ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

                                         ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM 

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Basic Concept : 

                             Energy is the basic requirement of economic development. Need for energy is always critical. Man is ever searching for to explore energy resources to meet his energy requirements. For this purpose, he exploits all energy resources that are easily available to him. Electrical power is one such source that has more significance on all other sources of energy.

   BASIC COMPONENTS OF POWER SYSTEM:

(1)  Generating Station:- 

                                      a generating station is the heart of an electrical power system. Electrical                                    power is generated by the following means;

i)                   Waterfalls (hydro-electric):- 

                                                          In the modern hydro-electric generating stations, a dam is erected at suitable locations on a waterway. This backs up the water to produce the necessary head or difference in elevation required to power a generator. The water is channeled down a pipe or “penstock”, striking the blades of a turbine runner at the bottom. The runner rotates and being connected by a shaft to the generator, provides the power to produce electricity. Having served its purpose, the water then passes out through the drought tube to the tail-race and joins the mainstream of the river.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

ii)                Nuclear fuelled:- 

                                        In the nuclear station, heat from the splitting of the uranium atom inside the reactor produces steam to spin the turbo-generators. Heavy water is used to transport heat from the hot uranium fuel bundles to the steam generator and turns ordinary water into steam within a heat exchange to generate electricity. Cooling is achieved as in the conventional thermal station.

iii)              Steam power (thermal):- 

                                                   In the conventional thermal station, the fossil fuels i.e; coal, oil, or natural gas, are burned in the boiler which has walls lined with water filled tubes to generate steam and operate the turbine. Cooling water passes through condensers in a closed circuit to condense the steam back to water.

              iv)                 Solar energy system.etc'

                                       Solar energy, a primary energy source, is non-polluting and inexhaustible.

                                         There are three methods to harness solar energy:

                            (i) Converting solar energy directly into electrical energy in solar power stations using photocells or photo-voltaic cells or silicon solar cell.

                            (ii) Using photosynthetic and biological process for energy trapping. In the process of photosynthesis, green plants absorb solar energy and convert it into chemical energy, stored in the form of carbohydrate.

                            (iii) Converting solar energy into thermal energy by suitable devices which may be subsequently converted into mechanical, chemical or electrical energy.

                             Since solar energy is non-ending and its conversion to some other energy form is nonpolluting, attention should be paid for the maximum utilization of solar energy.

                           v) Wind energy:

                                                      Wind is air in motion. The movement of air takes place due to the convection current set out in the atmosphere which is again due to heating of earth’s surface by solar radiation, rotation of earth etc. The movement of air occurs both horizontally and vertically.

                               The average annual wind density is 3 kW/m²/day along coastal lines of                                         Gujarat, western ghat central parts of India which may show a seasonal                                       variation (i.e., in winter it may go up to 10kW/m²/day).]

                              Since wind has a tremendous amount of energy, its energy can be converted  into mechanical or electrical energy using suitable devices, nowadays, wind energy s converted into electrical energy which is subsequently used for pumping water, grinding of corns etc. As per available data dearly 20,000 mW of electricity can be generated from wind. In Puri, wind farms are set up which can generate 550 kW of electricity.

                              vi) Tidal energy:

                                                          The energy associated with the tides of the Ocean can be converted into electrical energy. France constructed the first tidal power plant in 1966. India could take up Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC)  and by the process it will be capable of generating 50,000 mW of electricity, to meet the

(2)  TRANSMISSION LINE: -  

                                                 Transmission line is comprised of three power conductors. These three power conductors are also referred to as phases and for purposes of identification are referred to as Red, Yellow and Blue. These conductors are attached to steel arms on steel towers by suspension type insulators.

(3)  SWITCHING STATION:- '

                                                  A simple switching station makes provision for switching from one source of power to another or directing power from one circuit to another.

(4)   LARGE TRANSFORMER STATION:- 

                                                 he large transformer station is usually located adjacent to a heavy load center where a number of transmission circuits terminate. The transformer steps down the voltage from 220 or 500kv 132kv for transmission to nearby parts of the system.

(5)  SMALLER TRANSFORMER STATION :- 

\                                                 The purpose of this type of transformer station is to step down a high voltage to one that can be carried to rural or municipal distributing stations, industrial plants or other large direct customers.

(6)  DISTRIBUTING STATION:- 

                                                   Distributing stations are also step down points. Distribution lines radiate from here to wherever electric power is needed. These stations step the voltages down to the distributing range i.e 11kv. As the distribution lines reach customers homes and small businesses, the voltage is again reduced to 120 volts for lighting and appliances, 240 volts for ranges, water heaters and motors or 600 volts for large motors. The transformers for this purpose are mounted on poles on roadways and streets and are equipped with arresters and fuses.