energy and transmit this energy to consumers. A modern electric power system has mainly six main components: 1) power plants which generate electric power, 2) transformers which raise or lower the voltages as needed, 3) transmission lines to carry power, 4) substations at which the voltage is stepped down for carrying power over the distribution lines, 5) distribution lines, and 6) distribution transformers which lower the voltage to the level needed for the consumer equipment. Marine current power is a form of marine energy obtained from harnessing of the kinetic energy of marine currents, such as the Gulf stream. connecting two AC systems that are not synchronized allowing transfer of power from one AC grid to another AC-DC converter station ◦ Ormoc Converter Station, Leyte ◦ Naga Converter Station, Naga 440MW, 350kV HVDC Link Overhead line: 430 km Submarine Cable: 21 km 1. Type of electric system 2. Type of delivery system 3. Construction 1. Safety 2. Smooth and even flow of power 3. Economy The function of the distribution is to receive electric power from large, bulk sources and to distribute it to consumers at voltage levels and with degrees of reliability that are appropriate to various types of users. A typical distribution system consists of
◦ Subtransmission circuits with voltage ratings usually
between 12.47 and 347 kV which delivers energy to the distribution system.
◦ Distribution Substations which converts the energy to a
lower primary system voltage for local distribution and usually include facilities for voltage regulation of the primary voltage.
◦ Primary Circuits or feeders, usually operating in the
range of 4.16 to 34.5 kV and supplying the load in a well-defined geographic area. ◦ Distribution Transformers in ratings from 10 to 2500 kVA which may be installed on poles or in underground vaults near the consumers and transform the primary voltages to utilization voltages.
◦ Secondary Circuits at utilization voltage which carry
the energy from the distribution transformer along the street or rear-lot lines
◦ Service Drops which deliver the energy from the
secondary to the user’s service entrance equipment. Household electricity is alternating current (AC) Household voltage is 240V Frequency is 60Hz Power transformers are common Why isn’t power transmitted at low voltages? Why isn’t power delivered at high voltages? Why isn’t power transmitted at low voltages? An electric current passing through a lightbulb ◦ experiences a voltage drop in the filament ◦ and converts electric power into thermal power. The power provided to the lightbulb is ◦ the product of the current in its filament ◦ times the voltage drop that current experiences, or power provided = current· voltage drop in filament. Doubling voltage or current doubles bulb power An electric current passing through a wire ◦ wastes electric power as thermal power, power wasted = current· voltage drop in wire. Since the wire obeys Ohms law, voltage drop in wire = resistance· current, the power it wastes is power wasted = resistance· current2. Doubling current quadruples wasted power! The goal of a power distribution system is to ◦ transmit lots of electric power to a city, power transmitted = current· voltage drop at city, ◦ while wasting only a little electric power in the wires, power wasted = resistance· current2. That goal can be met by ◦ using a small current and a huge voltage drop, ◦ together with low-resistance wires. Why isn’t power delivered at high voltages? When large voltage drops are available, ◦ charges tend to jump toward the lower voltage ◦ and currents tend to flow through unexpected paths. High-voltage electrical power in a home is ◦ a spark hazard, ◦ a fire hazard, ◦ and a shock hazard. Large currents are too wasteful for transmission High voltages are too dangerous for delivery So electric power distribution uses a hierarchy: ◦ high voltage circuits in the countryside ◦ medium voltage circuits in cities ◦ low voltage circuits in neighborhoods and homes Transformers transfer power between circuits!