Introduction to

Electric Power System

and A. C. Supply
 Course outcome
C403.1 : Determine electrical quantities of AC
supply and circuit parameters of R-L and R-C
circuits.
 Introduction
• In the day to day life, we use electrical power for various
applications including the domestic & industrial
applications.
• For most of the domestic applications, we use a single
phase ac supply.
• For high power industrial applications, the three phase ac
supply is used.
• For certain domestic applications such as telephones, the
dc supply is used.
• For certain applications such as electric trains, a high
voltage DC system is used.
Difference between AC & DC Quantities
Sr. Parameter AC DC
No.
1. Waveform

2. Definition It is a signal which It is a signal which changes

changes its magnitude as its magnitude but does not
well as polarity. change its polarity.
3. Use of Possible Not possible
transformer
4. Distribution High Low
efficiency
 Continued…
Sr. Parameter AC DC
No.
5. Design of Easy Not easy
machines
6. Generation Easy From the ac waveform
using commutator or
rectifier
7. Applications AC motors, domestic DC machines, HVDC
& industrial supply system
etc.
 Electrical Power Supply System
• The electrical power supply system can be
subdivided into three subsystems, as follows:
1. Generation system.
2. Transmission system.
3. Distribution system.
• The electrical energy generated by the generating
system is transmitted to the load centres by the
transmission system. This energy is then
distributed to the distribution system.
 Generating System
• The function of generating system is to
generate electrical energy.
• The input to such a system may be thermal
energy, hydro-energy or nuclear energy.
• The generating systems are broadly classified
into two types:
1. conventional system
2. Non-conventional system
 Conventional System
• Conventional generating systems are those which
take non-renewable source of energy as the raw
material. The conventional systems are classified as
follows:
1. Thermal system:
Converting heat energy of fuels like coal,
petrol etc. into electrical energy.
2. Hydroelectric system:
Converting potential energy of stored water
into electrical energy.
 Continued…
3. Nuclear system:
Converting heat obtained by
nuclear fission reaction into electrical energy.
4. Diesel electric system:
Converting energy stored in diesel
into electrical energy.
 Non-conventional System
• Non-conventional systems are those which
use renewable source of energy as the input.
• The non-conventional systems are classified as
follows:
1. Solar energy 2. Wind energy
3. Tidal energy 4. Energy from biogas etc.
Extra High Voltage Transmission System
(EHVAC)
• The increased demand of electricity needs more
generation of electrical power. As the generation
takes place at remote places, an efficient
distribution system is necessary.
• Fig. 1. shows the simplified block diagram of the
extra high voltage AC transmission system.
• This system can be broadly divided into two parts:
a. Transmission system.
b. Distribution system
 Step up transformer

132 kV

Step down transformer

33 kV

33 kV

400/230V

Fig. 1: Basic EHVAC system

 Transmission System
• Transmission system is further divided as:
1. Primary Transmission
2. Secondary Transmission.
1. Primary Transmission:
• As shown in fig. central station/ generation system generates
power using three phase alternators at 6.6/11/13.2/32kV.
• This voltage is then stepped up by suitable three phase
transformer, to 132 KV.
• This voltage is stepped down to 33 kV using step down
transformer which is at receiving station.
 Continued…
2. Secondary Transmission:
• From receiving station, power is then transmitted at
33 kV by underground cables to various substations
(ss) located at various points in the city.
• This known as secondary or low voltage
transmission.
• At the substations, this voltage is further reduced
from 33kV to 3.3/11kV, using step down
transformer.
 Distribution System
• Distribution system is further divided as:
1. Primary Distribution
2. Secondary Distribution.
1. Primary Distribution:
The output of substation at 3.3/11 kV can
be directly given to a customer whose
demand exceeds 50 kVA using special
feeders. This is primary distribution.
 Continued…
2. Secondary Distribution:
• The secondary distribution is done at
440/400/230 V.
• The reduction in the voltage level from 3.3kV to
400/230 V is done by the step down transformer
at the distribution substations.
 Types of Transmission & Distribution
System
• The transmission & distribution systems are
classified as:
1. AC System
2. DC System.
 AC Power Transmission
• AC power transmission is the transmission of
electric power by alternating current.
• Usually the transmission lines are three phase
AC current, whereas, in electric railways,
single phase AC current is sometimes used for
railway rectification system.
 Advantages of AC System
1. High voltage can be built-up.
2. The fluctuation in the voltage level as per
requirement can be done using step-up and
step-down transformers.
3. Maintenance cost of substations and generation
cost of AC voltage is low.
4. The motors used are simple in construction &
have low maintenance.
5. Maintenance of substation is cheap.
 Disadvantages of AC Systems
1. The initial set up is very expensive.
2. The resistance offered by the lines is high
which cause skin effect and thus leading to
voltage drop.
3. The AC lines are more sensitive to corona.
4. The AC lines even show losses due to
reactance offered by the line.
5. The speed of alternator requires to be
controlled.
 DC Power Transmission
• For many reasons power is generated, transmitted,
distributed and consumed as an alternating current. But, if
certain applications need the use of DC, the AC was
converted to DC locally by motor generator sets, rotary
converted to DC locally by motor generator sets, rotary
convertors etc.
• There are certain advantages or technical reasons too
associated with the DC system, which are as follows:
1. Due to large charging currents, the use of high voltages
AC for underground transmission over longer distance is
prohibited. But, for DC there is no such limitations.
 Continued…
2. Parallel operations of AC with DC increases
the stability limits of the system.
• A DC transmission line requires converters at
each end, i.e. at the sending end where AC is
converted into DC and at receiving end where
DC is again converted to AC for use.
 Advantages of DC Transmission
1. The line construction is simple. Hence, the line is cheaper
as compared to AC.
2. The power per conductor of DC is more as compared with
AC.
3. There is no charging current required because of which the
length of transmission is not limited and the cable need not
be derated.
4. The DC line is cheaper & simpler as it requires two
conductors instead of three.
5. High operating voltages possible.
6. No stability problem.
 Disadvantages of DC Transmission

1. Expensive converters.
2. The power transmitted can be used at lower
voltage only.
3. Voltage transformation is not easier in case of
DC and hence it has to be done on the AC
side of the system.
4. Circuit breaking for multi-terminal lines is
difficult.
Applications of DC Transmission
1. Long distance bulk power transmission.
2. Under ground or under water cables.
3. A synchronous interconnection of AC system
operating at different frequencies or where
independent control of systems is desired.
 Battery as DC Supply
• For many applications, we need to use a low
voltage DC source. The
“battery” is used as DC power supply for such
applications.
• The batteries can be of different types as:
1. Lead acid battery. 2. Nickel cadmium battery.
3. Dry battery. 4. Maintenance free battery.
 Continued…
V v1 v2 v3 v4

(a) Symbol (b) Batteries in series

v1 v2 v3 v4

(c) Batteries in parallel

 Continued…
• Fig. (a) shows the symbol of a battery.
• As shown in fig. (b), we can connect batteries in series
so as to increase the terminal voltage whereas they can
be connected in parallel as shown in fig. (c) so as to
increase the current sourcing capacity.
• Applications:
1. Torch
2. Radio, music system, laptop, computers.
3. Cars, two wheelers & other vehicles.
4. UPS system.
 Utilization of Electrical Power
• The electrical power has number of applications or utilization
areas . It is used in domestic as well as industrial applications.
• Following are some of the applications of electrical power:
1. Domestic applications such as lighting, fans, heaters, irons,
TV etc.
2. AC & DC motor drives.
3. Machine tool applications.
4. Electrically operated vehicles, trains, cars.
5. Welding
6. Induction heating & dielectric heating.
7. Electroagro systems.