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Power System: Basic Structure and


Functioning
September 21, 2018 By Muhammad Sarwar — Leave a Comment (Edit)

E
lectrical Energy is one of the most basic needs for the economic
development and progress of a country. Various functions that are vital
to present-day living may halt due to unavailability of electric energy.
The energy supply system is called Power System. The role of electricity
in the development of modern civilization cannot be estimated. The economy of a
country depends directly on the availability of surplus electric energy. In fact, per-
capita income of a country is directly proportional to the energy consumption per
person. The greater the per capita consumption of energy in a country, the higher is
the standard of living of its people.

Energy exists in different forms in nature but the most important form is the electrical energy.
The modern society is so much dependent upon the use of electrical energy that it has become a
part and parcel of our life. In this article, we shall focus our attention on the general aspects of
electrical energy, its generation, transmission and distribution system which is known as Power
System.

What is a Power System?

“ Electricity is generated at central power stations and then transferred to loads (i.e,
Domestic, Commercial and Industrial) through the transmission and distribution
system. A combination of all these systems is collectively known as an Electric Power
System.

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A power System is a combination of central generating stations, electric power transmission


system, Distribution and utilization system. Each one of these systems is explained in detail in the
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Fig. 1: Basic Structure of an Electric Power System (Energy Supply System)

Electric Energy Supply System

“ The transmission of electric power from a power station to consumers’ premises is


known as the electric supply system.

An electric supply system consists of three principal components viz., the power station, the
transmission lines and the distribution system. Electric power is produced at the power stations
which are located at favourable places, generally quite away from the consumers. It is then
transmitted over large distances to load centres with the help of conductors known as
transmission lines. Finally, it is distributed to a large number of small and big consumers through
a distribution network, supply system can be broadly classified into (i) d.c. or a.c. system (ii)
overhead or underground system.

Nowadays, 3-phase, 3-wire AC system is universally adopted for generation and transmission of
electric power as an economical proposition. However, distribution of electric power is done by 3-
phase, 4-wire a.c. system. The underground system is more expensive than the overhead system.
Therefore, the overhead system is mostly adopted for transmission and distribution of electric
power.

Typical AC Power Supply in a Power System


The large network of conductors between the power station and the consumers can be broadly
divided into two parts viz., transmission system and distribution system. Each part can be further
sub-divided into two—primary transmission and secondary transmission and primary
distribution and secondary distribution. In Fig. 2, the layout of a typical AC power supply scheme
in a power system is shown by a single line diagram. It may be noted that it is not necessary that
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all power schemes include all the stages shown in the figure. For example, in a certain power
scheme, there may be no secondary transmission and in another case, the scheme may be so small
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Fig. 2: AC Power Supply in a Power System

Generating Stations

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Energy is generated (transformed from one to another) at the generating stations. Generating
stations are of different type, for example, thermal, hydel, solar power sations, nuclear. The
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generated electricity is stepped up through the transformer and then transferred over
transmission lines to the load centres.

Fig. 3: Energy Conversion Process

In Fig. 2, G.S. represents the generating station where electric power is produced by 3-phase
alternators operating in parallel. The usual generation voltage is †11 kV. For economy in the
transmission of electric power, the generation voltage (i.e., 11 kV) is stepped upto 132 kV at the
generating station with the help of 3-phase transformers. The transmission of electric power at
high voltages has several advantages including the saving of conductor material and high
transmission efficiency.

It may appear advisable to use the highest possible voltage for transmission of electric power to
save conductor material and have other advantages. But there is a limit to which this voltage can
be increased. It is because the increase in transmission voltage introduces insulation problems as
well as the cost of switchgear and transformer equipment is increased. Therefore, the choice of
proper transmission voltage is essentially a question of economics. Generally, the primary
transmission is carried at 66 kV, 132 kV, 220 kV or 400 kV.

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Fig. 4: Step-up Power Transformer in a Generating Station

Primary transmission.
The electric power at 132 kV is transmitted by 3-phase, 3-wire overhead system to the outskirts of
the city. This forms the primary transmission.

Secondary transmission
The primary transmission line terminates at the receiving station (RS) which usually lies at the
outskirts of the city. At the receiving station, the voltage is reduced to 33kV by step-down
transformers. From this station, electric power is transmitted at 33kV by 3-phase, 3-wire
overhead system to various sub-stations (SS) located at the strategic points in the city. This forms
the secondary transmission.

Primary distribution
The secondary transmission line terminates at the sub-station (SS) where voltage is reduced from
33 kV to 11kV, 3-phase, 3-wire. The 11 kV lines run along the important road sides of the city. This
forms the primary distribution. It may be noted that big consumers (having demand more than 50
kW) are generally supplied power at 11 kV for further handling with their own sub-stations.

Secondary distribution
In the last stage in a Power System, the electric power from primary distribution line (11 kV) is
delivered to distribution sub-stations (DS) or Distribution Transformer. A typical pole mounted
distribution transformer is shown in Fig. 5. These sub-stations are located near the consumers’
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localities and step down the voltage to 400 V, 3-phase, 4-wire for secondary distribution. The
voltage between any two phases is 400 V and between any phase and neutral is 230 V. The single-
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between anyWRITE FOR USand neutral, whereas 3-phase,
one phase
400 V motor load is connected across 3-phase lines directly. It may be worthwhile to mention
here that secondary distribution system consists of feeders, distributors and service mains.

Fig. 5: Pole Mounted Distribution Transformer

Fig. 6 shows the elements of low voltage distribution system. Feeders (SC or SA) radiating from
the distribution sub-station (DS) supply power to the distributors (AB, BC, CD and AD). No
consumer is given direct connection from the feeders. Instead, the consumers are connected to
the distributors through their service mains.

Fig. 6:
Distribution
Feeders in
Power
System

Summary
We hope you’ve got the basic idea of the power system, its basic components and their
functioning. You may also want to read our articles on the implementation of protection schemes
in ETAP and Load flow analysis of a power network.

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If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video tutorials and
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section.

Author: Muhammad Sarwar


Muhammad Sarwar is an Electrical Engineer by profession and a blogger by
passion. He loves to teach and share knowledge. He reads books, play games,
blog and program in his spare time.

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