STRUCTURE OF POWER SYSTEM

Prepared

By

Prof. N. Abungu

EEE 303 POWER SYSTEMS I

©Machakos University, 2021

 CONTENTS
• Introduction
• One-Line Diagram
• Components of Power System
 Introduction
• An electrical power system consists of generation, transmission
and distribution.
• The transmission systems supply bulk power and the distribution
systems transfer electric power to the ultimate consumers.
• The generation of the electric energy is nothing but the
conversion of one form of energy to electrical energy.
• Electrical energy is generated in hydro, thermal and nuclear
power stations.
• Sometimes, electrical energy is generated from non-renewable
energy sources like wind, waves, fossil fuels, etc. The generating
voltages are usually 6.6kV, 10.5kV, 11kV, 13.8kV, 15.75kV, etc.
Components of an electric power system:
• Generators : a device used to convert one form of energy
into electrical energy.
• Transformer: transfer power or energy from one circuit to
another without the change of frequency (to increase or
decrease the voltage level)
• Control equipment: used for protection purposes
• Primary transmission :110 kV, 132 kV or 220kV or 400kV or
765kV, high Voltage transmission , 3-phase 3-wire system
• Secondary transmission: 3-phase 3-wire system, 33kv or
66kV feeders are used
• Primary distribution: 3-phase 3-wire system 11kV or 6.6kV,
3-phase 3-wire system
• Secondary distribution: 400V for 3-∅, 230 V for 1-∅
Generators:
• Generator is a device which converts mechanical
energy into electrical energy. Generating
voltages are normally 6.6 kV, 10.5kV or 11kv
• This generating voltage can be stepped up to
110KV/132kV/220kV at the generating (indoor or
outdoor) to reduce the current in transmission
line and to reduce transmission losses
• Generators produce real power(MW) and
reactive power (MVAR)
Transformers:
• It is a static device which transfers power or
energy from one circuit to another circuit without
change of frequency.
• The main function of transformers is to step up
voltages from lower generation levels to higher
generation voltage levels and also step down
voltages from higher transmission voltage levels
lower distribution levels.
• When we are increasing the transmission voltage,
current flowing through the grid decreases,
thereby transmission losses () reduces.
Control equipment:
• Circuit breaker (CB): circuit breakers are used for
opening or closing a circuit under normal and abnormal
(fault) condition
• Different types of circuit breaker are oil circuit breaker,
air-blast circuit breaker, vacuum circuit breaker, SF6
circuit breaker
• During fault conditions relay will give command to the
circuit breaker to operate
• Isolators: Isolators are placed in substations to isolate a
part of system during maintenance
• It can operate only during no-load condition. Isolating
switches are provided on each side of the circuit breaker
Cnt’d :
• Busbar: busbars are used to connect a number
of lines operating at the same voltage
electrically.
• It is made up of copper or aluminium.
Different types of busbar Arrangements
• Single Busbar arrangement
• Single Busbar with Bus Sectionalizing
• Main and Transfer Bus Arrangement
• Double Bus Double Breaker Arrangement
• Sectionalized Double Bus Arrangement
• One-and-a-Half Breaker Arrangement
• Ring Main Arrangement
• Mesh Arrangement.
Single Busbar Arrangement
 Single Busbar Arrangement
• Basic & easiest design, consisting of a single group busbars
or strips.

• Connects all components present in the system, e.g.,

generators, transformer, feeders, etc.

• Circuit breakers keep an eye on each generator and feeder.

• Isolators used for isolation of generators, feeders and circuit

breakers from busbars when kept out for maintenance.
 Advs. of Single Busbar Arrangement
• Low initial cost.
• Simple & easy to operate.
• Low maintenance requirement.
Disadvs. of Single Busbar Arrangement
• Fault on a busbar affects whole system.

• Maintenance of the bus bar interrupts supply.

• Not flexible for a large power system.

Single Busbar with Bus Sectionalizing
 Single Busbar with Bus Sectionalizing
• Busbar is sectionalized by circuit breaker and
isolating switches.

• Does not lead to complete blackout when a fault

occurs on any system.

• Used in large generating station where several units

installed.

• 2 or 3 sections of the electrical busbar are used.

 Advs. Of Single Busbar with Bus
Sectionalizing
• If a fault occurs on any section of the busbar, it can be
isolated without affecting the existing system and other
sections.

• One section can be completely shut down for

maintenance and repairs without affecting the supply of
the other section.

• Addition of a current limiting reactor between section =>

the fault level can be reduced => circuit breakers of lower
capacity can be used.
Main and Transfer Busbar Arrangement
Main and Transfer Busbar Arrangement
• Has 2 buses : main bus & transfer bus (or auxiliary busbar).
• Suitable where the power system is interconnected with
many connections & flexibility important .
• Has flexibility, continuity of supply & can allow maintenance
without total blackout.
• Each gen & feeder connected to busbar using a bus
coupler.
• Normal working condn => main bus bar is in operation.
• Maintenance => transfer bus is in operation.
• A bus coupler is used to enable change of connection from
one bus to the other bus bar.
 Advs. Of Main and Transfer Busbar
Arrangement
• If a fault occurs any one bus, we can transfer the load to the other
without disturbing the continuity of supply.

• Maintenance of other components like feeder circuit breakers can

be carried out by putting them on an additional bus and keeping the
main bus in operation.

• Substation maintenance is cheaper.

• The bus potential can be used for relays.

• Maintenance of the main bus can be carried out by transferring the

entire load on the auxiliary bus bar.
 Disadvs. Of Main and Transfer Busbar
Arrangement
• As additional bar is added to the system the
overall cost of the system increases.

• After transferring all circuits from the main

bus to auxiliary bus, a fault on any circuit on
load may cause a complete shutdown.
Double Busbar Double Breaker
Arrangement
 Double Busbar Double Breaker
Arrangement
• Similar to previous one, differences are that every circuit is has
2 circuit breakers, and bus couplers not used.

• It fulfills the deficiency previous electrical busbar system; can

transfer the load from one bus to the other without
interruption.

• Has max flexibility & reliability; interruption of supply due to the

faults & maintenance is minimum.

• A circuit breaker can be taken out for maintenance and repair as

load can be shifted on the other circuit breaker easily.
 Disadvs of Double Busbar Double Breaker
Arrangement
• High operational and maintenance cost.
Sectionalised Double Busbar Breaker
Arrangement
 Sectionalised Double Busbar Breaker
Arrangement
• Busbar is sectionalized into 2 busbars bus; duplicate
bus bar & main bus bar, separated by a bus coupler.
• Only one circuit breaker is used for one circuit =>
cost of system decreases.
• Any section of the bus bar can be isolated for
maintenance while any section may be
synchronized with any other through the auxiliary
bus bar.
• Only the main busbar is sectionalized, the transfer
busbar used as it is.
One-and-a-Half Breaker Arrangement
 One-and-a-Half Breaker Arrangement
• One and a half circuit breaker is used for one
circuit => 2 circuit breakers are used for 3
circuits.
• Fulfills all deficiency double bus double
breaker arrangement.
 One-and-a-Half Breaker Arrangement
• Saving in number of circuit breakers used.
• Arrangement is used in important large
interconnected power system where power
handled per circuit is large.
• Has been used in a modem EHV (400kV) &
UHV (750kV) substations.
 Advs of One-and-a-Half Breaker
Arrangement
• Guaranteed continuity of supply, fault in a bus
or breaker doesn't interrupt the supply.

• There is scope for expansion of circuits to the

system.

• The bus potential can be used to supply relays.

 DisAdvs of One-and-a-Half Breaker
Arrangement
• When fault occurs on the system, 2 breakers
are to be opened which leads to complication
in relaying system.
• High maintenance cost.
• In case of maintenance of breakers we have to
go for load shedding, failing which 2 breakers
are open & the other circuit works with only
one breaker.
Ring Main Bus Arrangement
 Ring Main Bus Arrangement
• Here, 2 busbars are coupled with the help of bus coupler
& one of them is sectionalized to form ring-type
structure.

• Supplied from two sides so if any one side failed to supply

the other side supply maintains continuity of supply.

• The effect of fault in one section is limited to that section

only, the rest of the sections continue to operate
normally.
 Ring Main Bus Arrangement
• Uses same number of circuit breakers like the
single busbar arrangement, hence cheaper
compared to other arrangements.

• Circuit breakers can be taken for maintenance

and repair without interrupting the supply.
Mesh Arrangement
 Mesh Arrangement
• Arrangement looks like a mesh.

• The circuit components installed in buses are in such

fashion that forms a mesh.

• Economical, since fewer circuit breakers are required

than in other arrangements.

• Used for substations where large number of circuits are

interconnected.
 Mesh Arrangement
• As can be seen in the figure 8 circuits are
controlled by four circuit breakers.

• If a fault occurs on any section, 2 circuit

breakers have to open, which results in the
opening of the mesh.

• Arrangement provides security against busbar

faults but lacks switching facility.
Transmission system:
• It supplies only large blocks of power from bulk
power station to very big consumers and
Primary Distribution.
• It interconnects neighbouring generating
stations into a power pool i.e., interconnection
of two or more generating stations
• Tolerance of transmission line voltage 5% to
10% due to variation of loads
Primary transmission
• If the generated power is transmitted through
transmission line without stepping up the generated
voltage, the line current and power loss would be very
high.
• So the generated voltage is stepped up to higher value
using step up transformer located in substations known
as sending-end substations near the generating
stations.
• The high voltage transmission lines transmit power from
sending-end substation to the receiving-end substation.
Primary transmission voltages 110kV, 132kV or 220kV or
400kV or 760 kV. It uses 3-phase 3-wire system.
Secondary transmission
• At the receiving-end substation, the voltage is
stepped down to a value of 66 or 33 or 22 kV
using step-down transformers.
• The secondary transmission line forms the link
between the receiving-end substation and the
secondary station. It uses 3-phase 3-wire
system and the conductors used are called
feeders.
Distribution system
• The component of electrical power system
connecting all the consumers in an area to the
bulk power sources or transmission line is
called a distribution system.
• A distribution station distributes power to
domestic, commercial and relatively small
consumers.
• Distribution Transformers are normally
installed on poles or on plinths near the
consumers.
Primary distribution
• At the secondary substations, the voltage is
stepped down to 11kV or 6.6 kV using step
down transformers.
• The primary distributor forms the link between
secondary substation and distribution
substation and the power is fed into the
primary distribution system. It uses 3-phase 3-
wire system.
Secondary distribution
• At the distribution substation the voltage
stepped down to 400V(for 3 phase) or
230V(for 1 phase) using step down
transformers.
• The distribution lines a drawn along the roads
and service connections to the consumers
tapped off from the distributors.
• It uses a 3-phase 4-wire system.
• Single phase loads are connected between 1
phase wire and one neutral wire.
Conclusion
• The basic structure of power system, its
various components, and their role have been
discussed.