EE 2092

LABORATORY PRACTICAL III

PRACTICAL 04
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

CONDUCTED BY : MRS. G.N.T. SILVA

GROUP MEMBERS:
D.U.I. PERERA
P.W.P.C. PETHIYAGODA
L.G.H.M. PRABHANI

NAME
INDEX NO
FIELD
GROUP
DATE OF PER
DATE OF SUB

: W.H.K. PATHUM
: 090366G
: EE
: G 10
: 15-10-2010
: 29-10-2010

Theoritical and measured voltage distribution in uniformly loaded distributor

230
225
220

Voltage (V)

215
O/S Observed Value
O/S Theoretical Value
90V Observed Value
90V Theoretical Value

210
205
200
195
190
1

Section

Voltage distribution for the three lines in uniformly loaded radial distributor
226
224
222

Voltage (V)

220
218

Model 1
Model 4
Model 5

216
214
212
210
208
1

Section

Voltage distribution in uniformly loaded ring main distributor

250

200

Voltage (V)

150
Without the tie line
With the tie line
100

50

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Section

CALCULATIONS
Maximum percentage drop of voltage

Without the tie line

225174.75 x 100
= 22.33 %
225

With the tie line

225199.5 x 100
= 11.33 %
225

DISCUSSION

1) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of radial and ring distribution systems.
Radial Distribution
Advantages

Disadvantages

Low expanding cost

Low initial cost
Low maintenance cost
Simple
More useful when the generation is at a
low voltage
More suitable when the sub-station is at
the centre of the load

The higher it is from the feeding point the

higher the voltage drop is.
Far end consumers will experience a
significant voltage fluctuation time to time
depending on the load of the other
consumers
In case of a maintenance the whole
consumers in the branch will not be
supplied power.

Ring Distribution

Advantages

Disadvantages

Voltage drop along the distribution is less

In case of maintenance only the relevant
section will get affected while other
sections remained powered
More than one distributor can contribute
Significant voltage drops and fluctuations
can be avoided using a tie line

High initial cost

High maintenance cost
Complicated

2) Discuss the methods that can be used to improve voltage profile in a distribution system.
To improve the voltage profile, we can use capacitor banks. If it is a radial distribution feeding
at both ends or rearranging the system so that the junction is placed near to the minimum voltage point
and by supplying to the junction, voltage profile can be increased. Rearranging the system to a ring
distribution with sub stations nearby is another way to increase the voltage profile. Placement of small
step-up transformers at points far away from the feeding point will also help to compensate the
voltage drop and thus increase the voltage profile.

3) What are the allowable limits for distribution voltage and frequency in Sri Lanka?
Voltage
Frequency

230V 6% (216.2V 243.8V)

50Hz 1% (49.5Hz 50.5Hz)

4) In distribution systems both underground cables and overhead lines are used. Compare and contrast
the two options.
Underground cables

High initial cost

cannot be reached easily by people. So
much safer
Not exposed to bad weather. So last long
and low maintenance and that result in
low maintenance cost
low interference with communication
systems
fault finding is hard
cannot be used over long distance due to
shunt capacitance

Overhead lines

Low initial cost

Easy to extend and distribute power to
houses
Although there are frequent maintenances
the cost is low
Can be used over long distances due to
low shunt capacitance
Easy to figure out faults
Expose to bad weather and natural effects
such as lightening and result in less life
time
Cause interference with communication
lines.