PRESENTATION ON

FUNDAMENTALS OF POWER
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM & ITS
COMPONENTS
PREPARED BY
CONTROL EQUIPMENT ENGG DIVISION
BHEL BHOPAL (MP)

What is a Transformer?
A transformer is a device that transfers
electrical energy from one electric circuit
to another, without changing the frequency,
by the principles of electromagnetic
induction. The energy transfer usually takes
place with a change of voltage. It either
increases (steps up) or decreases (steps
down) AC voltage.

The primary winding is the coil that

draws power from the source. The
secondary winding is the coil that
delivers the energy at a transformed or
changed voltage to the load.

Core :
The transformer core is used to provide a
controlled path for the magnetic flux
generated in the transformer.
There are two general types of cores:
Core Type, and Shell Type.

Core type: In this type, the windings

surround the laminated iron core.

Shell type: In this type, the core surrounds

the windings.

How Induction Works in a Transformer

Reducing Eddy Currents by Using a Laminated Co

Step-Up Transformer

Step-Down Transformer

Three-Phase Transformer Core and Coils

Isolation Transformer
An Isolation Transformer is a very unique
transformer. It has a 1:1 turns ratio.
Therefore, it does not step voltage up or down.
Instead, it serves as a safety device. It is used
to isolate the grounded conductor of a power line
from a chassis or any portion of a circuit load.

Instrument Transformer
For measuring high values of current or voltage, it
is desirable to use standard low-range measuring
instruments together with specially-constructed
Instrument Transformers, also called Accurate
Ratio Transformers.
It is required to transform relatively small amounts
of power because its only load, called a burden, is
the delicate moving elements of an Ammeter,
Voltmeter or Wattmeter.
A Current Transformer has a primary coil of one
or more turns of heavy wire. The secondary of a
current transformer must never be open-circuited
.

A Potential Transformer is a carefully designed,

extremely accurate step-down transformer.
Transformers for this service are always of
the shell type because this construction has
been proven to provide better accuracy.

The Basic Impulse Level (BIL) is a measure of

the ability of the transformers insulation
system to withstand very high-voltage, shorttime surges.

Transformer Losses and Efficiency

Most of the energy provided to the primary of a
transformer is transferred to the secondary. But,
some energy is lost in the form of heat. Most
of this heat loss is experienced in the winding or
the core. These are called Iron loss & copper
loss.
One of the factors influencing copper loss is
heat. Resistance increases with an increase in
temperature. To minimize this problem, large
electrical power distribution transformers are often
cooled by circulation of water, forced air, or oil.
Cooling also helps to prevent heat damage to
winding insulation.

Dry Type Transformers

A transformer designed to operate in air is called
a Dry Type Transformer. The design does not
require the assistance of a liquid/Oil to dissipate
excess heat.
Natural or fan-assisted circulation through
ventilation openings is all that is required to
meet temperature classification requirements.
A variety of specialty dry type transformers
exist. Typically not ventilated, this type of
transformer usually has a small rating, and is
capable of moving excessive heat away from
the core and coils naturally, without the need
for ventilation openings or other heat dissipation
means.

NEMA Definition for CB :

A circuit breaker is defined in NEMA
standards as a device designed to open
and close a circuit by non-automatic
means, and to open the circuit
automatically on a predetermined overcurrent without injury to itself when
properly applied within its rating.

The two-step stored energy mechanism is used

when a lot of energy is required to close the
circuit breaker and when it needs to close
rapidly.

Trip Units For a circuit breaker to be effective, it

needs to have some intelligence to enable it to
perform automatically or respond to a command.
Without this capability, a circuit breaker would just
be a fancy switch. A trip unit is the circuit breakers
intelligence.
The trip units function is to trip the operating
mechanism (open the circuit) in the
event of these overcurrent conditions:
Thermal Overload
Short Circuit Currents (Fault Current)
Ground Fault

Thermal Overload current

When this condition exists, a temperature
buildup occurs between the insulation and
the conductor. This is called a thermal
overload. Eventually, this condition will result in
a short circuit.

Short Circuit Currents :

Short circuit currents (fault currents) usually occur
with abnormally high current flow due to the
failure of conductor insulation.

Ground Fault :
A ground fault is a particular type of short circuit
current fault. It is a short circuit between one
phase and the ground.

Thermal Trip Portion

Magnetic Trip Portion

Putting it all Together

Electronic Trip Unit :

The second type of trip unit is the electronic trip
unit. It is generally temperature insensitive and more
expensive. It is used on low voltage circuit breakers
beginning at 400A and on medium voltage circuit
breakers.

Digital and Analog Trip Units

Analog Peak Sensing

Digital Peak Sensing

Methods for Mounting Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers, depending on the type and/or
the particular application, are mounted for use
in one of three basic ways:
Fixed Mounted
Removable
Draw-out Mounted

Right Hand Rule: Wire is Moved Upward

Armature Rotating

The Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

Induction refers to electrically charging a
conductor by putting it near a charged
body.

Three Pairs of Field Coils on the Stator, Set 120 Apart

Wye Configuration

Delta Configuration

Starters are the devices that control the

use of electrical power to equipment,
usually a motor.
As the name implies, starters start
motors. They can also stop them, reverse
them, accelerate them, and protect them.

Starters are made from two building

blocks, Contactors and Overload Protection
Contactor controls the electric current to
the motor. Their function is to repeatedly
establish and interrupt an electrical power
circuit.
Overload Protection protects motors from
drawing too much current and overheating,
from literally burning out.

A Starter is Made Up of a Controller (Mos

Often a Contactor) and Overload Protectio

Knife Blade Switches as Contactors

Magnetic Contactors : A magnetic contactor is

operated electromechanically without manual
intervention.
This means that the contactor can be operated
remotely, without the need for putting a person in
a potentially dangerous location.

Contact Life :
Arcing A major customer concern is the life
expectancy of a contactor. It has been said that,
The worst thing you can do to a car is start it. The
same is true for contacts.
The more frequently the contacts are opened and
closed, the shorter the life of the contactor.
As contacts open and close, an electrical arc is
created between them. The arcs produce
additional heat, which, if continued, can damage
the contact surfaces.

Arcing Causes Corrosion, Pitting and Oxide Build-U

Overload Protection
Now we have a good understanding of what a
contactor is and how it works, lets move on to
a discussion of overload protection.
As we mentioned at the beginning, overload
protection prevents an electric motor from
drawing too much current, overheating, and
literally burning out.

Part of understanding overload protection is understanding how

motors work. A motor goes through three stages during
normal operation: resting, starting, and operating under
load.

The Problem with Oversized Fuses

Overload Relay
The Overload Relay is the device used in starters
for motor overload protection. It limits the amount
of current drawn to protect the motor from
overheating.
An overload relay consists of:
A current sensing unit (connected in the line to
the motor).
A mechanism to break the circuit, either directly
or indirectly.
To meet motor protection needs, overload relays
have a time delay to allow harmless temporary
overloads without breaking the circuit. They also
have a trip capability to open the Control Circuit if
mildly dangerous currents (that could result in

Bimetallic Overload Relay: The Warping Effect of th

Bimetallic Strip

The Solid State Overload Relay

Unlike the other two relay types, the Solid

State overload relay does not actually
generate heat to facilitate a trip. Instead, it
measures current or a change in
resistance. The advantage of this method
is that the overload relay doesn't waste
energy generating heat, and doesn't add to
the cooling requirements of the panel.

Motor starters offer some additional

capabilities not available in a manual
starter, most importantly, remote and
automatic operation. In other words, the
magnetic motor starter did for manual starters
what the magnetic contactor did for manual
controllers (it removed the operator from the
immediate area).
Starter Circuitry
The motor starter has two basic circuits :
- The power circuit and
- The control circuit.

Two Wire Control

Three Wire Control