with a capacity of 150 Ah will work for you

Working of UPS
 Batteries Required
• Energy required at load point (EL) = Power
requirement ( power consumed by equipments in
watts) * Back up hours ( in hrs)

• Energy supplied by one battery (EB) = Battery

voltage (in volts)* Amp-hours rating of battery*
Depth of Discharge (DOD) *η of battery *η of
inverter

• No of batteries required= EL /EB

 Batteries Required

• Energy required at load point (EL) = 565W*3h = 1695Wh

• Energy supplied by one battery (EB) = 12V*150Ah*0.7*0.9*0.7 =

793.8 Wh

• No of batteries required= EL /EB = 1695/793.8 = 2.13 = 2 Batteries

 Conclusion
• So if you want to run 3 fans, 3 tube lights , 1 CFL and
1 TV for 3 hours during power failure you would
need 800VA inverter and Two 12V,150 Ah
batteries.