electrical power distribution information obtained from howstuffworks.com
DESCRIPTION
Single-Phase AC (Alternating Current) What is in your house? Oscillating power = alternating current DC (direct current) is a steady stream of electrons flowing one direction. Ex: a batteryTRANSCRIPT
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Electrical Power Distribution
Information obtained from howstuffworks.com
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The Power Plant
• Power plants consist of a spinning electrical generator.
• Generator can be made to spin by steam from burning coal, steam from a nuclear reactor, water from a hydroelectric dam, etc.
• Generates 3-phase AC power
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Single-PhaseAC (Alternating Current)
• What is in your house?• Oscillating power = alternating current• DC (direct current) is a steady stream of
electrons flowing one direction. Ex: a battery
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Three-Phase Power• What is produced at a power plant?• Three Phases of AC Power offset 120 degrees
from each other.
• Why three phases? At any given moment one of the three phases is nearing a peak so maximum power output.
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Power Plant• Four wires coming out of a power plant: three
phases plus a ground
Which one do you think is the ground?
Hint: It doesn’t need insulators!
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Transmission Substation• Uses transformers to step up the voltage
Ex: 12,000 volts out of the power plant is stepped up to 500,000 volts for transmission.
• Why? Increasing the voltage reduces power loss when traveling long distances.
• Average transmission distance is 300 miles.
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Typical High Voltage Transmission Lines
Do you see the sets of three??
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Power Substation• Power coming off the transmission lines use
transformers to stepped-down the voltage to less than 10,000 volts.
• Distributes power in multiple directions.• Can be disconnected from the transmission grid
if necessary.
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Distribution• Power goes from the transformer to the
“distribution bus”.• The distribution bus distributes power to two
separate distribution lines at two different voltages (standard line voltage ~7,200V and a higher voltage).
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At your house…
• There is usually another transformer near your house stepping down the voltage even further.
• Only one of the three original phases will enter your house.
• A typical house uses 240V for large appliances like electric stoves and air conditioning systems and 120V for standard plug in the wall items like TVs and toasters.
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At your house• The 240V enter your house through a watt-
hour meter.• This is how the power company charges you
for usage.
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Fuses and Circuit Breakers
• Power enters your house through a fuse and/or circuit breaker.
• THESE ARE SAFETY DEVICES!• For example if wire comes loose,
a mouse chews through a wire, a motor overheats and melts, etc. a fuse will blow or a circuit will trip so power is cut off to avoid fires.
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Review
Step 1: Electricity leaves Power Plant in ____ phases.Step 2: Voltage is stepped up for transmission to minimize _______.
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Review
Step 3: Voltage is stepped-down at the __________.Step 4: Voltage is further stepped down and enters your house
at ____ Volts.
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Check your answers!
• Step 1: Electricity leaves Power Plant in three phases.
• Step 2: Voltage is stepped up for transmission to minimize power loss.
• Step 3: Voltage is stepped-down at the substation.
• Step 4: Voltage is further stepped down and enters your house at 240 Volts.
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