Electrical Power Systems…the Driving Force for Modern Life
An Overview of Electrical Power Systems
Electrical energy is the driving force behind the operation of modern life as we know it. In order for this energy to reach the residential, commercial, industrial or infrastructural objective for which it was intended however, it must first find its way through the electric power system. This means that the three basic processes of energy generation, transmission and distribution must take place through electrical power systems.
Generation, Transmission and Distribution within Electrical Power Systems
Electrical energy can be generated in many different fashions; contemporarily however the most common methods of energy generation within the United States are coal, natural gas and nuclear power stations. Other countries such as Germany however, are attempting to move away from these generation methods, and are instead investing heavily in renewable energies such as wind and hydro electrical installations.
After energy has been generated in any of the predetermined fashions, it must then be transmitted to the area in which it is needed. This can be a difficult task due to the fact that a power station usually creates quite an inhospitable surrounding environment, meaning that the distance to the nearest settlement can be quite significant.
Transmission is also problematic owing to the fact that voltages must be increased to over 35,000 volts to amplify the transfer line capacity and decrease the amount of energy lost during conduction. Transmission can then take place via a series of high voltage transmission lines which when interconnected make ‘transmission networks’, or as they are commonly known ‘the grid’.
Once the electrical energy has reached the area for which it was intended the voltage must then be reduced once again via a transformer, this is undertaken at power substations. Power substations also incorporate a distribution bus component which allows for the further distribution of electrical energy to the various intended users.
After this process the energy is distributed along what many people know as ‘power lines’, however, at a much lower voltage (7200 volts). This voltage is once again reduced via a smaller transformer at the specific user location. The chosen voltage here generally depends upon the intended utilization. In residential areas the voltage is reduced to 240 volts and enters the house through a panelboard. In industrial or commercial situations however, a higher voltage may be needed, which means that a switchboard or a switchgear system is needed.
The purposes of panelboards, switchboards and switchgear systems are very similar; these devices receive energy and then distribute it throughout the establishment. All of these systems also house components such as fuses, protective relays and circuit breakers, which allows the power to be shut off in the case of an overload or short circuit. This provides protection for both equipment and personnel.
It can therefore be noted that electrical power systems are extremely complex arrangements. Many different components come together within these systems to ensure that the appropriate amount of energy is delivered for the numerous different residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructural purposes for which it was generated.
