UNIT I - AC CIRCUITS AND POWER SYSTEMS

PART A
1. What are the limitations of increasing the transmission level to very high value?
The limitations of increasing the transmission level to very high value are:
 The increased cost of insulating the conductors.
 The increased cost of transformer, switchgear and other terminal apparatus.
 Interference to the external circuit and corona losses will be high.
2. What is meant by break even distance?
The break-even distance is defined as the distance at which the cost of A.C transmission
lines and cost of D.C transmission lines are at an equal level.
3. What are the advantages of 3-phase system over 1-phase system?
Advantages:
 For the same size a 3 phase machine delivers more power than single phase
machine. A three phase induction motor delivers 1.5 times the power as single
phase motor of same size. Thus 3 phase machines are economical and occupy less
space as compared to equivalent single phase machines.
 Parallel operation of three phase alternatives is very smooth compared to single
phase alternators.
 Power transmission by 3 phase system is very economical as it requires less amount
of
copper for transmitting same amount of power.
4. Mention the advantages of star and delta systems.
Advantages of star Systems:
 In a star connected alternator will require less number of turns than a delta connected
alternator for the same voltage.For the same line voltage, a star connected alternator
requires less insulation than a delta connected alternator.

 In star connection, we get 3-phase and 4-wire system. This permits the use of two voltages
(phase voltages as well as line voltages). Single phase loads can be connected between any
one line and neutral wire while the 3-phase loads can be put across the three lines. Such
flexibility is not available in delta connection.
Advantages of delta Systems:
 This type of connection is most suitable for rotary conveyers.
 Most of the three phase loads are delta connected than star connected.
 Most of the 3-phase induction motors are also connected in delta.
5. State the advantages of interconnected systems.
Advantages:
 It increases the service reliability.
  Any area fed from one generating station during peak load hours can be fed by other
generating station. This reduces reserve power capacity and increases the efficiency
of the system.
6. State the interconnected distribution system.
 When the feeder ring is energized by two or more than two generating stations or
substations.
 It is called interconnected system.
7. What are the limitations of increasing the transmission level to very high value?
 The increased cost of insulating the conductors.
 The increased cost of transformer, switchgear and other terminal apparatus.
 Interference to the external circuit and corona losses will be high.
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.
8. What is meant by primary transmission?
 The electrical power at 132kV is transmitted by a three phase three wire overhead
system to the outskirts of the city.
 It is called primary transmission.
9. What voltages are used in India for transmission and distribution system?
 For generation: 6.6kV, 11kV or33kV
 For main or primary transmission: 66kV 132kV, 220kV, 275kV, 330kV, and
400kV
 For secondary transmission: 11kV or33kV
 For distribution: 6.6kV, 11kV or33kV
10. List the advantages of D.C. transmission system.
Advantages:
 It requires only two conductors as compared to three for a.c transmission.
 There is no inductance, capacitance, phase displacement and surge problem in d.c
transmission.
 A d.c line has less corona loss and reduced interference with communication circuits.
 The high voltage d.c transmission is free from the dielectric losses, particularly in the
case of cables.
11. Write the disadvantages of d.c transmission over a.c transmission.
Disadvantages:
 The d.c voltage cannot be stepped up for transmission of power at high
voltages.
 The breaking of direct current is very difficult. Hence the D.C circuit breakers
are very costly
 The terminal equipments are very costly.
 The transformers cannot be used in intermediate stages to boost the voltage.
12. What is meant by transmission efficiency?
 The ratio of the power received over a transmission path to the power
transmitted.
 The ratio of the output to the input power of a circuit or device.
 Transmission efficiency=output power/input power
13. What are the advantages of high transmission voltage?
Advantages:
 Increases the transmission efficiency
 Decreases the percentage line drop.
 Reduces the volume of copper required, which in turn reduce cost of conductor.
14. Name the principle components of an electric supply system.
The conveyance of electric power from a power station to consumer’s premises is
known as
power supply system.
Various components of power supply system:
 Generating station
 Primary transmission
 Secondary transmission
 Primary distribution
15. Distinguish between a feeder and a distributor.
Feeder Distributor
There is no tapping’s in the feeder. Single distributor supplies current to
many consumers
Design is based on the current carrying Design is based on the voltage drop
capacity considerations.
16. What are the difference between transmission and distribution?
Transmission:
 Flow of power from generating station to substation is transmission.
 Transmission is done through 3-phase,3 wire lines
 No restriction on power supplied. voltage can vary as much as 10% to 15%
Distribution:
 Flow of power from substation to large number of big and small consumers.
 Distribution is done through 3 phase 4 wire lines
 Power must be supplied at a voltage within +-6%of the rated value.
17. Give reason why transmission lines are 3 phase 3 wire circuits while distribution
lines are 3 phase 4 wire circuits?
 A Balanced 3 phase circuit does not require the neutral conductor, as the
instantaneous of the 3 line currents are zero.
 Therefore the transmission lines and feeders are 3 phase 3 wire circuits.
  The distributors are 3 phase 4 wire circuits because a neutral wire is necessary to
supply the 1 phase loads of domestic and commercial consumers.
18. What do you mean by balanced load in a 3 phase circuit?
 In a balanced system, each of the three instantaneous voltages has equal amplitudes but is
separated from the other voltages by a phase angle of 120. The three voltages (or phases) are
of typically labeled a, b and c.
 The common reference point for the three phase voltages is designated as the neutral
connection and is labeled as n.
19.What is ring main distributor?
A ring main distributor is arranged to form a closed loop. It may have one or more
feeding points. It employs a distributor which covers the whole area of supply finally
returning to the substation.
20. Define the terms feeder, distributor and service mains.
Feeder:
Feeder are conductors of large current carrying capacity which carries current in bulk
to
feeding points. Electrical power service is provided to a consumer from the
distribution feeder
through /at the service mains
Distributor:
A common bus bar that connects the feeder and the service main is known as
distributor.
Service mains:
Service main is a small cable or conductor which connects the distributor to the
domestic terminal.
PART B
1. The two wattmeter method produces wattmeter readings P1=1560 W and P2=2100 W
when
connected to a delta connected load. If the line voltage is 220V,
Calculate (i) the per-phase average power
(ii) the per-phase reactive power
(iii) the power factor,
(iv) the phase impedance.
(16)
2. Prove that the total instantaneous power in a balanced three –phase system is constant
and
is equal to the average power whether the load is star or delta connected.
(16)
3. A 3-phase balanced delta-connected load of (4+j8) Ω is connected across a 400V 3-
phase
supply. Determine the phase currents and line currents. Assume the RYB phase-
sequence.
Also calculate the power drawn by the load.
(16)
4. If W1 and W2 are the readings of the two watt meters which measures power in the
three
phase balanced system and if W1/W 2= a, show that the power factor of the circuit is
given by
cos Φ = (a + 1)/√a2-a+1
(16)
5. Explain voltage, current and power in a three-phase star connected system.
(16)
6. An unbalanced four wire star connected load has a balanced voltage of 400V, the
loads are
Z1 = (4+j8) Ω; Z2+(3+j4)Ω; Z3(15+j20)Ω; Calculate the (a) line currents (b) current
in the
Neutral wire and (c)the total power.
(16)
7. An unbalanced four-wire, star connected load has a balanced voltage of 400V, the loads
are
Z1=(4+j8)Ω; Z2=(3+j4)Ω; Z3=(15+j20)Ω. Calculate the (a) Line currents (b) Current in
the
neutral wire and (c) The total power.
(16)
8. Three impedances Z1 = 20<30Ω, Z2 = 40<30Ω & Z3 = 10<-90Ω, are delta connected to a
400V,
three phase system. Determine the
(i) Phase current
(ii) Line currents and
(iii) Total power consumed by the load.
(16)
9. The number of turns in two coupled coils are 600 and 1200 respectively. When a current
of
4A flows in coil 1, the total flux in coil 1 is 0.5 wb and the flux linking coil 2 is 0.4
mwb.
Determine the self-inductances of the coils and mutual inductances between them.
Also
 calculate coefficient of coupling.
(16)
10. A 3-phase, 220 V, 50 Hz, 11.2KW induction motor has a full load efficiency of 88
percent
and draws a line current of 38 Amps under full load, when connected to 3-phase,
220V
supply. Find the reading on two watt meters connected in the circuit to measure the
input
to the motor. Determine also the power factor, at which the motor is operating.
(16)
11. Draw & explain the structure of electric power system indicating the voltage level in
each
transmission levels.
(16)
12. Briefly discuss about the terminal equipments of a DC transmission line, with a neat
diagram.
(16)
13. Three equal inductors connected in star, take 5 kW at 0.7 pf when connected to
a 400 V,
50Hz, three phase, three wire supply.
Calculate the line currents
(1) if one of the inductors is disconnected and
(2) if one of the inductors is short circuited.
(16)
14. Obtain the readings of two watt meters connected to a three phase three-wire 120V
system feeding a balanced ∆ connected load with a load impedance of
12<30oΩ.Assume either phase sequence. Find the phase power and compare the total
power to the sum of the wattmeter readings.
(16)
15. A symmetrical three-phase, three-wire 440V supply is connected to a star-
connected load.
The impedances in each branch are ZR=(2+j3)Ω ZY=(1-j2)Ω ZB=(3+j4)Ω. Find the
equivalent
delta connected load and the phase sequence is RYB.