DISTRIBUTION NETWORK LAYOUTS

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Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Generation of Electrical Power
33kV max - Insulation, Size

Transmission of Electrical Power

To transmit A=3VI high V and low I are employed to reduce S, I2t
step-up transformers at the S point and step-down at R
(66kV) 132kV (grid) 275kV 400kV (super grid)
no consumers supplied en route - no restrictions on V value (15%)

Distribution of Electrical Power

consumers supplied regularly at short intervals along the line
legal requirements on V to be within specific limits of the rated value (6%)
liberalised market of electricity suppliers

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Electricity Supplies (from PES)
Type of supply
Depends upon the load of the installation

>500kVA - Medium Voltage (11kV) rather than at Low Voltage (415V)

- Consumer is responsible for the MV switchgear and the
MV/LV transformer

Total load from 1 x - Installation will be relatively simple

More extensive site,multiple load centres - multiple

- the consumer must operate their own MV distribution system -

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DISTRIBUTION
Public Distribution
SYSTEM 20MVA
33/11kV Primary Substation
20MVA
33/11kV
1250A 1250A 1250A

630A 630A 630A 630A

630A

630A 200A

KWh KWh
630A 200A
630A 630A 630A

630A 630A
630A 200A 630A
630A
KWh 630A Urban Distribution
200A
630A 200A

200A
G
G 630A 630A

630A 200A 200A 200A

Process Industry Hospital
KWh

Leisure Complex

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Choice of Distribution Network Layout
The choice of network layout is influenced by :

Supply availability targets

proportion of load disconnected for any one fault
time taken to restore the supply
duration of system voltage dip which can be tolerated
Budget limitations
cost of plant, switchgear and protection
Distribution of loads
Target value for maximum short circuit current
switchgear and plant ratings
Ease of operation
Flexibility for future expansion

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Radial System

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Radial System
Good for widely distributed loads
Used mainly for LV distribution

ADVANTAGES
Simplest system configuration
Easy to protect with time graded overcurrent

DISADVANTAGES
Occurrence of a single fault will result in complete loss of supply to
the load
Supply cannot be restored until fault is repaired - long disconnection
times

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Double Radial System (Parallel Feeders)
Used where good supply continuity is required (process industries)

Bus section open

treat as radial system
protect with non-directional overcurrent and earth fault
in the event of a fault supply is restored by closing bus-section
breakers (manual or auto changeover)

Bus section closed

no supply interruption for single fault, but higher fault levels
requires sophisticated protection
directional overcurrent and earth fault
unit protection

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E.g.

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Ring Type Distribution Systems

Ring systems are particularly suitable for installations where load is

concentrated in several distinct areas around site
MV/LV substations can be installed close to load centres

Also provide good flexibility for future expansion

break ring cable and install new MV/LV substation as required

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Closed Ring System
Two cables provide alternative paths to each MV/LV substation
no supply interruption for single cable fault

Closed ring system is expensive, both in terms of switchgear and

protection
Require 3 circuit breakers at each tee-off from ring
Require directional overcurrent or unit protection on each section of
ring (unit protection gives very fast fault clearance, therefore
minimises duration of voltage dip)

As for double radial, used only where high continuity of supply required

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E.g.

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Open Ring System
Where supply interruptions of moderate duration can be tolerated, closed
ring system may be modified by opening ring at one point
large saving in both switchgear and protection

The Normal Open Point (NOP) is selected so that the load current in each
half of the ring is approximately equal

The two halves of the ring can be considered as radial feeds

require two switches and only one circuit breaker at each tee-off from
ring
simple short circuit protection is provided on each of the feeder
breakers at the main substation

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E.g.

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Open Ring System

Occurrence of a single fault on the ring feeder results in loss of supply to

half the ring, i.e. 50% load disconnected

The supply can be restored by moving the NOP and reclosing the main
substation feeder breakers

Supply restoration time depends on time taken to locate fault and

reconfigure the ring

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 MAIN SUBSTATION

51/51N 51/51N

OPEN POINT

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 MAIN SUBSTATION

51/51N 51/51N

OPEN POINT

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 MAIN SUBSTATION

51/51N 51/51N

NEW
OPEN POINTS

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Earth Fault Flow Indicators (EFPI)
Before the ring can be reconfigured, the faulted section must be located

Time taken to locate the fault can be significant, particularly if site is

spread over a large area

Also practice of re-energising faulted system to locate fault can result in

unnecessary damage

An EFPI is a simple device which detects the passage of earth fault

current, and provides
flag for local indication
output contact to provide indication to a central control point

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 MAIN SUBSTATION

51/51N 51/51N

EFPI

OPEN POINT

EFPI

EFPI

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Application of Telecontrol
Reconfiguring the ring can be time consuming if visits to MV/LV
substations required to
check status of EFPIs
manually operate switches

Supply interruption times can be reduced using telecontrol

information from fault passage indicators, etc, is transmitted to a site
control centre
the ring switches are provided with an actuator to allow them to be
operated remotely
ring can then be reconfigured from the control centre, without the
need for a site visit

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