Introduction to Power Sytem

Lecture 1
Instructor: Gary W. Chang
2007. 03. 05

Diagram of the Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution System

Power Generation Plant to Transmission Line

A power generation plant is a facility designed to produce
electric energy from another form of energy, such as:
- Heat (thermal) energy generated from:
fossil fuels;
coal
petroleum
natural gas

solar thermal energy

geothermal energy
nuclear energy

- Potential energy from falling water in a hydroelectric facility

- Wind energy
- Solar electric from solar (photovoltaic) cells
- Chemical energy from:
fuel cells
batteries

Major types generating electric power today

Fossil fuel power plant

Solar thermal power plant

Nuclear power plant

Wind power towers

Hydroelectric power plant

Geothermal power plant

 A substation is a high-voltage electric system

facility. It is used to switch generators, equipment,
and circuits or lines in and out of a system. It also is
used to change AC voltages from one level to
another, and/or change alternating current to direct
current or direct current to alternating current.
Some substations are small with little more than a
transformer and associated switches. Others are
very large with several transformers and dozens of
switches and other equipment. There are three
aspects to substations:

Typical substation

 Substation Types: Although, there are generally

four types of substations there are substations
that are a combination of two or more types.
Step-up Transmission Substation
Step-down Transmission Substation
Distribution Substation
Underground Distribution Substation
Substation Functions
Substation Equipment

A step-up transmission substation receives electric power from a nearby generating

facility and uses a large power transformer to increase the voltage for transmission to
distant locations. A transmission bus is used to distribute electric power to one or
more transmission lines. There can also be a tap on the incoming power feed from
the generation plant to provide electric power to operate equipment in the generation
plant.
A substation can have circuit breakers that are used to switch generation and
transmission circuits in and out of service as needed or for emergencies requiring
shut-down of power to a circuit or redirection of power.
The specific voltages leaving a step-up transmission substation are determined by
the customer needs of the utility supplying power and to the requirements of any
connections to regional grids. Typical voltages are:
High voltage (HV) ac:69 kV, 115 kV, 138 kV, 161 kV, 230 kV
Extra-high voltage (EHV) ac:345 kV, 500 kV, 765 kV
Ultra-high voltage (UHV) ac:1100 kV, 1500 kV
Direct-current high voltage (dc HV): 250 kV, 400 kV, 500 kV

Direct current voltage is either positive or negative polarity. A DC line has two
conductors, so one would be positive and the other negative.

Step-up AC transmission substation

Step-up transmission substation to

AC transmission lines

 Step-down transmission substations are located

at switching points in an electrical grid. They
connect different parts of a grid and are a source
for subtransmission lines or distribution lines.
The step-down substation can change the
transmission voltage to a subtransmission
voltage, usually 69 kV. The subtransmission
voltage lines can then serve as a source to
distribution substations. Sometimes, power is
tapped from the subtransmission line for use in
an industrial facility along the way. Otherwise,
the power goes to a distribution substation.

Step-down transmission substation

Step-down power transformer

Distribution Substation
Distribution substations are located near to the end-users.
Distribution substation transformers change the
transmission or subtransmission voltage to lower levels for
use by end-users. Typical distribution voltages vary from
34,500Y/19,920 volts to 4,160Y/2400 volts.
34,500Y/19,920 volts is interpreted as a three-phase circuit
with a grounded neutral source. This would have three
high-voltage conductors or wires and one grounded neutral
conductor, a total of four wires. The voltage between the
three phase conductors or wires would be 34,500 volts and
the voltage between one phase conductor and the neutral
ground would be 19,920 volts.
From here the power is distributed to industrial,
commercial, and residential customers.

Distribution substation

Underground Distribution Substation

Underground distribution substations are also located
near to the end-users. Distribution substation
transformers change the subtransmission voltage to
lower levels for use by end-users. Typical distribution
voltages vary from 34,500Y/19,920 volts to 4,160Y/2400
volts.

Underground Distribution Substation

Substations are designed to accomplish the following functions, although

not all substations have all these functions:

Change voltage from one level to another

Regulate voltage to compensate for system voltage changes

Switch transmission and distribution circuits into and out of the grid system

Measure electric power qualities flowing in the circuits

Connect communication signals to the circuits

Eliminate lightning and other electrical surges from the system

Connect electric generation plants to the system

Make interconnections between the electric systems of more than one utility

Control reactive kilovolt-amperes supplied to and the flow of reactive kilovoltamperes in the circuits

Transmission Lines
Transmission lines carry electric energy from one point
to another in an electric power system. They can carry
alternating current or direct current or a system can be a
combination of both. Also, electric current can be carried
by either overhead or underground lines. The main
characteristics that distinguish transmission lines from
distribution lines are that they are operated at relatively
high voltages, they transmit large quantities of power
and they transmit the power over large distances.
The types of transmission lines are:
Overhead Transmission Lines
Subtransmission Lines
Underground Transmission Lines

Overhead Transmission Lines

Some typical transmission line structures

Transmission lines above

subtransmission below

345 kv transmission lines

Double set of transmission lines side by side

DC voltage transmission lines

Subtransmission Lines

Subtransmission lines carry voltages

reduced from the major transmission line
system. Typically, 34.5 kv to 69 kv, this
power is sent to regional distribution
substations. Sometimes the
subtransmission voltage is tapped along
the way for use in industrial or large
commercial operations. Some utilities
categorize these as transmission lines.

Subtransmission lines with distribution

primaries and secondaries

Subtransmission lines

Subtransmission lines
with distribution underbuild

Underground Transmission Lines

Underground transmission lines are more

common in populated areas. They may be
buried with no protection, or placed in
conduit, trenches, or tunnels.

Transmission lines are installed in a tunnel,

which enables many circuits in a limited area.

Heat is generated when electricity flows through cables,

limiting the power transmission capacity in tunnels. To
increase the capacity, a tunnel cooling system can be
installed. The system above circulates cold
water through the tunnels.

Transmission line laid

in a trench

Cable installation of underground transmission line

Cable snaking through underground transmission tunnel

Cross section of underground transmission line

Underground transmission line tunnel

Distribution Systems
A distribution system originates at a distribution
substation and includes the lines, poles,
transformers and other equipment needed to
deliver electric power to the customer at the
required voltages. Customers are classed as:
Industrial Customer
Commercial Customer
Residential Customer
Transportation Customer

 A distribution system consists of all the facilities and

equipment connecting a transmission system to the
customer's equipment.
A typical distribution system can consist of:
Substations
Distribution Feeder Circuits
Switches
Protective Equipment
Primary Circuits
Distribution Transformers
Secondaries, and
Services

Energy flow through a typical substation

Typical residential service drop

Distribution primaries and secondaries

on subtransmission pole

Industrial Customer
Most industries need 2,400 to 4,160 volts to run heavy machinery
and usually their own substation or substations to reduce the voltage
from the transmission line to the desired level for distribution
throughout the plant area. They usually require 3-phase lines to
power 3-phase motors.

Industrial facility
distribution transformer

Commercial Customer
Commercial customers are usually served at
distribution voltages, ranging from 14.4 kV to 7.2
kV through a service drop line which leads from
a transformer on or near the distribution pole to
the customer's end use structure. They may
require 3-phase lines to power 3-phase motors.

Commercial service drop

Distribution transformer to
3-phase service - commercial facility

Residential Customer
The distribution electricity is reduced to the end use
voltage (120/240 volts single phase) via a pole mounted
or pad-mounted transformer. Power is delivered to the
residential customer through a service drop line which
leads from the distribution pole transformer to the
customer's structure, for overhead lines, or underground.

Residential distribution transformer and service drop

Pad-mounted residential distribution transformer

Transportation Customer
Currently the only electric transportation systems are
light rail and subway systems. A small distribution
substation reduces the local distribution voltage to the
transportation system requirements. The overhead lines
supply electric power to the transportation system
motors and the return current lines are connected to the
train tracks.

Public transit train powered

by overhead electric lines

Electric cables carry electricity

to power the train's motors