Distribution System

Mayank Goyal
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering
Introduction
• That part of power system which distributes electric power for local
use is known as distribution system.
• In general, the distribution system is the electrical system between
the sub-station fed by the transmission system and the consumers
meters.

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Parts of Distribution System

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• A typical power distribution system consists of -
• Distribution substation
• Feeders
• Distribution Transformers
• Distributors
• Service mains

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• Distribution Substation: A distribution substation is
located near or inside city/town/village/industrial area. It
receives power from a transmission network. The high
voltage from the transmission line is then stepped down by a
step-down transformer to the primary distribution level
voltage.
• Distribution transformer: A distribution transformer,
also called as service transformer, provides final
transformation in the electric power distribution system. It is
basically a step-down 3-phase transformer. Distribution
transformer steps down the voltage to 400Y/230 volts. Here
it means, voltage between any one phase and the neutral is
230 volts and phase to phase voltage is 400 volts.

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• Feeders: A feeder is a conductor which connects the sub-station (or
localized generating station) to the area where power is to be
distributed. Generally, no tappings are taken from the feeder so that
current in it remains the same throughout. The main consideration in
the design of a feeder is the current carrying capacity.
• Distributor: A distributor is a conductor from which tappings are
taken for supply to the consumers. The current through a distributor
is not constant because tappings are taken at various places along its
length. While designing a distributor, voltage drop along its length is
the main consideration since the statutory limit of voltage variations
is ± 6% of rated value at the consumers’ terminals.
• Service mains: A service mains is generally a small cable which
connects the distributor to the consumers’ terminals.

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Classification of Distribution Systems
A distribution system may be classified according to ;
• Nature of current: According to nature of current, distribution system may
be classified as
• d.c. distribution system
• a.c. distribution system.
• Type of construction: According to type of construction, distribution
system may be classified as
• overhead system
• underground system.
• Scheme of connection: According to scheme of connection, the
distribution system may be classified as
• Radial system
• Ring main system
• Inter-connected system.

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A.C. Distribution
• The a.c. distribution system is classified into (i) primary distribution
system and (ii) secondary distribution system.
• Primary Distribution:

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• It is that part of a.c. distribution system which operates at voltages
somewhat higher than general utilisation and handles large blocks of
electrical energy than the average low-voltage consumer uses. The
voltage used for primary distribution depends upon the amount of
power to be conveyed and the distance of the substation required to
be fed.
• The most commonly used primary distribution voltages are 11 kV, 6·6
kV and 3·3 kV. Due to economic considerations, primary distribution is
carried out by 3-phase, 3-wire system.

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• Secondary Distribution: It is that part of a.c. distribution system
which includes the range of voltages at which the ultimate consumer
utilises the electrical energy delivered to him. The secondary
distribution employs 400/230 V, 3-phase, 4-wire system.

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• At each distribution substation, the voltage is stepped down to 400 V
and power is delivered by 3-phase,4-wire a.c. system.
• The voltage between any two phases is 400 V and between any phase
and neutral is 230 V. The single phase domestic loads are connected
between any one phase and the neutral, whereas 3-phase 400 V
motor loads are connected across 3- phase lines directly.

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DC Distribution
• For almost all the application, AC power is required. But for certain
applications, DC power is necessary. Like in industries to run DC
motors for variable speed, etc.
• For this purpose, AC is converted to DC using suitable converters.
• The d.c. supply from the substation may be obtained in the form of
• 2-wire or
• 3-wire
for distribution.

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2 – Wire DC Distribution System:
• As the name implies, this system of distribution consists of two wires.
One is the outgoing or positive wire and the other is the return or
negative wire. The loads such as lamps, motors etc. are connected in
parallel between the two wires as shown in the above figure.
• This system is never used for transmission purposes due to low
efficiency but may be employed for distribution of d.c. power.

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3 – wire DC Distribution System:
• It consists of two outers and a middle or neutral wire which is earthed at the substation.
The voltage between the outers is twice the voltage between either outer and neutral wire
as shown in the figure above.
• The principal advantage of this system is that it makes available two voltages at the
consumer terminals viz., V between any outer and the neutral and 2V between the outers.
Loads requiring high voltage (e.g., motors) are connected across the outers, whereas
lamps and heating circuits requiring less voltage are connected between either outer and
the neutral.
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Overhead vs Underground Distribution
• Overhead lines are generally mounted on wooden, concrete or steel poles
which are arranged to carry distribution transformers in addition to the
conductors. The underground system uses conduits, cables and manholes
under the surface of streets and sidewalks.
• The choice between overhead and underground system depends upon a
number of widely differing factors.
• Public safety: The underground system is more safe than overhead system
because all distribution wiring is placed underground and there are little
chances of any hazard.
• Initial cost: The underground system is more expensive due to the high cost
of trenching, conduits, cables, manholes and other special equipment. The
initial cost of an underground system may be five to ten times than that of
an overhead system.

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• Flexibility: The overhead system is much more flexible than the
underground system. In the latter case, manholes, duct lines etc., are
permanently placed once installed and the load expansion can only
be met by laying new lines. However, on an overhead system, poles,
wires, transformers etc., can be easily shifted to meet the changes in
load conditions.
• Faults: The chances of faults in underground system are very rare as
the cables are laid underground and are generally provided with
better insulation.
• Appearance: The general appearance of an underground system is
better as all the distribution lines are invisible. This factor is exerting
considerable public pressure on electric supply companies to switch
over to underground system.

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• Fault location and repairs: In general, there are little chances of faults in an
underground system. However, if a fault does occur, it is difficult to locate
and repair on this system. On an overhead system, the conductors are
visible and easily accessible so that fault locations and repairs can be easily
made.
• Current carrying capacity and voltage drop: An overhead distribution
conductor has a considerably higher current carrying capacity than an
underground cable conductor of the same material and cross-section. On
the other hand, underground cable conductor has much lower inductive
reactance than that of an overhead conductor because of closer spacing of
conductors.
• Useful life: The useful life of underground system is much longer than that
of an overhead system. An overhead system may have a useful life of 25
years, whereas an underground system may have a useful life of more than
50 years.

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• Maintenance cost. The maintenance cost of underground system is
very low as compared with that of overhead system because of less
chances of faults and service interruptions from wind, ice, lightning as
well as from traffic hazards.
• Interference with communication circuits. An overhead system causes
electromagnetic interference with the telephone lines. The power line
currents are superimposed on speech currents, resulting in the
potential of the communication channel being raised to an
undesirable level. However, there is no such interference with the
underground system.

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Connection Schemes of Distribution System
• All distribution of electrical energy is done by constant voltage
system. In practice, the following distribution circuits are generally
used:
• Radial System
• Ring Main System
• Interconnected System

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Radial System
• In this system, separate feeders radiate from a single substation and
feed the distributors at one end only.
• The radial system is employed only when power is generated at low
voltage and the substation is located at the centre of the load.

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• This is the simplest distribution circuit and has the lowest initial cost.
However, it suffers from the following drawbacks :
• The end of the distributor nearest to the feeding point will be heavily loaded.
• The consumers are dependent on a single feeder and single distributor.
Therefore, any fault on the feeder or distributor cuts off supply to the
consumers who are on the side of the fault away from the substation.
• The consumers at the distant end of the distributor would be subjected to
serious voltage fluctuations when the load on the distributor changes.
• Due to these limitations, this system is used for short distances only.

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Ring Main System
• In this system, the primaries of distribution transformers form a loop.
The loop circuit starts from the substation bus-bars, makes a loop
through the area to be served, and returns to the substation.

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• The ring main system has the following advantages :
• There are less voltage fluctuations at consumer’s terminals.
• The system is very reliable as each distributor is fed via two feeders. In the
event of fault on any section of the feeder, the continuity of supply is
maintained.

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Interconnected System
• When the feeder ring is energized by two or more than two
generating stations or substations, it is called inter-connected system.

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• The interconnected system has the following advantages :
• It increases the service reliability.
• Any area fed from one generating station during peak load hours can be fed
from the other generating station. This increases efficiency of the system.

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Requirements of a Distribution System
• The requirements of a good distribution system are : proper voltage,
availability of power on demand and reliability.
• Proper voltage: One important requirement of a distribution system is that
voltage variations at consumer’s terminals should be as low as possible.
The changes in voltage are generally caused due to the variation of load on
the system. Low voltage causes loss of revenue, inefficient lighting and
possible burning out of motors. High voltage causes lamps to burn out
permanently and may cause failure of other appliances. Therefore, a good
distribution system should ensure that the voltage variations at consumers
terminals are within permissible limits. The statutory limit of voltage
variations is ± 6% of the rated value at the consumer’s terminals. Thus, if
the declared voltage is 230 V, then the highest voltage of the consumer
should not exceed 244 V while the lowest voltage of the consumer should
not be less than 216 V.

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• Availability of power on demand: Power must be available to the
consumers in any amount that they may require from time to time.
• Reliability: Modern industry is almost dependent on electric power
for its operation. Homes and office buildings are lighted, heated,
cooled and ventilated by electric power. This calls for reliable service.
Unfortunately, electric power, like everything else that is man-made,
can never be absolutely reliable. However, the reliability can be
improved to a considerable extent by (a) interconnected system (b)
reliable automatic control system (c) providing additional reserve
facilities.

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 Thank You

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