Introduction to Electrical Engineering

Course code: 22ESC143

Module-1:
Introduction: Conventional and non-conventional energy resources; General structure of electrical power
systems using single line diagram approach.

Power Generation: Hydel, Nuclear, Solar & wind power generation (Block Diagram approach).

DC Circuits: Ohm’s Law and its limitations. KCL & KVL, series, parallel, series-parallel circuits. Simple
Numerical.
Conventional and non conventional
energy sources
• The ability of a body to perform work is known as
energy.

• In our daily life, we use a number of sources of

energy for doing work.

• Energy is one of the most important components of

economic infrastructure.

• In a developing economy, the energy demand is

high from sectors like agriculture, industry,
residential and economical. Energy resources are
very much necessary for the existence of mankind.
 Conventional Energy sources
 The sources of energy that are being used for many years and
are available in nature are called conventional energy sources.
 Conventional energy sources are accepted as fuel to produce
electricity, light, heat, etc.
 Generally, the conventional energy sources are non-renewable
sources of energy which means they are present in limited
quantity in the nature and their formation need long time (many
years).
 As the conventional sources of energy are used on a large scale,
thus their reserves have been depleting day by day.

 Some common examples of conventional energy sources are

coal, petroleum, natural gas firewood, and other fossil fuels, etc.
 Non conventional energy sources
 The non-conventional energy sources are the sources of energy
which are new and used as the alternative of conventional energy
sources.
 The non-renewable energy sources achieved popularity in recent
years and nowadays, these are being used on a large scale.
 The two most significant advantages of non-conventional energy
sources are that they are renewable and pollution free.
 These are renewable because present in abundance in nature
and being regularly generated in short time.

 Some common examples of non-conventional energy sources are

sun, wind, biogas, biomass, etc.
Differences
Differences (continued…)
GENERAL STRUCTURE OF ELECTRICAL POWER
SYSTEMS USING SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM
APPROACH
 Definition: A single-line diagram (SLD), also sometimes called
one-line diagram. Single line diagram is the representation of
a power system using the simple symbol for each component.
 The single line diagram of a power system is the network
which shows the main connections and arrangement of the
system components along with their data (such as output
rating, voltage, resistance and reactance, etc.).
 In the single line diagram, the system component is usually
drawn in the form of their symbols. Generator and transformer
connections, star, delta and neutral earthing are indicated by
symbols drawn by the side of the representation of these
elements.
Fig: Various symbols in a single line diagram
 Circuit breakers are represented by rectangular blocks.
 The figure shown represents the single line diagram of a typical
block system The electrical energy is produced at generating
stations, and through the transmission network, it is transmitted to
the consumers.
 Between the generating stations and the distribution stations, three
different levels of voltage (transmission, sub-transmission and
distribution level of voltage) are used.
 The high voltage is required for long distance transmission and, the
low voltage is required for utility purposes.
 The voltage level is going on decreasing from the transmission
system to the distribution system.
 Power Generation
1. HYDEL POWER GENERATION:
 Generation of electricity by hydropower (potential energy in stored
water) is one of the cleanest methods of producing electric power.
 In 2012, hydroelectric power plants contributed about 16% of total
electricity generation of the world.
 Hydroelectricity is the most widely used form of renewable energy.
 It is a flexible source of electricity and also the cost of electricity
generation is relatively low
 Hydroelectric Power Plant is a system in dams and works by obstructing
the river flow which causes to increase and store water in the Dams. This
is Potential Energy. The water is made to fall from a height which
constitutes Kinetic Energy. This Kinetic Energy is then converted to
Mechanical Energy by the Turbines. Generator is responsible in
converting this Mechanical Energy from the Turbine into Electrical Energy.
Basic components of hydro power plants are:
 Dam and Reservoir: The dam is constructed on a large river in hilly areas to ensure sufficient water
storage at height. The dam forms a large reservoir behind it. The height of water level (called as water
head) in the reservoir determines how much of potential energy is stored in it.
 Control Gate: Water from the reservoir is allowed to flow through the penstock to the turbine. The amount
of water which is to be released in the penstock can be controlled by a control gate. When the control gate
is fully opened, maximum amount of water is released through the penstock.
 Penstock: A penstock is a huge steel pipe which carries water from the reservoir to the turbine. Potential
energy of the water is converted into kinetic energy as it flows down through the penstock due to gravity.
 Water Turbine: Water from the penstock is taken into the water turbine. The turbine is mechanically
coupled to an electric generator. Kinetic energy of the water drives the turbine and consequently the
generator gets driven.
There are two main types of water turbine;
(i) Impulse turbine
(ii) Reaction turbine.
Impulse turbines are used for large heads and reaction turbines are used for low and medium heads.
 Generator: A generator is mounted in the power house and it is mechanically coupled to the turbine shaft.
When the turbine blades are rotated, it drives the generator and electricity is generated which is then
stepped up with the help of a transformer for the transmission purpose.
 Surge Tank: Surge tanks are usually provided in high or medium head power plants when considerably
long penstock is required. A surge tank is a small reservoir or tank which is open at the top. It is fitted
between the reservoir and the power house. The water level in the surge tank rises or falls to reduce the
pressure swings in the penstock. When there is sudden reduction in load on the turbine, the governor
closes the gates of the turbine to reduce the water flow. This causes pressure to increase abnormally in the
penstock. This is prevented by using a surge tank, in which the water level rises to reduce the pressure. On
the other hand, the surge tank provides excess water needed when the gates are suddenly opened to meet
the increased load demand.
Applications of Hydro Electric Power Plant:
• Unlike other source of energy, Hydroelectric Power
Plant helps in generating Eco Friendly Energy.
• They help in creating Recreational Facilities.
• It also helps in Flood Risk Management.
• The water from the dam is used for Agricultural
Irrigation Facility.
• It helps in generating revenue as the location of the
Plant creates a tourist spot.
Advantages
 Supply of electric power is maintained consistently.
 The water can be stored and used when the demand is high.
 The longevity of the dams is high which helps in generating electricity
at lower cost.
 While constructing the dam, a lake is formed from the reserve water.
This can be converted into a tourist attraction or for water sports.
 The Hydroelectric Power generation is renewable and is eco-friendly.
Disadvantages
 The constructions of dams are very expensive since it’s in a large scale and
has to be well protected. Any slight damage will create a huge destruction
not just in the dam but also around its vicinity.
 The returns on the cost invested on the dams can only be got after a long
time. Hence the dam has to be operational for many years to be profitable.
 At the time of building a hydroelectric power dam, the habitants in and
around the area are moved out of their houses and the business. This
creates a disturbance.
 Construction of these dams creates geological damages. Eg, During the
construction of Hoover Dam in USA, there was a lot of damages through
earthquake and depression on the earth’s surface.
 Dams create a kind of disturbance with neighboring states or countries
which connects the rivers. Since the dams are created by blocking the river
which creates an irregular supply of water.
Wind power plant

 Wind energy is a natural form of energy that is capable of producing

electrical or mechanical forces.
 Windmills or wind turbines are devices that are capable of converting
the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy.
 This mechanical energy is further converted into electrical energy.
Following are the
different parts of
the wind turbine:
1. Blades
2. The rotor
3. Nacelle
4. A gearbox and
coupling
(transmission
system)
5. Aeroturbine
6. Controller
7. Electrical
generator
8. Supporting
structure.
Working of a wind power plant
 The wind turbines or wind generators use the power of the wind which they turn
into electricity. The speed of the wind turns the blades of a rotor (between 10 and
25 turns per minute), a source of mechanical energy. The rotor then turns on a
generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity.
 As the wind blows, a wind turbine converts the kinetic energy of the wind’s motion
into mechanical energy by the rotation of the rotor and this mechanical energy is
transmitted by the shaft to the generator through the gear train. The generator
converts this mechanical energy into electrical energy, thereby generating the
electricity.
 An electric motor orientates the nacelle so that its rotor is placed facing into the
wind. Each turbine is made up of a mast between 20 m and 100 m according to the
power of the machines. The mast supports the rotor usually equipped with three
blades, and the nacelle which contains the generator with electrical and mechanical
back-up.
 Wind turbines are designed for wind speeds of between 14 and 90 km/hour. Above
that, the braking mechanism automatically stops the turbine for the safety of the
equipment and to minimize wear and tear. Modern wind turbines supply their
normal power at around 50 km/h.
 A wind turbine is connected to the electricity network via a transformer located at
the base of the mast. The electricity produced is generally stepped up to the
voltage of the network (20 kV), then it passes through a delivery substation before
being fed into the distribution or electrical transport network.
Factors Affecting the Distribution of Wind Energy
The power output of the wind turbines can be increased by turning the head in such a way that the blades face the
wind, this can be done with a wind direction sensor connected with a motorized head moving mechanism (or yaw).

Following are some factors which affect the distribution of wind energy:
1. Wind speed.
2. Good road access to the site.
3. Suitable region and geology for onsite access.
4. Low pollution density.
5. Minimum risk of agroforestry operations.
6. Nearness to the electrical grid.
7. Supportive landholders.
8. Privately owned freehold land.
9. Good industrial support for construction and ongoing operation.
10. High annual average wind speed.
11. Height of the windmill.
12. The altitude of the site.
13. A smooth steady wind speed that should blow all the time.
14. Government policy.
15. Demand for electricity.
16. Icing problems, salt spray or blowing dust should present at the site.
17. Blade aerodynamics.
18. Obstructions
19. Air temperature.
Applications of wind power
 It is used for pumping the water.
 It is used for generating electricity.
 Used for running the floor mill.
 It is used to lift the water for irrigation purpose.
 It is used for milling and grinding applications.
Advantages
 Wind energy is a renewable energy source.
 It does not require any fuels and avoids transportation.
 Free from pollution helps in maintaining ecological balance.
 It is very economical and competitive.
 High altitude areas which are isolated from public use can be
utilized for setting the windmill.
 The small plot of land is required.
 It does not require water.
 Free from risks associated with volatile fossil fuel.
Disadvantages

 Continuous power generation is not possible due to

fluctuation.
 Noisy in operation during the conversion of energy.
 It requires a larger area.
 It needs high storage capacity due to its irregularity.
 Wind energy systems have a high overall weight
 These systems require proper maintenance.
 Solar power generation
 Solar energy is the most abundant, renewable energy
source in the world.
 Solar energy systems refer to technologies that
convert the sun’s heat or light to another form of
energy for use
 There are two categories of technologies that harness
solar energy, Solar Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal.
 As sunlight falls over a solar cell, a large number of photons strike
the p-type region of silicon.
 Electron and hole pair will get separated after absorbing the
energy of photon.
 The electron travels from p-type region to n-type region due to
the action of electric field at p-n junction.
 Further the diode is reversed biased to increase this electric field.
 So this current starts flowing in the circuit for individual solar cell.
 We combine the current of all the solar cells of a solar panel, to
get a significant output.
 Solar power plant has a large number of solar panels connected
to each other to get a large voltage output.
 The electrical energy coming from the combined effort of solar
panels is stored in the Lithium ion batteries to be supplied at
night time, when there is no sunlight.
Advantages of solar energy
 Most clean and renewable source of energy.
 It is available in abundance and endless.
 It provides electricity at low cost, as fuel is free.
 With new research in this sector we now have a good
power storage solution.
 Keeping in mind the pollution and cost of fossil fuel,
it’s becoming the most reliable source of clean
energy.
Disadvantages
 It requires a lot of land to be captured forever.
 Initial cost of installation is too high.
 The energy storage options are not efficient and
moreover costly if efficient.
 Power production is quite low as compared to
nuclear or other resources to produce power.
 There is a problem if it is cloudy for few days.
 Their production causes pollution.
Applications

 Solar power plant is powering cities in most efficient

manner.
 Solar panels could be used to generate electricity
individually for each house especially in remote
areas.
Nuclear power plant
 A nuclear power plant is a facility that converts atomic
energy into usable power.
 Nuclear power plants are responsible for generating
electricity.
 Nuclear energy now provides about 11% of the world’s
electricity from about 450 power reactors.
 The heat produced by a reactor is generally used to drive
a turbine which in turn drives an electric generator.
 The nuclear power plant provides the energy that can be
successfully employed for producing low-cost electrical
energy on a large scale to meet the growing commercial
and industrial demands.
Main parts:
• Nuclear reactor
• Heat exchanger
• Steam turbine
• Alternator
• Condenser and cooling tower
• Feedwater heater
 Nuclear power plant operation
 The nuclear reactor’s function is to produce heat at high temperatures. For
producing heat the reactor uses, nuclear fuel which is uranium or thorium,
when the slowly moving neutrons hit the nuclear fuel it produces heat. This
heat passes to the heat exchanger; another input to this heat exchanger is
heated water. The water is heated with the help of the feed water heater.
 The main function of the heat exchanger is to produce steam at high
pressure. As the nuclear power plant diagram shows, this high-pressure
steam passes to the steam turbine.
 When this steam flows towards the turbine it starts rotating, the turbine and
alternator are coupled mechanically. By using a transformer, the electricity
which is produced can be increased to use in long-distance communication.
Simultaneously alternator starts rotating and producing electricity that
flows out to the power grid, and our homes, shops, offices, and factories.
The exhaust hot steam is passed to the condenser, where it is condensed
by using the cooling tower, and it is again passing to the heat exchanger
through the feed water heater. This process is continued.
 Applications
 Generating electric energy
 Desalination of ocean water
 Production of hydrogen
 District cooling/heating
 Remove the tertiary oil resources
 Heat process applications like cogeneration, conversion
of coal to liquids.
 Helping the chemical feedstock synthesis
Advantages

 It produces a large amount of energy

 It produces low pollution
Disadvantages
 Radioactive waste that results from nuclear power plants
and nuclear reactions is a big threat to the environment.
 It involves huge investment and is not economical.
 Requires skilled laborers to construct, maintain and
monitor the nuclear plant
 It is not a form of renewable energy.
 It causes ill effect on human health and causes huge
damage when nuclear accidents take place