[2014]

LV Distribution Design
Training Manual
















1.Introduction
The electrical design of distribution facilities is based on the loads they are to carry safely and
the permissible voltage variations; the final design, however, cannot be divorced from
mechanical, economic, and other considerations. Several different designs may serve the same
electrical requirements adequately; each, in turn, may be modified by mechanical considerations.
2.LV design
The combination of transformers, secondary circuit or main, and the consumers services makes
up the secondary system.
The problem is to determine the proper combination of conductor or wire, transformer, and
transformer spacing for the least annual cost, using the materials available while providing for
satisfactory voltage variations, including flicker.
3.Condctors.
3.1 Parameters needed for electrical design of conductors.
Conductors Resistance.The resistance of the conductor is:

L is total length of conductor.
A is cross-sectional area of conductor
r20 Specific resistance of conductor at 20 oc
temperature coefficient

4. Enviromental conditions
Ambient temperature should be taken in to consideration in order to decide
maximum loading of overhead line and cable conductors.
Maximum
0
c
AMinimum
0
c
verage
0
c
Economic crossectional area of conductors Minimum
0
c


When dimensioning a network it is essential to try to optimize the choice of
cross-section for the conductors parameters.
Investment costs
Depriciation time
Interest rate
Cost of losses
Maintanance and operation costs per year
Scrap value
Inductance
Over head lines
The inductance is a function of the distance between the conductors,and to
some extent the size of the conductor, according to the formula:
L=
0
/2(ln a/r+1/4n)H/m

0=
4 10
-7
v
s
/Am
n=1
r=radius of conductor
a= distance between conductors
Capacitance
The capacitance in medium and low voltage overhead lines can normally be
neglected.






3.2 CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITIES.
A conductor must carry permanent full load current and normal short time over currents.
Not cause voltage drops.
For overhead bare conductors ,the continous current carrying capacity of a conductor depend on
the ambient conditions like wind speed,temprature.
The maximum permissible short time over current is usually given for 1second duration.
Power factor
The power factor of a load is defined as the ratio of active power to apparent power i.e.KW/KVA
and is refferd as cos .The closer cos is to unity the less reactive power is drawn from supply.
If the circuit is purely resistive, the power factor is 100% . As the amount of inductive load
increases the power factor decreases one of the most economical means of improving power
factor is by using capacitors.
4.Transformers:
4.1 Normal service conditions for transformers.IEC transformer standard (IEC-76) determines
the normal service conditions for air cooled transformers.
1. Altitude not exceeding 1000 m above sea level.
2. Air at the temperature never exceeding 400c.never exceeding 300c average in any one day and
200c in any one year.
4.2 Oil transformers: The temperature rises of the windings ,cores and oil of transformers
designed for operation at altitudes not exceeding 1000m. Shall not exceed the following limits.
650c for winding of temperature class insulation A .600c for top oil when the transformer is
equipped with a conservator or is sealed and 550c when the transformer is neither equipped with
a conservator nor sealed. Distribution transformers convert 15/33 kv to 0.4 kv 3phase and 0.22
kv single phase.
There are two types:
Out door pole mounted type and indoor type:
The outdoor type netstations are mounted on two or four poles.
Ratings of transformers 25,50,100,315 can be mounted.Above these range (500 or above are
indoor types with pad mounted assembly.)



5.Voltage drop calculation
5.1
Circiut Voltage drop In %

Single phase:phase/phase
Single phase phase/neutral
Balanced 3-phase: 3 phases
U = 2I
B
(R cos + X sin ) L
U = 2I
B
(R cos + X sin ) L
U = 3 I
B
(R cos + X sin )L
100 U/Un
100 U/Un
100 U/Un


IB: The full load current in amps
L: Length of the cable in kilometres
R: Resistance of the cable conductor in /km
X: inductive reactance of a conductor in /km
Note: X is negligible for conductors of c.s.a. less than 50 mm
2
. In the absence of any
other information, take X as being equal to 0.08 /km
(EX)
: phase angle between voltage and current in the circuit considered, generally:
Incandescent lighting: cos = 1
Motor power:
- At start-up: cos = 0.35
- In normal service: cos = 0.8
Un: phase-to-phase voltage
Vn: phase-to-neutral voltage
For prefabricated pre-wired ducts and bustrunking, resistance and inductive


reactance values are given by the manufacturer.
Faults and proper selection of protective devices
6.Types of faults
6.1 Overcurrents
An over current occurs each time the value of
current exceeds the maximum load current IB for the load concerned.
This current must be cut off with a rapidity that depends upon its magnitude, if permanent
damage to the cabling (and appliance if the over current is due to a defective load
component) is to be avoided.
Over currents of relatively short duration can however, occur in normal operation; two
types of over current are distinguished.
6.1.2 Overloads.
These over currents can occur in healthy electric circuits.
Number of small short-duration loads which occasionally occur co-incidentally:
Motor starting loads, and so on.
If either of these conditions persists however beyond a given period (depending on
protective-relay settings or fuse ratings) the circuit will be automatically cut off.
6.1.3 Short-circuit currents.
These currents result from the failure of insulation between live conductors or/and
between live conductors and earth (on systems having low-impedance-earthed
neutrals) in any combination, viz:
Phases short-circuited (and to neutral and/or earth, or not)
Phases short-circuited (and to neutral and/or earth, or not)
Phase short-circuited to neutral (and/or to earth)
6.1 Over current protection principles.
A protective device is provided at the origin of the circuit concerned


Acting to cut-off the current in a time shorter than that given by the I
2
t characteristic of
the circuit cabling. But allowing the maximum load current I
B
to flow indefinitely.
The characteristics of insulated conductors when carrying short-circuit currents
can, for periods up to 5 seconds following short-circuit initiation, be determined
approximately by the formula: I
2
t = k
2
S
2
which shows that the allowable heat generated is
proportional to the squared cross-sectional-area of the condutor.
where
t: Duration of short-circuit current (seconds)
S: Cross sectional area of insulated conductor (mm2)
I: Short-circuit current (A r.m.s.)
k: Insulated conductor constant (values of k2 are given in tables)
For a given insulated conductor, the maximum permissible current varies according
to the environment. For instance, for a high ambient temperature (a1 > a2), Iz1 is
less than Iz2 (see Fig. G5). means temperature.
II Phasing and service drop connection
EEPCo has the following procedure for single and three phase new power connection.This
connection procedure applies to single phase and three phase power supply design works.
Procedure for single and three phase new power connection.
1.Collect applicant document.
2.Asses the existing data base.
3.Carry out site investigation and preleminary design.
4.Carry out the design considering phase balancing.
5.Digitize or plot the designed network.
6.Prepare construction drawing or sketch.
7.Prepare bill of quantities.
8.Carry out cost estimation.


9.Prepare design report.
1.Important majors to be taken regarding sevice drop connection.
As mentioned in the procedure which has to be implemented in every customer service at distrcts
and service centers, phase balancing is an important step to be taken strictly.
If the 3 phases feeding the loads are not balanced the transformer will be overloaded and can not
deliver the power it is expected to supply,in addition to that its life time will decrease.
The technical crew performing service drop connections should apply standard materials like
Aluminium copper clamps to avoid break down of a conductor.
2.Safety
Safety and protection of current carryng and non current carrying parts of a distribution system
from the transformer to the service drop should be strictly followed and earthing of neutral has to
be effected.Cut out and HRC fuses at transformer boxes and pole mounted fuses have to be
properly selected and placed.The objective of earthing is
To reduce the voltage stress on lines and equipment.
To control the eart fault
The neutral conductor of LV network must be earthed at every 250 mts using Cu 25mm
2

conductors.
After service connection is completed and the power is energized proper function of the kwhm
must be inspected and the proper registration of the customer to the billing process confirmed.
Meters
Types of kwhms
Single phase kwhms: for loads <30 kw we use 5/15,10/30,20/60 kwhms.
For loads > 30 kw we use active reactive kwhms. They are fed through current transformers and
voltage transformers with c.ts: 100/5,200/5,300/5,400/5,600/5,800/5,1000/5 rating and v.ts
15000/100 v rating.