Introduction to

Fundamental Concepts
of Electric Distribution
System
Electric Distribution Systems (2nd Edition), Abdelhay A. Sallam,
OM P. Malik, 2019
https://ieeexplore-ieee-org.libezproxy.um.edu.mo/book/8538803
Contents
⚫ Power System Structure

⚫ Distribution System

⚫ Power system in Macau

2
Power System

A power system contains all electric equipment necessary for supplying the
consumers with electric energy, which support all or some of the following
operations:
⚫ Electricity generation
⚫ Electric power transmission
⚫ Electricity distribution
⚫ Electricity control

3
Power System
Conventional power grid relies on the centralized generation and bulky
power transmission

4
Electricity production
⚫ Global power generation rose by 2.3% in 2022, in line
with its historical trend (+2.5%/year over 2010-2019)

5
Electricity generation by source,
OECD, 2000-2020
⚫ Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

6
Electricity generation by source, OECD, 2000-2020 – Charts – Data & Statistics - IEA
Power System Equipment
A power system contains all electric equipment necessary for
supplying the consumers with electric energy. Includes：
• Generators
⚫ Electricity is produced in power plants owned by an electric utility or an
independent supplier
• Transformers (step-up and step-down)
⚫ Transmission system: voltage is to transmit the power over long distances
under the most economical conditions
⚫ Distribution system: voltage is reduced to the consumer level
• Transmission lines, Subtransmission lines, cables
⚫ delivery of power to load centers
• Switchgear
Voltage Level and Distance

8
Overhead Lines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sMfrxdJfn8

Overhead Lines 9
Underground Cable

10
Cables

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Single-line Diagram
• The physical representation of power system needs to be expressed by a
schematic diagram adequate for analyzing the system.
• This figure illustrates two power systems connected together by using tie-
links as they exist in real practice to increase system reliability and
decrease the probability of load loss.
• The voltage values shown are in accordance with the standards of North
American power systems.
Microgrid
⚫ Distributed generation and energy storage

13
 Use of electricity
Electricity consumption in the United States was about 3.9 trillion
kilowatthours (kWh) in 2021

Electricity consumption in the Macau was about 5.6 billion kilowatthours

(kWh) in 2021

14
Use of electricity - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Contents
⚫ Power System Structure

⚫ Distribution System

⚫ Power system in Macau

15
Distribution Level

⚫ The first part

⚫ power stations

⚫ The second part

⚫ Transmission and
subtransmission systems

⚫ The third part

⚫ Distribution system

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Electricity supply to a big city

⚫ The first part: the power stations, is often located far away
from the city zones and sometimes near the city border

⚫ The second part: transmission and subtransmission systems.

⚫ Overhead transmission lines and cables can be used for both
systems.
⚫ The terminal and zone substations are located along the
boundary of the city.
⚫ This allows the planner to avoid the risk of going through
the city by lines that operate at HV or EHV.
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Urban Distribution System

⚫ Distribution system: the total area of the city is divided into a

number of subareas depending on the geographic situation
and the load (amount and nature) within each subarea.
⚫ The subtransmission lines end at the zone substations where
the voltage is stepped down to supply the MV distribution
network at different distribution points (DPs) as primary
feeders.
⚫ The distribution is fed from the zone substation and designed
for each subarea to provide the consumers with electricity at
LV by using local transformers.
Example

Ergon Energy, “Distribution Feeder Database 2010,” Collected Information from Ergon Energy,
2010.
Voltage Level
⚫ The voltage choice depends on the type of load (residential,
commercial, industrial), load size, and the distance at which
the load is located.
⚫ North American
⚫ European Systems
Comparison of North American
and European Systems

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Distribution System
Configurations
⚫ Configuration of the distribution networks follows one or a
combination of the following standard systems:
⚫ radial system where the load is supplied through one radial
feeder;
⚫ open- ring system where the load is supplied through one of
two available feeders, that is, one side of the ring;
(Interconnected Distribution )
⚫ closed - ring system where the load is supplied through the
two sides of the ring simultaneously;
⚫ dual-ring system in which the load is connected with two
rings at the same time, that is, it has four incoming feeders
⚫ Multi-radial system, which means supplying the load by
more than one radial feeder.
 Radial Distribution System
⚫ Power flow is in only one direction.
⚫ It is the simplest system and has the lowest initial cost.
⚫ Low reliability: a fault in the feeder will result in supply failure to
associated consumers as there won't be any alternative feeder

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https://www.electricaleasy.com/2018/02/radial-parallel-ring-main-interconneted-distribution.html
MV Supply Network with Parallel
Feeders
⚫ The initial cost of this system is much more as the number of
feeders is doubled.
⚫ Such system may be used where reliability of the supply is
important or for load sharing where the load is higher.

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Interconnected Distribution System
⚫ Open Ring System
⚫ Energized by two or more substations or generating stations.
⚫ Ensures reliability in an event of transmission failure.
⚫ Any area fed from one generating stations during peak load hours can
be fed from the other generating station or substation.

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 Close Ring System
⚫ The feeders in this system form a loop which starts from the substation bus-
bars, runs through the load area feeding distribution transformers and returns
to the substation bus-bars.
⚫ There are fewer voltage fluctuations at consumer's terminal.
⚫ The system is very reliable as each distribution transformer is fed with two
feeders. In the event of a fault in any section of the feeder, the continuity of the
supply is ensured from the alternative path.

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Distribution systems
⚫ Power quality disturbances generally take place in
distribution systems.
⚫ More loads are served
⚫ Radial connection
⚫ Remote from generation sources
⚫ Utility Distribution systems and their equipments
⚫ Distribution substations
⚫ Primary distribution feeders
⚫ Over current Protection of distribution circuits
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Distribution substations
⚫ Distribution substations contain:
⚫ Transformers
⚫ Switchgears (circuit breakers, fuses, electrical disconnects)
⚫ Size: 5MVA – more than 100MVA
⚫ Output voltage lower than 35kV

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Oneline diagram of a rural distribution substation
Typical distribution Substation

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Urban distribution substation

Transformer:
20MVA or higher

Each transformer
can serve all the
loads.

Serve:
Four or more
feeders

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Indoor substation

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Power Distribution in Buildings

32
https://www.factomart.com.sg/power-distribution/overview/
 Power Distribution in Buildings

http://f2energy.com/electrical-power-systems-in-buildings/
33
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNBfppriDjc
Three-phase power systems
⚫ Commercial and industrial facilities
⚫ It is efficient and makes the equipment run more
smoothly than single-phase.
⚫ Motors: elevator, pump, .

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 Three-phase four-wire system
⚫ Distribution system
⚫ System of AC supply comprising four conductors
⚫ Three are connected as in a three-phase, three-wire system
⚫ The fourth being connected to the neutral point of the supply,
which may be grounded.

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 Single phase system
⚫ Residential service
⚫ Consist of two or three wires

36

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_AC_power_plugs_and_sockets
Mains voltages and frequencies
around the world

37
http://www.sensorcentral.com/worldsupport/standards12.php
 Neutral and Ground

https://scottiestech.info/2009/05/16/the-difference-between-neutral-
and-earth-ground-in-ac-installations/
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Contents
⚫ Power System Structure

⚫ Distribution System

⚫ Power system in Macau

39
Power Grid in Macau

AREA: 32.9 km2

Density: 21,340/km2 (1st)
POPULATION : 667,400

2021 全年用电量 5649 GWh （内地购入约92%）

2021 最高负荷 1037 MW

光伏入网电价: 大约 RMB 2.50 / kWh （500kW以上）

BIPV
41
Reconfiguration of Distribution Network

Optimize Power Flow

Key problems:
• How?

Demand in
Commercial Area
Demand in
Residential Area

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Reconfiguration of Distribution Network

Traditional solution: reconfiguration Open Close

Source 1 Source 2 Source 1 Source 2 Source 1 Source 2

11kV 11kV 11kV

S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 S2
Ope
Loop closing Loop opening n
operation operation Point

Ope
n
Point Large loop closing current ！ 2019 in Macau - Protection device operation 43
- Circuit breaker tripped
2020 in Macau - Protection device operation
- Circuit breaker tripped
Photovoltaic Generation System

▪ PV panels is one of the renewable energy sources

▪ Building-integrated PV system
▪ 第20/2014號行政法規 2015年1月生效
 太陽能光伏並網安全和安裝規章

▪ 光伏入網電價
 PV Generation System at UM
• PV generation system Capacity: 2.975 kW (17 panels)

• 参照第20/2014號行政法規 《太陽能光伏並網安全和安裝規章》

• Annual Electricity: 3000 kWh

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The End!