EE153 Notes No. 1 - The Electric Distribution System

The Electric Distribution System 1
EE 153
Electric Power Distribution Systems
Lecture Notes No. 1
The Distribution System
Prof. Rowaldo del Mundo

Electrical & Electronics Engineering Institute
College of Engineering
University of the Philippines
Electrical & Electronics Engineering Institute EE153 Electric Power Distribution Systems
University of the Philippines Prof. Rowaldo del Mundo
The Distribution System

1. The Electric Power System
2. Distribution Substation
3. Subtransmission System
4. Distribution Feeders
The Electric Power System
The Electric Power System

(Embedded Generator)
Coal Plant
Wind Farm
End
Hydro Plant Users
End
Users
Generation Transmission Distribution
System System System
Small-Hydro
Distribution System
The system of wires and associated facilities that

are owned by a franchised distribution utility.
It is used to deliver electric energy to End-Users
within the franchise area;
It extends between Transmission System and End-
User premises;
Distribution voltages in the Philippines
Primary : 4.16, 13.2/13.8, 23 or 34.5 kV
Secondary: 115/230 or 230 volts
Distribution of Electricity
Primary Distribution Lines
Subtransmission Lines
(Main Feeder)
Substation
Power Primary Distribution Lines
Transformer (Laterals)
Misc Loads
Distribution Secondary Distribution Lines

System Service
Drop
Residential Commercial Industrial

Distribution
Transformer
Distribution Substation
Primary Distribution Lines
Service Drop & Metering
Electricity Consumers
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
Load Characteristics
100 PEAK
80
Percent of Peak Load
60
40 OFF-
20 PEAK Load Profile of
Residential
Customer
12 4 8 12 4 8 12
100 PEAK
80
60
OFF-
40
Load Profile of
20 PEAK Commercial
Customer
12 4 8 12 4 8 12
100 PEAK
80
OFF-
60 PEAK
40
20
Load Profile of
Industrial
0 Customer
12 4 8 12 4 8 12
Average Demand
Load Factor PEAK
Peak Demand
Energy
Average Demand AVERAGE
Time
Annual kWh
8760 hrs
Annual kWh / 8760

Load Factor
Peak Demand
Distribution Substation
The Distribution Substation

Combination of switching, controlling and voltage step-down
equipment arranged to reduce sub-transmission voltage to
primary distribution voltage for distribution of electrical energy
to customers
PURPOSE
To take power at high voltage from the transmission
and/or subtransmission level, reduce its voltage, and
route it onto a number of primary voltage feeders for
distribution in the area surrounding it.
To perform operational and contingency switching and
protection duties at both the transmission and feeder
levels
Also provides a convenient local site for additional

equipment such as communications, storage of tools, etc.

Substations performance and economy interact greatly with the
(sub)transmission & feeder system.
The influence of Substations on the Cost & Reliability of T&D
often outweighs their own costs and reliability.
As delivery points of (Sub)Transmission System

Transmission system must reach and deliver power even
in cases where the task is costly or unreliable because of
other system constraints
As Starting points of Feeder System

If the substation is in a poor location from the standpoint
of the feeder system, it increases feeder cost and
decreases reliability
*Wikipedia
Elements of a Substation
6. Circuit breaker
A. Primary power lines' side 7. Current transformer
B. Secondary power lines' side 8. Lightning arrester
1. Primary power lines 9. Main transformer
2. Ground wire 10. Control building
3. Overhead lines 11. Security fence
4. Potential transformer 12. Secondary power lines
5. Disconnect switch

Incoming Transmission
FUNDAMENTAL PARTS
OF A SUBSTATION
1. HV Side Buswork and HV SIDE
Protection
The
2. The Transformer TRANSFORMER Site
3. LV Side Buswork and

Protection LV SIDE
4. The Substation Site

itself
Outgoing Feeders
HV Side Buswork & Protection

Functions:
Termination for incoming (Sub)transmission
Protection
Switching
Monitoring and Control
Metering
Represents from 1/4 to 1/3 of a substations total cost.
HV Side Buswork
& Protection
Radial Sub-transmission
Supply
*Willis, 2004

Loop or Dual Sub-transmission Supply
*Willis, 2004
A sub-transmission loop is not actually a

loop circuit it terminates at different
locations in the transmission grids but loops
through different substations.

Alternative Configurations for Dual-Feed Substation with Multiple
Transformers
*Willis, 2004

Substation bus/switching arrangements
a. Single Bus, Single Breaker
b. Double Bus, Double Breaker
c. Main and Transfer Bus
d. Double bus, Single Breaker
e. Ring bus
f. Breaker-and-a-Half
Single Bus Low Profile
*USDA, 2001
Single Bus High Profile
*USDA, 2001

Single-Bus
Advantages: 2. A single bus arrangement has
1. Lowest cost the lowest reliability.
2. Small land area required 3. Failure of a circuit breaker or a
3. Easily expandable bus fault causes loss of the
4. Simple in concept and operation entire substation.
5. Relatively simple for the 4. Maintenance switching can
application of protective relaying complicate and disable some of
the protective relay scheme and
Disadvantages: overall relay coordination.
1. High-profile arrangement 5. Maintenance at the upper
equipped with circuit breaker elevations of high-profile
bypass facilities does not provide arrangements necessitates de-
for circuit protection when bypass energization or protection of the
facilities are being used inside the lower equipment.
substation.
Sectionalized Bus
*USDA, 2001
Physically, the equipment can be organized similar to that for the single bus arrangement.

Sectionalized Bus
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Flexible operation 1. A sectionalized bus
2. Higher reliability than single arrangement has a higher cost
bus scheme than a single bus scheme.
3. Isolation of bus sections for 2. Additional circuit breakers are
maintenance required for sectionalizing.
4. Loss of only part of the 3. Sectionalizing may cause
substation for a breaker failure interruption of non-faulted
or a bus fault circuits.
Main and Transfer Bus

Low Profile
*USDA, 2001

High Profile
*USDA, 2001

1. Accommodation of circuit 1. An additional circuit breaker is
breaker maintenance while required for bus tie.
maintaining service and line 2. Since the bus tie breaker, have
protection to be able to be substituted for any
2. Reasonable in cost line breaker, its associated relaying
3. Fairly small land area may be somewhat complicated.
4. Easily expandable 3. Failure of a circuit breaker or a
bus fault causes loss of the entire
substation.
4. Somewhat complicated switching
is required to remove a circuit
breaker from service for
maintenance.
Ring Bus
*USDA, 2001

Ring Bus
Advantages:
sections. Some consider this,
1. Flexible operation
however, to be a second contingency
2. High reliability
factor.
3. Isolation of bus sections and circuit
2. Each circuit has to have its own
breakers for maintenance without
potential source for relaying.
disrupting circuit operation
3. This configuration is usually limited
4. Double feed to each circuit
to four circuit positions, although
5. No main buses
larger rings are in service, including
6. Expandable to breaker-and-a-half
10-position ring buses. A 6-position
configuration
ring bus is usually considered as a
7. Economic design
maximum limit for the number of
terminals in a ring bus.
Disadvantages:
4. This is a more involved relay
1. Ring may be split by faults on two
scheme since each breaker has to
circuits or a fault during breaker
respond to faults on two circuits.
maintenance to leave possibly
5.Automatic reclose schemes may be
undesirable circuit combinations
complex.
(supply/load) on the remaining bus
Breaker-and-a-Half
*USDA, 2001

Breaker-and-a-Half
1. Flexible operation 1. One-and-a-half breakers are
2. High reliability required per circuit.
3. Can isolate either main bus for 2. Relaying is involved, since the
maintenance without disrupting center breaker has to respond to
service faults of either of its associated
4. Can isolate any circuit breaker circuits.
for maintenance without disrupting 3. Each circuit should have its own
service potential source for relaying
6. Bus fault does not interrupt
service to any circuits
7. All switching done with circuit
breakers
Double Breaker-
Double Bus
*USDA, 2001

Double Breaker-Double Bus
1. Flexible operation 1. This configuration carries a high
2. Very high reliability cost.
3. Isolation of either main bus for 2. Two circuit breakers are required
maintenance without disrupting for each circuit.
service
4. Isolation of any circuit breaker for
maintenance without disrupting
service.
6. No interruption of service to any
circuits from bus fault
7. Loss of only one circuit for breaker
failure
8. All switching with circuit breakers.

Double Bus-Single Breaker
*Dietzman & Bolin, 2006

Double Bus-Single Breaker
Advantages Disadvantages
1. Permits some flexibility with two 1. One extra breaker is required for
operating buses. the bus tie.Four switches are
2. Either main bus may be isolated required per circuit.
for maintenance. 2. Bus protection scheme may
3. Circuit can be transferred readily cause loss of substation when it
from one bus to the other by use of operates if all circuits are connected
bus-tie breaker and bus selector to that bus.
disconnect switches. 3. High exposure to bus faults.
4. Line breaker failure takes all
circuits connected to that bus out of
service.
5. Bus-tie breaker failure takes
entire substation out of service.

Substation bus/switching arrangements
Config. Reliability Cost Required Area
Single Bus Least reliable - single failure can Least cost (1.0) Least area - fewer
cause complete outage fewer components components
Double Bus, Highly reliable - duplicated High cost (1.8) - Greater area - twice
Double components; single failure normally duplicated components as many components
Breaker isolates single Component
Main Bus and Least reliable - same as Single Bus, High cost (1.76) - Low area requirement-
Transfer but flexibility in operating & fewer components fewer component
maintenance with transfer bus
Double Bus, Moderately reliable - depends on High cost (1.78) - Moderate area - more
Single arrangement of components and more components components
Breaker bus
Ring Bus Highly reliable - single failure Moderare cost (1.56) - Moderate area -
isolates more components increases
with number of circuits
Breaker-and- Highly reliable - single circuit failure Moderare cost (1.57) - Greater area - more
a-Half isolates single circuit, bus failures breaker-and-a-half for components per
do not affect circuits each circuit circuit
HV Switchyard Control System

Interlocks
Q15 Q25 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Q15
Q0
Q0 Q25
Q9
Disconnect Switches Q1, Q2 and Q9 can be operated

Q8 only
when breaker Q0 is open (protection against switching under
load)
Breaker Q0 cannot be closed with disconnect switches Q1, Q2
and Q9 in the intermediate position (fault location)
Disconnect switches Q1 and Q2 are mutually interlocked so
that only one can be closed at a time

Interlocks
Q15 Q25 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Q15
Q0
Q0 Q25
Q9
Q8
When the bus-ties is closed, a second disconnect switch (Q1 or
Q2) belonging to the tied system can be closed, one of the closed
disconnect switches can then be opened (change of bus under
load)
Disconnect switches Q1 and Q2 can be operated only if the related
bus earthing switch Q15 or Q25 is open

Interlocks
Q15 Q25 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Q15
Q0
Q0 Q25
Q9
Q8
Disconnect switch Q9 can be operated only when earthing

switch Q8 is open (taking account of other end if necessary)
Earthing switch Q8 can be operated only when disconnect
switch Q9 is open (taking account of other end of outgoing
line if necessary)

Interlocks
Q15 Q25 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Q15
Q0
Q0 Q25
Q9
Q8
Disconnect Switches Q1, Q2 and Q9 can be operated only

when maintenance earthing switches Q51/Q52 are open
Maintenance earthing switches Q51/Q52 can be operated only
when disconnect switches Q1, Q2 and Q9 are open

Interlocks
Q15 Q25 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Q15
Q0
Q0 Q25
Q9
Q8
The tie-breaker Q0 can be opened only if not more than one
bus disconnect switch in each branch is closed (tie-breaker
lock-in)
One bus earthing switch Q15 or Q25 can be operated if in
the respective bus section all bus disconnect switches of
the corresponding bus system are open

Interlocks
Q15 Q25 Q1 Q2 Q1 Q2
Q15
Q0
Q0 Q25
Q9
Q8
All interlocks remain active if the auxiliary power fails

An interlock release switch cancels the interlock conditions.
Switching operations are then the responsibility of the authorized
person
The Transformer
Distribution Substations utilize
one (1) to six (6) Transformers to
convert incoming power from
sub-transmission voltage to the
primary distribution voltage.
Transformers are not only the
raison d etre for distribution
substations but often represent the
largest portion of the cost, typically
representing from 1/2 to 2/3 of the
total substation cost.
The Transformer
Substation Capacity
- Sum of all the rated capacity of each transformer
e.g., Substation Capacity for 2 25MVA transformers is 50MVA.
Transformers Types
- Separate Single-Phase Transformers in a rural one-
transformer substation
- Three-Phase Transformers
- Special Types
(low footprints, high impedance, & Three-Winding)
Number of Transformers in a Substation
- Single Transformer
- Multiple Transformers
Reliability & contingency support
Size & transportability
Expandability
The Transformer
Transformer Configuration in
Substations
1. Multiple transformers are all
served from a common source.
2. Exclusive feeder service by
each transformer.
*Willis, 2004
LV Side Buswork & Protection

Termination for outgoing Feeders
Protection
Switching OUTDOOR
Voltage Regulation
Metering
Representing 1/15 to 1/5
of a substations total cost

Protection
Switching INDOOR
Voltage Regulation
Metering

Protection
Switching
Voltage Regulation
Metering
INDOOR
GAS-INSULATED SWITCHGEAR

LV Side Substation Arrangement
Single (Bus) Feeder Secondary Selective Ring Bus
The Substation Site

Elements of Site Costs
Land
Civil/Mechanical/Electrical
Feeder Gateway
Public Safety and Aesthetic
Taxes and Permits
The Substation Site

Land
Identify siting needs far in advance through long-term planning.
Buy sites at whatever time provides the lowest present-worth cost
(taking into account the expected escalation in price and the risk that
current forecasts and plans may not be perfect).
Fence immediately and store several pieces of spare or surplus
substation equipment: a fenced yard with breakers and transformer
inside makes it clear that the site is a utility substation, avoiding
accusations of non-disclosure later on.
The Substation Site

Civil/Electrical/Mechanical
Preparation includes providing
- Grounding grid
- Foundations for racks and equipment
- Underground electric cables (T&D)
- Underground ductwork for control and
communications cables
- Control house
- Other facilities to support the electrical
function of the substation
The Substation Site

Feeder Gateway
Routing of large number of feeders out of a
substation
- Challenging in congested and restricted
sites.
- If not carefully picked far in advance,
the sites available to a utility may have
severe limitations on the routing of the
distribution ROW and easements out of
the site.
- Even though all construction is intended
to be overhead, feeders may have to be
routed several meters in underground
ducts before space above ground
becomes available.
The Substation Site

Public Safety and Aesthetic
Site includes, at a minimum, a fence or wall around the site to
secure it from public access.
In problem areas, fence may need to be up to 10 meters high.
Utility may be required to landscape the site.
Substation may be enclosed in
what appears to be a building
(Cottage Substation) to hide it.
The Substation Site
Site for Outdoor Site for Indoor

Substation Substation
Types of Substation
Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS)

INDOOR
Air-Insulated Substation (AIS)

OUTDOOR
Types of Substation
Air-Insulated Substation (AIS) Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS)

OUTDOOR INDOOR
Distribution Substation Design

Air-Insulated Substation (AIS)
Minimum phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground clearances must
be maintain using air as insulation.
Air-Insulated Substation open design must not be touched.
Always set up in the form of fenced-in electrical operating area,
to which only authorized personnel have access.
Directly exposed to the effects of the environment, such as
weather, and especially lightning.
It has to be designed based not only on the electrical but also
environmental specifications.
Requires bigger land area than the GIS.
Distribution Substation Design

Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS)
Uses a superior dielectric gas (SF6) at a moderate pressure for
phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground insulation.
The high-voltage conductors, circuit breaker interrupters, switches,
current transformers, and voltage transformers are in SF6 gas inside
grounded metal enclosures.
The atmospheric air insulation used in a conventional, air-insulated
substation (AIS) requires meters of air insulation to do what SF6 can do
in centimeters. GIS can therefore be smaller than AIS by up to a factor
of 10.
In a GIS, the active parts are protected from deterioration due to
atmospheric air, moisture, contamination, etc. As a result, GIS is more
reliable and requires less maintenance than AIS.
GIS is mostly used where space is expensive or not available.
Substation Size and Spacing

The set of substation service areas for a T&D system must tile
the utility service territory, covering all locations where there is
any demand, and each substation must have sufficient capacity
to serve the load in its service area
As the distance between substations
(SPACING) is increased, fewer
substations are needed, but the
average substation service area
becomes larger, and substations will
need a greater individual capacity to
serve their loads.
Example
6 S/S serving an area of 108 sq. miles, evenly spaced in a hexagonal pattern 4.56 miles apart.
Each S/S serves 18 sq. mi. with a peak load of 58.5 MW (65 MVA) with 80 MVA capacity at 80% util.
If the capacity of each S/S were doubled, to 162 MVA, each could serve twice the area (36 miles) and
only half as many substations would be needed

Area, and load, increase with the square of the spacing
Doubling the capacity will result in an increase of 41% in permissible substation
spacing (e.g., 4.56 mi 6.45 mi.)
4.56 mi 6.45 mi
80 MVA S/S 160 MVA S/S

Area, and load, increase with the square of the spacing
Doubling the spacing, to 9.12 miles, would require construction of substations
with four (4) times the capacity, or 324 MVA each, but on average only 1/4 as
many would be needed
4.56 mi
9.12 mi
80 MVA S/S 320 MVA S/S

Cost Impact of Changing Substation Size
Subtransmission System
Different Types of Subtransmission Systems
Radial-Type Subtransmission
Loop-Type Subtransmission
Grid or Network-Type
Radial-type Subtransmission
Bulk power
source bus
Substransmission
Circuits
Distribution
Substations
The radial system is simple and

has a low first cost but it also
has a low service continuity.
Dual-source Single-source,
Subtransmission radial
More reliable: Subtransmission
Faults on one Least reliable:
of the radial Faults on the
subtransmission radial
circuits should subtransmission
not cause circuit
interruptions to can cause
substations. interruptions to
Double-circuit multiple
faults can substations.
cause multiple
station
interruptions. *Short, 2006
Loop-type Subtransmission
Bulk power
source bus
In this design, a single

Subtransmission circuit originating from a
Circuits bulk power bus runs through
a number of substations and
Distribution returns to the same bus.
Substations
Grid-or-Network-Type Subtransmission
Bulk power
source buses
Distribution
Substations
Subtransmission
Circuits Has more than one bulk power
source. It has the greatest service
reliability but it requires costly
control of power flow and relaying.
Subtransmission Cost vs.

Each Voltage
has a range
over which it is
best suited to
application
Cost per MW of the subtransmission necessary to

feed distribution substations, as a function of size
Substation Spacing and

Feeder System Interaction
81 MVA 54 MVA
15.6 sq. mi. 10.4 sq. mi.
4.56 mi
3.72 mi
A reduction in size from 81 MVA to 54 MVA, with all other

aspects of the substation held the same, results in 33%
reduction in substation service area, and
A reduction in the required reach of the feeder system.
Substation Spacing and

Feeder System Interaction
Cost of the Feeder System (on a per MW basis) increases

linearly up to a maximum economical reach of the primary
voltage being used, then increases exponentially.

Composite cost of the Entire T&D System
Cost per MW of the combined Subtransmission-Substation-Feeder System

as a function of size and spacing.
Solid line represents the cost with 138 kV. Dotted line represents the cost, assuming that planners
can choose the best subtransmission voltage appropriate to the spacing.
Substation Siting and Sizing
Where to locate the substation and what capacity?

There is an Optimal
Site, Size and
Service Area
Cost of an Entire Substation

Equipment Initial PW
Subtransmission, per S/S 8% 8%
A Substation Consists of Three
Substation, incl. Site 16% 22%
Levels of Equipment
Feeder system for S/S area 76% 70%
Total 100% 100%
Substation Planning is best done by considering the impact of

any siting or sizing decision on all three levels.

TYPE COST SENSITIVITIES INVOLVED IN SUBSTATION SITING
Primary Feeder The biggest impact in changing site and size is on the feeder system. This is always the
Impact dominating variable cost in substation siting studies.
Subtransmission Some sites are near available transmission lines or can be reached at low cost. Others require
Impact lengthy or underground-only access adding to cost.
Feeder Gateway Getting feeders out of a substation requires available routes with sufficient clearance. Confined
Costs or restricted sites mean higher costs in taking feeders underground or over non-optimal routes
around nearby barriers to get power out of the substation.
Geographic Nearby terrain or public facilities may constrain feeder routing costs. Close proximity to a large
Constraints park or cemetery means feeders must be routed around them on the way to the load, which
generally raises feeder costs.
Site Preparation The slope, drainage, underlying soil, and rock determine the cost of preparing the site for a
substation and of building the basic foundations, etc. The cost of transporting material to the site
may also differ from one site to another by significant amounts. Aesthetic requirements also
vary.
Land Cost The cost of the land is a factor. Some sites cost much more than others.
Weather Sites on hilltops and in some other locations are more exposed to lightning and adverse
Exposure weather than average, slightly increasing repair and O&M costs.
Distribution Feeders
The Feeder System

Mission
To distribute power from a few system sources
(substations) to many service (distribution)
transformers, that are scattered throughout the service
territory, always in close proximity to the customer.
Goals
Economy Total cost must be kept as low as possible
Electrical Deliver power required by all customers
Service Quality Reliability of service must be high and
voltage quality must be satisfactory
The Feeder System
Substations and Feeders

Idealized Distribution Feeder Route Covering Substation Service Area
The Feeder System

Feeders emanate from substations that are optimally located.
But some circumstances forces planners not to follow an optimal
route EE153 Electric Power Distribution Systems
Electrical & Electronics Engineering Institute
The Feeder System

Central Location for the Substation
Arrange feeder system so that the substation serves the
distribution needs of the area all around it
Feeders must reach between Substations
Interaction of substation spacing and feeder reach economics
Feeder line types and loading criteria used in the design of the
feeder system must be able to move power reliably, economically,
and within engineering criteria (loading and voltage drop) to all
locations between substations
Contiguous, exclusive service areas
Lay out substations and feeders so that all have exclusive,
contiguous areas
The Feeder System

Vaguely Circular Service Area of Substations

Feeders Must Cover Service Area of Substations
The Feeder System

A majority of the load is relatively far from the
substation
Vaguely circular substation service area
Each feeder serves roughly triangular slices
Feeders will have to carry more than half
of the substations load more than half
of the distance to its boundary with other
substation service areas
The Feeder System

Power must be delivered to the proximity of the
Customer
Feeders must reach each of the service (distribution) transformer
along their routes
The Feeder System

Branching and Splitting Structure
To cover its service area so that primary-level delivery reaches
sufficiently close to all customers, the feeder system typically
splits its routes many times in dendrillic configuration
Feeder consists of a single route

leaving the substation, which
branches and re-branches, gradually
splitting the power flow into more but
smaller-capacity routes for delivery
as power moves from the substation
to the customer
The Feeder System

Feeder Distance
Lebesgue 1 metric (taxicab cab travel measure) works better than
Euclidian metric
There are usually many routes, all the same shortest distance,
between a substation and a particular customer or service point
But, which route is the least cost?
D X Y
2 2
D X Y
The Feeder System

Most Feeders are the same size
Feeders are planned by starting with the
premise that the main trunk (the initial
segment out of the substation, through which
all the power is routed) will be the largest
economical conductor in the conductor set.
The feeder layout is arranged so this segment
picks up enough load for its peak load to fall
somewhere in the middle or upper half of that
largest conductors economical range
The Feeder System
Developing Feeder System: Interaction Between Substation and Feeders

Distribution Feeder Categories
Capacity
Constrained
Voltage
Drop
Constrained
Three Categories of Planning Situations with Respect to Feeder Layout

Feeder Layout in Rural Areas
Rural distribution systems are often not profitable
Voltage drop limits design
Losses costs are high
Loads vary from very small single-phase to medium sized three-
phase
Distances are tremendous
Reliability requirements are below average
Two Principles of Best
Practices in Rural Distribution
1. Application of higher voltage
2. Use of single-phase feeders

Feeder Layout in Rural Areas (Characteristics)
1. High primary voltage are favored
2. Single phase feeders are common
3. Extreme and innovative measures are often used
4. No provision is made for contingency backup of feeders
5. Very branch-like planning

Underground Feeder Layout in Urban Areas
Capacity limits design
Layout is restricted to the street grid
Loads are large and invariably three-phase
Fixed cost is very high
The cost of capacity shortfall is extremely high
Reliability requirements are above average

Underground Feeder Layout in Urban Areas
(Characteristics)
Loop Feeders are the rule

Maximum size cable is
often installed every where
Very grid-like planning
Feeder Layout
Distribution Configuration
Feeder Layout
Radial Feeder Layout
Multi-Branch Layout Big Trunk Layout
Basic Feeder Routing Schemes
Feeder
Layout
Radial
Feeder
Layout
Which is
best?
Feeder Layout
Sectionalization Targets SAIFI & MAIFI
Designing the protection scheme for the feeder so that it limits the
number of customers interrupted by any failure as much as practicable
Divides a feeder into sections in order to isolate faults
Feeder Layout
Switching Design Targets SAIDI
Providing for alternate feed routes and a way to bring them into
operation so that the system can tolerate the outage of a major
component(s) while still providing good service
Switchable zones are contiguous portions of a feeder that lie between
switches
Feeder Layout
FOUR ASPECTS OF THE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
FOR FEEDER SECTIONALIZATION AND SWITCHING
CONFIGURATION
Does the feeder system have alternate pathways through which power
can be routed when outages close off normal pathway?
Are there switch points provided so that instantly, automatically, or
manually power can be re-routed as needed?
Configuration planning involves selecting layouts that fit the needs and
approach to contingency backup planning being used in the area.
CAPACITY
Do the alternative pathways that are being arranged for switchable
zones have sufficient capability, both in terms of current (load) and
voltage (load reach), to meet at least temporary (emergency,
contingency) criteria when serving the additional load?
Feeder Layout
SECTIONALIZATION
Isolate any fault or equipment malfunction in a manner that minimizes
the number of customers whose service is interrupted
At the poor end of the sectionalization scale:
A fault anywhere results in loss of service to all customers
served by the feeder
At the other end of the sectionalization scale:
A feeder where any fault can be isolated while interrupting
service to no more than one customer
SWITCH TIMING
Restore then Repair Strategy: Switching time affects only the duration
of interruptions
Hours (for manual operation of switch)
Instantaneous (with fast automatic rollover switch)
Feeder Layout
OVERALL
PLANNING
APPROACH
FOUR ASPECTS OF
THE PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS FOR
SECTIONALIZATION
AND SWITCHING
Contingency Support and

Switching Design
Planning for Alternate routes of service during

equipment outages or emergencies is the major
aspect influencing selection of a feeders capacity,
type of route, or layout
In the event of the outage of a major feeder
segment, service can be restored by:
1. Opening switches to isolate the portion which is out of service
2. Closing switches to connect the rest of the feeder to other source(s)

Switching Design
Support from the Same Substation is Desirable due to
the following reasons:
Substation Load Balance
Feeder Load Reach
Make Before Break Switching

Switching Design
Single-Zone or Loop Contingency Backup
Simplest approach to feeder contingency backup
During contingencies, the feeder faces four times the total burden
(i.e. it must move twice its normal load, on average twice as far)
and it will cost nearly double what it would otherwise cost

Switching Design
Single-Zone or Loop Contingency Backup
Initial PW Cost of
Feeder increase
by 10% to
provide the
Contingency
Support
Points A (tie-point) & B (point of worst voltage drop during

contingency operation)
Dotted Lines show the points where voltage drop reaches Range
B (ANSI Standard 10.8%)

Switching Design
Switched Contingency Zones
Alternative arrangement for Contingency Backup
Advantages:
Additional load
transferred to any
neighboring feeder is
only a fraction of a full
feeder load
Load reach increase for
power flow during Disadvantages:
emergency
More switch have to be operated
in order to restore service

Switching Design
Normally open
switch
Switching flexibility around the

substation is often provided by
installing lines and switches near
the substation. Any one feeder
can be isolated near the
substation and switched onto
either of two neighbors

Switching Design
Multi-Zone Contingency Scheme
Three-Branch/Three-Zone scheme with nine switches

Switching Design
Multi-Zone Contingency Scheme
Low Capital Cost

Switching Design
Required Number of Zones
to meet feeder-level contingency requirements
E 1
MAX 1
T E , D 1.125
Zones Required
B2
Where E the economical rating of lines used for tie support

T the thermal rating of lines used for tie support
D ratio of maximum voltage drops permitted under
emergency and normal operation
B Ratio of capital cost, contingency plan over no
contingencies planned

Switching Design
EXAMPLE
Line Type Low Loading High Loading Load Reach
#2 0 MW 1.6 MW 3.5 Miles
4/0 1.6 MW 3.7 MW 3.6 Miles To be used
336 3.7 MW 5.1 MW 3.6 Miles
for
switchable
636 5.1 MW 8.5 MW 3.5 Miles
trunks and
1113 8.5 MW 12.4 MW 2.7 Miles feeder ties
Thermal Limits: For 336 = 10.3 MW & For 636 = 14.3 MW @ 12.47 kV
Contingency/normal voltage drop ratio = 10.8%/7.5% = 1.44
Desired Budget Ratio for Contingency/No Contingency = 1.1

Switching Design
Averaging the economical loading points and thermal limits of the line
types,
E = (5.1 + 8.5)/2 = 6.8 MW
T = (10.3 + 14.3)/2 = 12.3 MW
Then, 6.8 1
MAX 1
12.3 6.8 , 1.44 1.125
Zones Required 2
1.1
MAX 2.24,3.17
2.62 3 Zones
1.21

Switching Design
If the Utility is willing to spend 1.8 times the minimum possible feeder
layout cost in order to gain contingency support, then
MAX 2.24,3.17
Zones Required 0.97 1 Zone
3.24
And the system can support contingency operation of feeders
and transformers with single zone/loop configurations

Switching Design
Alternating the feeders from

different transformers by
rotation makes contingency
support for the transformer level
via feeder switching somewhat
easier to arrange. If either
transformer is lost, each of its
feeders lies between feeders
which are still in service, making
the job of picking up its load
from those remaining in service
somewhat easier.
Protection and Sectionalization

of the Feeder System
The primary purpose of protection engineering is safety and
protection, not customer service reliability
Protection Coordination of the distribution system is an

Engineering Department Function and not a Planning
Department Function
The manner in which the protection is applied, particularly the

determination of the number and locations of protective devices
installed in the distribution system and the coordination of their
operating characteristics, has a great deal to do with the
reliability of service that the utilitys customers see.

Feeder System Protection
Over-voltage protection
Over-current protection Has something to
do with
Protective Equipment Sectionalization
Breakers
Switches
Fuses
Cutouts
Automatic Line Reclosers
Sectionalizers

A 600A breaker relay at the
substation will pick-up
current above 600A.
Fuse at A must have three
characteristics:
a) It must be able to
interrupt at least 700A;
b) It must interrupt when
the current is 160A or
more; and
c) It must not operate
when the current is 58A
58A
700A Fault

The 600A breaker relay and the
fuse at A povides protection for
the entire feeder.
But, it is not necessarily
sectionalized!
If a fault occurs from Point A to
the dotted line, and the breaker
relay picks up and opened the
breaker, it will interrupt 162 DTs.
If the Fuse at A operates
instead, only 47 DTs will be
interrupted
58A
Optimal location of
600A Fault line
700A Fault
fuse

Customer minutes of interruption avoided due to the installation

of each of the 33 fuses that can be installed on the feeder

Alternative protection and sectionalization scheme using one fuse to protect the pair
of lateral extensions on both sides of the trunk. Requires only 1/2 of the devices

Large-trunk feeder with
the mid-trunk fuse at its
optimal sectionalization
position along with
switches, added there
and at the end of the
trunk end, so that the
farther section can be
restored through tie
switching in the event of
an outage of the near-
substation trunk section

Large trunk design requires 34 Three-branch design requires 56

protective devices protective devices, but delivers 5%
better SAIDI. In addition, a further
three devices can be added for a
total of 20% better SAIFI

Use of Reclosers and Sectionalizers


EE153 Notes No. 1 - The Electric Distribution System

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EE153 Notes No. 1 - The Electric Distribution System

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The Electric Distribution System 1

Lecture Notes No. 1

The Distribution System

Prof. Rowaldo del Mundo

The Distribution System

The Electric Power System

The Electric Power System

The system of wires and associated facilities that

Distribution Secondary Distribution Lines

Residential Commercial Industrial

Primary Distribution Lines

Service Drop & Metering

Annual kWh / 8760

The Distribution Substation

Also provides a convenient local site for additional

The Distribution Substation

As delivery points of (Sub)Transmission System

As Starting points of Feeder System

The Distribution Substation

The Distribution Substation

3. LV Side Buswork and

4. The Substation Site

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

A sub-transmission loop is not actually a

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

Single Bus Low Profile

Single Bus High Profile

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

Main and Transfer Bus

Main and Transfer Bus

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

*Dietzman & Bolin, 2006

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Side Buswork & Protection

HV Switchyard Control System

Disconnect Switches Q1, Q2 and Q9 can be operated

HV Switchyard Control System

HV Switchyard Control System

Disconnect switch Q9 can be operated only when earthing

HV Switchyard Control System

Disconnect Switches Q1, Q2 and Q9 can be operated only

HV Switchyard Control System

HV Switchyard Control System

All interlocks remain active if the auxiliary power fails

LV Side Buswork & Protection

LV Side Buswork & Protection

LV Side Buswork & Protection

LV Side Buswork & Protection

Single (Bus) Feeder Secondary Selective Ring Bus

The Substation Site

The Substation Site

The Substation Site

The Substation Site

The Substation Site

The Substation Site

Site for Outdoor Site for Indoor

Gas-Insulated Substation (GIS)