Power Distribution

Power Distribution Distribution Substation Breaker Schemes

Power Distribution
The distribution of power over a utility company network is a complex process involving a number of power-generating plants, transmission lines, and substations. Substations use massive transformers, oil-filled circuit breakers, huge strings of insulators, and high-tension conductors in distributing power to customers. Powerdistribution and transmission networks interconnect generating plants into an area grid, to which area loads are attached.

Typical Power Distribution Network

Common Power Distribution System

Radial system - The simplest of all distribution networks, a single substation supplies power to all loads in the system.

 Ring system - Distribution lines encircle the service area, with power being delivered from one or more sources into substations near the service area. Power is then distributed from the substations through the radial transmission lines.

 Network system - A combination of the radial and ring distribution systems. Although such a system is more complex than either of the previous configurations, reliability is improved significantly. Is one of the most common power-distribution configurations.

Distribution Substation
Distribution substations serve as the source for primary distribution feeders. They receive bulk electric power at high voltages and reduce the voltage to distribution primary values. Also associated with a substation are provisions for protection from faults, for voltage regulation, and for data acquisition and monitoring. Some substations are entirely enclosed in buildings, whereas others are built entirely in the open with all equipment enclosed in one or more metal-clad units. The final design of the type of substation depends on economic factors; future load growth; and environmental, legal, and social issues.

Equipment's Installed at a substation

Power transformers Oil or air circuit breakers Voltage regulators Protective relays Air break and disconnect switches Surge arresters Measuring instruments Storage batteries and capacitors (in some installations)

Breaker Schemes
The circuit breaker scheme used at a substation provides for varying degrees of reliability and maintainability on both the input and output sides. Each additional circuit breaker provides greater reliability and flexibility in maintaining the bus energized during a fault or during maintenance. However, the cost also increases with each circuit breaker. Hence, the selection of a particular substation scheme depends on safety, reliability, economy, and simplicity.

Circuit Breaker Schemes

Single-bus costs the least. However it possesses rather low reliability because the failure of the bus or any circuit breaker results in a total shutdown of the substation.

 Double-bus/Double-breaker scheme is the most expensive. Each circuit is provided with two circuit breakers, and thus, any breaker can be taken out of service for maintenance without disruption of service at the substation. In addition, feeder circuits can be connected to either bus.

 Main-and-transfer bus requires an extra breaker for the bus tie between the main and the auxiliary buses.

 Breaker-and-a-half scheme provides the most flexible operation with high reliability. The relaying and automatic reclosing, however, are somewhat complex.

 Ring Bus