UNIT I INTRODUCTION

1. What is meant by power supply system?

The conveyance of electric power from a power station to consumers premises is known as power supply
system. A power supply system consists of three principal components; power station, transmission lines and distribution
system.

2. What is meant by Transmission and Distribution system?

Transmission System:
The electric power is generated at the power stations, which are located far away from consumers. It is then
transmitted over large distances to load centres with help of conductors. These lines are known as transmission lines. The
power station, transmission lines and load centres are called as transmission system.
Distribution System:
The electric power is transferred from load centres to the consumer premises with help of conductors, which is
known as distribution system.

3. What are the different types of Power supply system?

Different types of power supply system:
1) DC system
i) DC- 2 wire system
ii) DC-2 wire mid point earthed
iii) DC-3 wire
2) Single phase AC system
i) 1-2 wire
ii) 1-2 wire with mid point earthed
iii) 1-3 wire
3) Two phase AC system
i) 2 Three wire
ii) 2 Four wire
4) Three phase AC system
i) 3 3 wire
ii) 3 4 wire
4. What are the various components of power supply system?
Various components of power supply system:

(AU: Nov/Dec 2003)

1) Generating station
)
Primary transmission
3) Secondary transmission
4) Primary distribution
5) Secondary distribution
6) Feeders
7) Distributors
8) Service mains
5. What are the different types of power plants?
Different types of power plants:
1) Hydraulic power plant
2) Thermal power plant
3) Atomic power plant
4) Diesel power plant
5) Gas power plant
6) Wind power plant
7) Tidal power plant
8) Solar power plant
6. Draw a single line diagram of AC power supply system.

(AU: Nov/Dec 2004)

7.Draw a single line diagram of a DC power supply system.

8. What are the different operating voltages used for generation, primary and secondary transmission in AC power
supply systems in India?

I) The operating voltages for generation:

a. 11 kV
b. 33kV
c. 66kV
II) The operating voltages for primary
transmission:
a. 132 kV

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b. 230 kV
c. 400kV
III) The operating voltages for secondary
transmission:
a. 110 kV
b. 132 kV
c. 230 kV
9. Draw a schematic diagram of secondary distribution system.
10. Define Feeder, distributor and service mains.

11.

12.

13.

14.
15.

(AU: Apr/May 2005)

(i) Feeder: The lines, that connects the distribution station, and distributor is known
as feeder.
(ii) Distributor: A common bus bar that connects the feeder and the service main is
known as
distributor.
(iii) Service mains: The lines that connect the distributor and consumers are known as
service
List the advantages ofmains.
high voltage transmission.
Advantages of high voltage transmission:
1) It reduces volume of conductor material
2) Increases the transmission efficiency
3) Decreases the percentage line drop.
4) Reduces the volume of copper required, which in turn reduce cost of
conductor.
State Kelvins law.
Kelvins law states that
"The variable part of annual charge should be equal to the cost of annual losses due to the energy wasted in the
conductor for
most economical working"
What are the limitations of Kelvins law?
Limitations of Kelvins law:
1) It is not easy to estimate the energy loss in the line without actual load curves, which are not available at the time of
2) estimation.
The assumption that annual cost on account of interest and depreciation on the capital outlay is in the form P1+P2a is strictly
3) speaking not true.
4) For instance, in cables neither the cost of cable dielectric and sheath nor the cost of laying vary in this manner.
This law does not take into account of several physical factors like safe current density, mechanical strength, corona loss,
5) etc.,
The conductor size determined by this law may not always be practicable one because it may be too small for the safe
carrying
of necessary
Define
Break-even
distance.
current.
The break-even distance is defined as the distance at which the cost of A.C transmission lines and cost of
Interest
and depreciation
theequal
capital
outlay cannot be determined accurately.
D.C
transmission
lines are on
at an
level.
List the disadvantages of DC transmission.

Disadvantages of D.C transmission:

1) The breaking of direct current is very difficult. Hence the D.C circuit breakers are very
costly
2) The terminal equipments are very costly.
3) The transformers cannot be used in intermediate stages to boost the voltage.
4) Cost of converters and inverters are high.
5) The converter and inverter generate the harmonics on both A.C and D.C sides.
6) The A.C and D.C harmonic filters are costly.
16. List the different types of DC links.
Different types of D.C links:
1) Monopolar link
2) Homopolar link
3) Bipolar link
4) Back to back link
17. Define Short Circuit Ratio (SCR)
The Short Circuit Ratio (SCR) is defined as the ratio of short circuit level at the converter bus to the rated
D.C power.
i.e. Short Circuit Ratio (SCR) = Short circuit level at the converter bus / Rated DC
power
If SCR is less than 3, the AC system is said to be weak. The conventional constant extinction angle control may not be
satisfactory with
AC system.ofThe
recovery
inverters following the clearing of fault in the connected AC system can also be
18. What areweak
the limitations
high
voltage of
transmission?
problematic.
Limitations of high voltage transmission:
1) The increased cost of insulating the conductors.
2) The increased cost of transformer, switchgear and other terminal
apparatus.
2

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Tansmission & Distribution

Therefore, there is a limit to the higher transmission voltage. This limit is reached when the saving in cost of conductor
material due to higher voltage is offset by the increased cost of insulation, transformer, switchgear etc.,
19. List the various types of distribution systems.
Various distribution systems:
1) A.C distribution system.
i) Primary distribution system
ii) Secondary distribution system.
2) D.C distribution system.
i) 2 - wire dc system
ii) 3 - wire dc system.
20. List the different types of distribution systems based on connection
According to connection, the types of distribution system
are:
1) Radial system
2) Ring main system
3) Interconnected system.
21. What are the different components of a distribution system?
Components of a distribution system:
1)Distribution station
2)Feeder
3)Distributor
4)Service mains
22. What is meant by SCADA?
(AU: Apr/May 2004)
The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system is a software package, which is used to monitor the generation and
HV
transmission system. It acquires the data from all the lines and gives the control signal to the protective circuit (or) warning alarm
to theare
operator.
23. What
the limitations of HVDC system?
Limitations of HVDC system:
1) The transformers cannot be used at intermediate stage to boost the voltage.
2) Cost of converters and inverters are higher
3) The converter and inverter, generates the harmonics on both A.C and D.C
sides
4) The A.C and D.C harmonics filters are costly.
24. List the two merits of HVDC system.
(AU: Nov/Dec 2004)
Two merits of HVDC system:
1) Full control over power transmitted.
2) The ability to enhance transient and dynamic stability in associated A.C.
networks
25. List the HVDC systems present and which are in operation in India.
HVDC systems which are present and in operation in
India:
1) Vindyachal 500 MW
2) Chandrapur 2500 MW
3) Vishakapatnam 500 MW
4) Sasaram 500 MW
26. List the applications of HVDC system.
Applications of HVDC transmission system:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

Long distance bulk power transmission

Underground or under water cables
Asynchronous interconnection of AC system operating at different frequencies or where independent control of
system is desired
Control and stabilization of power flows in AC ties in an integrated power system.
Testing of HVAC cables of long length
Electrostatic precipitation of ashing in thermal power plants
Electrostatic painting
Cement industry
Communication systems
27. List the advantages of EHVAC transmission system.
(AU: Apr/May 2005)
Advantages of EHVAC transmission system:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
3

With the increase in transmission voltage, the transmission efficiency increases for a given amount of power to be transmitted
over a given
distance
Voltage regulation is improved, because of reduction in line losses
The volume of conductor material decreases, being inversely proportional to the square of transmission voltage
The transmission capacity of the line increases, since the transmission capacity is proportional to the square of the operating
voltage
With the increase in voltage level, the installation cost of the transmission line per km decreases
With increase of voltage level, Surge Impedance Loading (SIL) level itself increases, which indicates that power transfer
increases
The interconnection of the power systems on a large scale is possible with EHV transmission
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8) Flexibility for future system growth
9) Reduction in rights of way
28. What is the need of load dispatch centres? Where are the LDC's available in Tamil Nadu?
The load dispatch centres are used to monitor the electrical parameters of
transmission lines from different power plants which are located at different locations and are interconnected through
National power grid lines. As well as LDC's are needed to perform the communication between the power plants and
receiving sub-stations through carrier line communication system.
In Tamilnadu the load dispatch centres are located
at:
1) Chennai
2) Trichy
3) Madurai
4) Erode
29. What is the
highest A.C. transmission voltage we have in India?
(AU: Nov/Dec 2003)
The highest A.C transmission voltage in India is 1200 kV, which is provided in Madhya Pradesh, and
Maharastra.
30. What are the problems posed in using EHV line over the normal line?
Problems posed in using EHV line over the normal line:
1) Corona loss and radio interference
2) Heavy supporting structures and erection difficulties
3) Insulation requirements
4) Suitability considerations
5) Current carrying capacity
6) Ferranti effect
7) Environmental and biological aspects
UNIT II - TRANSMISSION LINE PARAMETERS
1. Define Skin effect.
(AU: April/May 2004)
The skin effect is defined as the tendency of alternating current to concentrate near the surface of the conductor. Due to
the skin effect, the
effective area of cross-section of the conductor through which current flows is reduced. Consequently the resistance of the
conductor slightly
increases
when
carrying
2. What
is meant
by current
proximity
effect?alternating current.
Consider a two wire lines as shown in the following
figure.
***
Each conductor
can be divided into sections of equal cross sectional area. The pairs aa, bb and cc can form three loops
in parallel. The flux linking loop aa and the inductance are least and they increase somewhat for loops bb and cc.
Thus the density of AC flowing through the conductors is highest at the inner edges aa of the conductors and is the least
at the outer edges cc. This type of non-uniform distribution of A.C current becomes more pronounced as the distance
between conductors is reduced. The non-uniformity of current distribution is known as proximity effect. This also
increases the effective resistance of conductor.

3. Differentiate the stranded conductor and bundled conductor.

Sl.No
1

2
3
4
5

Stranded Conductor

(AU: April/May 2005)

Bundled Conductor

Stranded conductors are the conductors made

A bundled
of
conductor is a conductor made up of two or
thin wires of small cross section and bunched
more
together.
conductors called sub-conductors, per phase in close
proximity compared with space between phases.
The reactance is more, which in turn increases
The reactance is less, so that a reactive power loss is
reactive power losses.
less.
More corona loss
Less corona loss
More interference with communication lines.
Less interference with communication lines
It has less effect on reducing of surge impedance
Reduces the surge impedance value.
value.

4. List out the advantages of double circuit lines.

Advantages of double circuit lines:
1) Half of the load is shared by the other line
2) The increase in load current can be easily handled
3) In case of power failure in one circuit, the power will be supplied by the other
5. Definelines
- Self and mutual G.M.D.
4

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Self -GMD (GMR): The self-GMD means self-geometrical mean distance. It reduces the
complexity of inductance calculation.
GMR = 0.7788 r
Mutual GMD: The mutual GMD is the geometrical mean of the distances from one
conductor to the other.
6. What is meant by inductive interference?(AU: April/May 2005)
Usually, communication lines are run along the power lines; in some cases, these lines are run on the same
support and the same route. Under such conditions the power lines are likely to interfere with the communication lines.
The interference is mainly due to electromagnetic and electrostatic fields.
Electromagnetic effect: It induces current in communication lines due to induction, resulting its superposition on
speech
current of communication line causing distortion.
Electrostatic effect: It raises the potential of the communication circuit as a whole and thereby posing a threat of
damage to
the of
communication
equipments.
7. What is transposition
conductors?(AU:
Nov/Dec 2004, Nov/Dec 2003)
Transposition of conductors is defined as the interchanging the position of the line conductors at regular intervals
along the line so that each conductor occupies the original position of every other conductor at an equal distance. Such an
exchange of positions is known as transposition.

8. State why transposition of line conductors are needed?

The spacing between conductors in a 3-phase transmission line is said to be unsymmetrical if the conductors are
not equidistant from each other. Under such conditions, the flux linkages and hence the inductance of each phase are not
same, and subsequently voltage drops in three phases are unequal even if the currents in the conductors are balanced.
In order to make voltage drops equal in all conductors, generally we interchange the positions of the conductors
at regular intervals along the line so that each conductor occupies the original position of every other conductor over an
equal distance. Such an exchange of conductor position is called transposition.
9. Write the equation for inductance of three phase symmetrically spaced transposed transmission line.
***
10. List the advantages of bundled conductors.
(AU: Nov/Dec 2004)
Advantages of bundled conductors:
1) Reduced reactance
2) Reduced voltage gradient
3) Reduced corona loss
4) Reduced radio interference
5) Reduced surge impedance
11. What are the factors that affect the skin effect?
Factors that affect the skin effect:
1) Nature of the material
2) Diameter of wire increases with the increase diameter of wire
3) Frequency increases with increase in frequency
4) Shape of wire less for stranded conductor than that for the solid
12. Write theconductor
equation for inductance of single-phase line.
***
13. Why the effective resistance is more than the static resistance of a transmission line?
Due to skin effect, the effective area of cross-section of a conductor through which current flows is reduces. Consequently,
the resistance
of the conductor slightly increases when carrying an alternating current. Hence the effective resistance or AC resistance of a
transmission line is
greater
than
static or DC lines
resistance
due to the skin
effect. and capacitance?
14. Why
does
a transmission
have resistance,
inductance,
A transmission line has resistance, inductance, and capacitance uniformly distributed along the whole length of
the line. The each parameter is defined as follows.
(i)
(ii)

Resistance: This is due to the opposition offered by the conductor to the flow of current.
Inductance: When an alternating current flows through a conductor, a changing flux is set up that links the
conductor. Due to
these flux linkage, the conductor possesses an inductance.
(iii)
Capacitance: The conductors of an overhead transmission line are separated by air, which acts as an insulation.
Therefore,
a the capacitance of a transmission line.
15. List the factors that
governing
exists
any two overhead line conductors.
Factors that governing capacitance
the capacitance
of between
transmission
line:
1) The potential of the conductor
2) Spacing between the lines
3) Distance between the line and earth
4) The length of lines
5) Number
of conductors
per phaseof a transmission line.
16. List the factors
that governing
the inductance
Factors that governing the inductance of lines:
1) Flux linkage per phase