Electricity Supply

In brief

By Rivindu Hettiarachchi

Introduction

Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy Electricity is most often generated at a power station by electromechanical generators, driven by heat engines fueled by chemical combustion or nuclear fission kinetic energy of flowing water and wind other technologies like solar photovoltaic and geothermal power.

Electricity Generation

Electromagnetic induction is the production of voltage across a conductor moving through a magnetic field. It underlies the operation of generators, transformers, etc. Electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electrons in the windings to flow through the external electrical circuit.

The two main parts of a generator or motor can be described in either mechanical or electrical terms: Mechanical:

Electrical:

Rotor: The rotating part of an electrical machine Stator: The stationary part of an electrical machine

Armature: The power-producing component of an electrical machine. In a generator, alternator, or dynamo the armature windings generate the electric current. The armature can be on either the rotor or the stator. Field: The magnetic field component of an electrical machine. The magnetic field of the dynamo or alternator can be provided by either electromagnets or permanent magnets mounted on either the rotor or the stator.

The reverse conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done by an electric motor

Distribution network

Power Distribution

Single-phase electric power refers to the distribution of alternating current electric power using a system in which all the voltages of the supply vary in jointly. Single-phase distribution is used when loads are mostly lighting and heating, with few large electric motors. Three-phase system, the currents in each conductor reach their peak instantaneous values sequentially, in each cycle of the power frequency, first one, then the second, then the third current reaches its maximum value.

The waveforms of the three supply conductors are offset from one another in time (delayed in phase) by one-third of their period.

3 phase distribution model

Supply in to the house

The local electricity board will bring the electric service cable up to the house. In present day the electrical supply might have entered the house at high level, but in the future a house will usually receive its power via an underground cable. The incoming supply cable will usually terminate in a cabinet placed on the outside of the dwelling, in order to make it easier for the electricity board to read the meter (and cut off the supply). The consumer unit, however, will remain inside the house. The incoming service cable terminates in a sealed unit (the service head) which contains the electricity boards fuse. The fuse is designed to blow if there is a serious fault and the fuses/circuit breakers in the consumer unit have failed to operate. This fuse is not accessible to the householder.

Consumer Unit

The consumer unit (sometimes referred to as the fusebox) contains the mains switch which can isolate all of the circuits in the house. It also contains the fuses and/or circuit breakers and it is from here that the individual circuits providing light and power are distributed. Each circuit will have its own fuse/circuit breaker, the size of which will depend on the anticipated load. There will usually be only one consumer unit per dwelling. An exception might be where space heating is provided by electric storage radiators, in which case there will be a separate consumer unit for this system, as well as a separate meter (as the electrical supply is via off peak electricity).

Fuses

Fuses are located in the consumer unit and there is one for each circuit in the house. Fuses are designed to be the weak link in the chain, and are meant to fail before anything serious occurs to the electrical circuit. Re-wirable

Although outdated, these may still be found in older houses. They usually consist of a tinnedcopper wire. These fuses have the advantage that when they are blown the fact is obvious. Disadvantages

fuse wire itself can deteriorate over time and blow without reason. householders can use a higher rating fuse wire, or indeed, a metal wire that is not a fuse wire at all.

Cartridge

These consist of a wire element encased in a cartridge which is filled with particles of sand or a similar mineral. The wire element is secured to metal caps at each end of the cartridge in order to continue the electrical contact. A cartridge has the advantage of being easier to replace than fuse wire. Perhaps more importantly, it reacts more quickly to excess current than fuse wire. The cartridges are colour coded: red 30amp, blue 15amp, white 30amp. This type of fuse is also found in plugs. To aid correct selection the fuses are also colour coded. For example, a red (3amp) fuse is suitable for a plug connected to a radio or fridge but a brown (13amp) fuse is required for electric fires, washing machines and electric kettles. In modern circuits a device known as a miniature circuit breaker has superseded traditional fuses. An mcb performs the same function as a fuse but when a fault occurs a switch is turned off, thus isolating the circuit. When the fault is remedied the circuit breaker can be switched back on to complete the circuit again. Miniature circuit breakers are more expensive than fuses but are more reliable and are quicker to respond to a fault.

Miniature circuit breaker (mcb)

Electric wiring layout

Radial system.

In this arrangement individual cables were fed from the fuse box to one or more socket outlets. These circuits would be wired and fused for differing purposes, i.e.

One circuit intended for small electrical equipment, One circuit for larger equipment.

Ring main supply

Allow the larger number of electrical appliances, both portable and stationary, Electric cable comprising the live, neutral and earth wires runs from the fuse in the consumer unit, serving each socket or appliance in turn, and returning in a ring to the consumer unit. Usually, there is a separate ring for each floor. Power can flow either way around the ring, hence the load on the cable is reduced, thereby permitting smaller cable size. Total load for a ring main or ring circuit is usually 30amps. It is unlikely that all the sockets will be used at any one time, but if this load is exceeded the fuse in the consumer unit will blow. There can be any number of socket outlets running off one ring circuit, although the floor area that can be served by one circuit should be no more than 100m2. Ring mains have the advantage over the older radial circuits in that additional sockets can be added at any time.

Layout cont..

Apart from the ring main there are usually separate radial circuits where the cable terminates at the last outlet rather than returning in a ring- running from the consumer unit to supply appliances which are permanently connected, and which take a relatively high load (and therefore require a higher rated cable).

Examples of these include cookers, electric showers and immersion heaters fitted to hot water cylinders.

To avoid the possible expense of diverting the ring to isolated areas, sockets or appliances may also be served by a radial supply taken off the ring circuit. This is referred to as a spur. There are restrictions on the number of spurs on one ring (to avoid overloading), and a spur can only supply one socket, which can be a twin outlet, or one fixed appliance. Fixed appliances (such as a wall-mounted heater) are fed from a fused connection box. On a simple ring main the cable loops in and loops out of each socket. A spur, of course, would only loop in.

Layout cont.

In a modern house the lighting is kept separate from the power circuit. As with a ring main there are usually two circuits, typically one for each floor, in order that if a fuse blows the whole house is not plunged into darkness. The wiring is taken to the lights in a loop in system. The cable runs from the consumer unit to each lighting rose in turn, where it is looped into the terminal of each light (instead of a junction box). A length of the same size cable then connects to the switch, which in turn operates the light. Unlike the power circuit the cable does not normally return to the consumer unit (lights do not consume a lot of power), and, in this sense, it can be considered to be a radial system. Lighting circuits are normally protected by a 5amp fuse or MCB in the consumer circuit. This will carry the load of 12 no 100-watt bulbs.

Typical layout

Ring circuit

GF Electricity supply

UF Electricity supply

Any Questions?
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