Memorandum

To:
Professor Karen Thompson
From:
Kyle Zeller
Date:
10 October 2015
Subject:
Technical Definition and Description
________________________________________________________________________
This memo informs the readers of the following materials intended audience, purpose,
and placement for my technical writing project 2. Following this memo will be my
technical definition and technical description. For this project the term I chose to define
and describe is power distribution network.
Audience
The intended audience of this document is the general populace and those who have an
interest into breaking into the field of power distribution. This information is good
general knowledge for the public to have as it equips them with an understanding of the
complexity of the power grid which a large majority of the worlds population is heavily
reliant upon. However the audience is expected to have a small basic knowledge of
electricity.
Purpose
Nearly all people have some interaction with electric devices on a daily basis. Due to this
daily interaction people often take this extremely complicated system for granted. This
leads to problems when the system needs maintenance and improvements because the
power grid is a government regulated system.
Communities actually have a large amount of control over the price of their power. Most
communities have to approve power rate price increases with a vote, and its very easy to
understand why most people would automatically vote no to any price increase. Who
wants to pay more for anything? However, this mentality is dangerous because of the
complexity and instantaneous nature of the power grid which by extension need regular
maintenance and upgrades. With that being said this information will properly educate
the public on the pros and cons of choosing to not support their power grids structure as
well as provide a base to build basic knowledge of power distribution.
Placement
The best placement for this information would be on a website ideally with connections
to a company or group of professional electrical engineers. Along with this information
would be well placed keywords and search engine markers to make this information not
only appear high on query lists but also easy to find with a wide variety of laymens
terms.

Power Distribution Network Explanation

What is the Power Distribution Network?

Simply put the power distribution network is the complex system that delivers power
from the source of generation to the site of consumption. Sounds difficult? Well, it does
all of these transfers instantaneously. Due to the nature of how humans understand power
demand and supply must be in sync at all times. This in turn means that when a light
switch, a computer, or any other electronic device is plugged in and turned on power
production must increase in real time. This is why the power distribution network is so
complex and so important. Not only does this system have transfer power across
hundreds of miles at all hours of the day, it must also match supply to demand at the
speed of light. Simple right?
Where is begins
This system starts at the production site of power. Depending where you live your power
will come from the closest power plant that has a deal with your local power distributor.
For example, I live in Moscow Idaho, my local power distributor is Avista Utilities and
they have a deal with the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River in Washington. So
when I turn on a light switch my power generally comes from that power plant.
Power plants generally start at extremely high voltages which are broadcasted at high
voltages this is due to a relationship known as Ohms law. Simply put, for the sake of
power distribution Ohms law tells us that when we move power long distances we lose
less of it if the power has a very high voltage.
Where is Goes
Due to this the distribution network is set up in a way that has several way points which
are in the form of substations. Substations are places where power is often transformed
from one voltage to another. The average high voltage of transmission is 155,000 volts to
765,000 volts, this level of voltage is so high most applications cannot use it so the
voltage must be stepped down to a usable level through one of these substations. Often to
step down voltage to usable levels multiple substations are needed.
Getting some Use
Factories can function in the range of 33,000 volts to the same range as homes at 120
volts. After the power has been routed through a substation to a near proper voltage it will
often again be stepped down in a small transformer on a pole within feet of its final
destination.
How it comes Together
At each substation in the power distribution network there is measuring and monitoring
equipment relaying information back to a central command post which helps allocate
power where it needs to go. Basically the only way the grid can keep up with demand is
by carefully monitoring and regulating all parts of the systems simultaneously.

Power Distribution Network Explanation

What is a Power Distribution Network and how does it work?

The Power Distribution Network (PDN)

The Definition of a Power Distribution Network is the network that manages and delivers
power from the source to the consumers efficiently in real time which they do through a
computer controlled and monitored system set up at nearly all points.. This picture is a
simplified branch of a PDN. In reality a PDN is much more like a tangled web, going in
multiple facets radiating from the central starting location of a power plant.
Power Plant
All Networks are tied into a Power Plant, most are tied into multiple. Power plants are the
source of the majority of power in a PDN and have to be tied into the monitoring
equipment so they can match their output to demand in real time.
Transmission Substation
After leaving the power plant the power is run through transformers which increase the
voltage from anywhere between 155,000 volts to 765,000 volts. This is because of the
application of one of the fundamental laws of electricity simplifies to prove that less
energy is lost when power is transmitted at a high voltage over long distances. So as the
energy is moved from the source which is the power plant it often needs to travel a great
distance, hence the power is given a high voltage.
High Voltage Transmission Lines (HVTL)

Power Distribution Network Explanation

High voltage transmission lines are the means to transport high voltage power for
various reasons. The leading one being arc prevention. Due to the nature of high voltage
power there is a strong potential for arcing. (Arcing is the phenomenon in which
electricity flows through the air seeking a path of least resistance to ground, it is similar
to man-made lightning.) In order to protect people, animals, and the power grid itself
HVTL are often high up away from ground and have various safety features built into
them.
Power Substation
Once the PDN travels through the HVTL it reaches another power substation that drops
the voltage down to a more usable level often around the level of 250 volts. Until it
reaches a particular section of the power grid.
Transformer Drum
The transformer drum is the last step in the PDN before the power reaches the consumer.
These drums step down the voltage the final time to the 120 voltage that often is used in
home wall outlets.

APA Citation from source:

Brain, M., & Roos, D. (n.d.). How Power Grids Work. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
Photo taken from:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power4.htm