What is Power System, How does a Power system Works
Power system is a network of electrical components which consist of
generation, Transmission, distribution and utilization. Initially, power is
generated by generating stations from energy resources next which is
transferred to the transmission line. Finally, transmission lines are going to
give the power to the distribution lines. Distributed lines are delivering the
power to the load. These entire process or network chain is called power
system. In this, we are going to see, what are all the components are involved
in each process (generation, Transmission, distribution and utilization).
Generating system:
Generation of electrical energy is nothing but the conversion of electrical energy
from various resources. The electrical energy is generated by coal power plants,
hydro power plants, gas, solar, tidal, wind, nuclear etc. electrical energy can be
generated by both renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. The
generation voltage various according design of an alternator or a generator.
Alternator: Alternating generator is called alternator. Alternator produce
Alternating Current Voltage Mostly almost 95% of the power plants are
generating AC voltage only.
Generator: The machine which produce the Direct current voltage is called
generator.
Alternator or generator both of the rotors are rotated by primover. Primover is a
mechanical part. It may be hydraulic turbine or steam turbine or internal
combustion turbine. The primover has to convert one form of energy into
rotation of the shaft which in turn drives the alternator.
Transformer: Which is used to transformer electrical energy from one electrical
circuit to another electrical circuit without changing frequency. Transformers
are receiving power from the generator such type is transformer is called power
transformer. It connects two electrical circuit which means electrically
separated magnetically coupled. The transformer is connected with the grid. It
matches the grid voltage with generating voltage by stepping up the grid voltage
or stepping down the grid voltage.
Transformer sends the power to the transmission system sending end.
What is regional grid:
The interconnected transmission system of a state or a region is called the grid
of state or region. The state grids are interconnected with the help of tie lines
and form the regional grid. Simply we can say it as an infinity number of
electrical power system interconnection is called grid. It is just like Ocean.
Transmission system:
The power is transferred for long distance via transmission system.
Transmission system consist of transmission conductors, Transmission towers,
insulator, line reactor etc. It supplies only large blocks of power to the bulk
power station or very big consumers. It interconnects the neighboring
generating station in to power tool. i.e interconnection of two or more
generating stations. Tolerance of transmission line voltage is 5 to 10 % due to
variation of loads. Transmission is classified in to two categories according to
the Voltage level that transmitted on the transmission line.
● Primary Transmission
● Secondary transmission
Primary transmission:
To reduce the line loss or voltage drop, we have to step up the generation
voltage. Primary transmission voltages are 110kV, 132kV, 220kV, 400kV or
765kV. It uses three phase, 3 wire system. The highest transmission line in
India is 765 kV.
Secondary transmission:
At the receiving end substation, the voltage is stepped down to 66kV, 33kV,
22kV or 11kV using stepdown transformer. It forms the link between the
receiving end substation and secondary substation. It uses three phase three
wire system.
Distribution system:
The component of an electrical power system is connecting all the electrical
power consumers such as domestic applications, industry applications, etc. in
an area to bulk power sources or transmission lines is called a distribution
system. In distribution system deliver any amount (1 unit to 1500 units) of
power to the consumer. Distribution of power can be done by installing
distribution transformer on the poles or on plinth mounted or near the
consumers. The distribution system is classified into two categories
● Primary distribution
● Secondary distribution
Primary Distribution:
The primary transmission line voltage steps down to 11 kV or 6.6 kV using step
down transformer. It uses three phase three wire system.
Secondary Distribution:
These distribution deals with the end user. Primary distribution voltage further
stepping down to 440 Volts in three phase or 230 volts for single phase using
step down transformer. It uses three phase four wire system. The single phase
loads are connected between one phase to neutral wire.
