Mine Management

Voltage is the Cause, Current is the Effect

Voltage attempts to make a current flow, and current will flow if the circuit is complete.
Voltage is sometimes described as the 'push' or 'force' of the electricity, it isn't really a force but
this may help you to imagine what is happening. It is possible to have voltage without current,
but current cannot flow without voltage.

Voltage
Voltage is electric potential energy per
unit charge, measured in joules per coulomb ( =
volts). It is often referred to as "electric potential",
which then must be distinguished from electric
potential energy by noting that the "potential" is a
"per-unit-charge" quantity. Like mechanical
potential energy, the zero of potential can be
chosen at any point, so the difference in voltage is
the quantity which is physically meaningful. The
difference in voltage measured when moving
from point A to point B is equal to
the work which would have to be done, per unit charge, against the electric field to move the
charge from A to B.

Current
Electric current is the rate of charge flow past
given point in an electric circuit, measured in
Coulombs/second which is named Amperes. In
most DC electric circuits, it can be assumed that
the resistance to current flow is a constant so that the
current in the circuit is related to voltage and
resistance by Ohm's law. The standard abbreviations
the units are 1 A = 1C/s.

for

Power
The electric power in watts associated with a complete electric circuit or a circuit
component represents the rate at which energy is converted from the electrical energy of the
moving charges to some other form, e.g., heat, mechanical energy, or energy stored in electric
fields or magnetic fields. For a resistor in a D C Circuit the power is given by the product of
applied voltage and the electric current:
P = VI
Power = Voltage x Current
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The details of the units are as follows:

Power Factor
In AC circuits, the power factor is the ratio of the real power that is used to do work and
the apparent power that is supplied to the circuit.
The power factor can get values in the range from 0 to 1.
When all the power is reactive power with no real power (usually inductive load) - the power
factor is 0.
When all the power is real power with no reactive power (resistive load) - the power factor is 1.

The power factor is equal to the real or true power P in watts (W) divided by the apparent power |
S| in volt-ampere (VA):
PF = P(W) / |S(VA)|
PF - power factor.
P - real power in watts (W).
|S| - apparent power - the magnitude of the complex power in voltamps (VA).

Fault Analysis
A fault in a circuit is any failure that interferes with the normal system operation.
Lighting strokes cause most faults on highvoltage transmission lines producing a very high
transient that greatly exceeds the rated voltage of the line.
This voltage usually causes flashover between the phases and/or the ground creating an arc.
Since the impedance of this new path is usually low, an excessive current may flow.
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Faults involving ionized current paths are also called transient faults. They usually clear if
power is removed from the line for a short time and then restored.

Alternating Current Load

an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals,
typically used in power supplies.

Direct Current Load

an electric current flowing in one direction only.
Comparison chart
Alternating Current

Direct Current

Safe to transfer over longer city distances

and can provide more power.

Voltage of DC cannot travel very

far until it begins to lose energy.

Rotating magnet along the wire.

Steady magnetism along the wire.

The frequency of alternating current is

50Hz or 60Hz depending upon the country.

The frequency of direct current is

zero.

Direction

It reverses its direction while flowing in a

circuit.

It flows in one direction in the

circuit.

Current

It is the current of magnitude varying with

time

It is the current of constant

magnitude.

Amount of energy that

can be carried
Cause of the direction
of flow of electrons
Frequency

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Flow of Electrons

Obtained from
Passive Parameters
Power Factor
Types

Alternating Current

Direct Current

Electrons keep switching directions forward and backward.

Electrons move steadily in one

direction or 'forward'.

A.C Generator and mains.

Cell or Battery.

Impedance.

Resistance only

Lies between 0 & 1.

it is always 1.

Sinusoidal, Trapezoidal, Triangular,

Square.

Pure and pulsating.

Transmission Lines
Inductance and capacitance calculations for transmission lines. GMR, GMD, L, and C
matrices, effect of ground conductivity. Underground cables.
A transmission line is a pair of electrical conductors carrying an electrical signal from one place
to another. Coaxial cable and twisted pair cable are examples. The two conductors have
inductance per unit length, which we can calculate from their size and shape. They have
capacitance per unit length, which we can calculate from the dielectric constant of the insulation.
In the early days of cable-making, there would be current leaking through the insulation, but in
modern cables, such leakage is negligible. The electrical resistance of the conductors, however,
is significant because it increases with frequency. The magnetic fields generated by highfrequency currents drive those currents to the outer edge of the conductor that carries them, so
the higher the frequency, the thinner the layer of metal available to carry the current, and the
higher the effective resistance of the cable. In this discussion, we derive and demonstrate the
equations that govern the propagation of waves down a transmission line, and show how the
frequency-dependent resistance of these cables gives rise to attenuation and distortion of highfrequency signals.

Transformers

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A
he
e
nt

device used to transfer electric energy from one circuit to anot

r, especially a pair of multiply wound,inductively coupled wir
coils that effect such a transfer with a change in voltage, curre
, phase, or other electric characteristic.

Rectifier
A rectifier is an electrical device composed of one or more diodes that converts
alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). A diode is like a one-way valve that allows an
electrical current to flow in only one direction. This process is called
rectification.
A rectifier is an electrical device that converts AC to DC. AC
occasionally reverses direction and DC flows in one direction only.
Rectification produces a type of DC that encompasses active
voltages and currents, which are then adjusted into a type of constant
voltage DC, although this varies depending on the current's end-use.

Power Factor Correction

PFC (power factor correction; also known as power factor controller) is a feature
included in some computer and other power supply boxes that reduces the amount of reactive
powergenerated by a computer. Reactive power operates at right angles to true power and
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energizes the magnetic field. Reactive power has no real value for an electronic device, but
electric companies charge for both true and reactive power resulting in unnecessary charges. PFC
is a required feature for power supplies shipped to Europe.
In power factor correction, the power factor (represented as "k") is the ratio of true power
(kwatts) divided by reactive power (kvar). The power factor value is between 0.0 and 1.00. If the
power factor is above 0.8, the device is using power efficiently. A standard power supply has a
power factor of 0.70-0.75, and a power supply with PFC has a power factor of 0.95-0.99.
PFC is not used solely for computer power supplies. In other industries, PFC equipment is used
to reduce the reactive power produced by fluorescent and high bay lighting, arc furnaces,
induction welders, and equipment that uses electrical motors.

Capacitors
Capacitors are components that are used to store an electrical charge and are used in timer
circuits. A capacitor may be used with a resistor to produce a timer. Sometimes capacitors are
used to smooth a current in a circuit as they can prevent false triggering of other components
such as relays. When power is supplied to a circuit that includes a capacitor - the capacitor
charges up. When power is turned off the capacitor discharges its electrical charge slowly.

Surge Capacitors
surge capacitors offer the user high transient voltage withstand, long life design, low loss
dielectric and rugged construction.
Steep fronted waves (lightning or switching surges) can cause damage to the turn to turn
insulation of rotary machines and transformers. These capacitors provide premium surge
protection for high voltage motors and generators . They can also be used in combination with
surge arresters for added protective capability.
Connecting surge capacitors line to ground at the motor terminals prevents this damage. For a
more comprehensive protection scheme, surge capacitors may be used in conjunction with surge
arresters. This surge pack modifies both the wave shape and magnitude.
Installation and maintenance
Surge capacitors can be located indoors or outdoors and can be mounted vertically or
horizontally.
Suitable for an ambient temperature not exceeding 50 oC, they are virtually maintenance free,
needing only occasional cleaning of bushings and paint surface and ensuring connections are
correctly tightened.
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References :
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Alternating_Current_vs_Direct_Current
http://www.rapidtables.com/electric/Power_Factor.htm
http://www.egr.unlv.edu/~eebag/Fault%20Analysis.pdf
http://alignment.hep.brandeis.edu/Lab/XLine/XLine.html
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/PFC-power-factor-correction-or-power-factor-controller

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