EE 315
Power Distribution and Utilization
DC Distribution
DC Distribution
Applications of DC supply
Variable speed drives (e.g. DC motors)
Electrochemical work
Storage battery reserves
AC power is converted into DC power at the substation by
using convertors.
Mercury arc rectifiers
Rotary converters
Motor-generator sets
The DC supply from the substation obtained in the form of:
2-wire distribution
3-wire distribution
Types of DC Distribution
Distributor Fed at One End
The distributor is connected to the supply at one end and loads are taken at
different points along the length of the distributor.
Fig shows the single line diagram of a DC distributor AB fed at the end A
(also known as singly fed distributor) and loads I1, I2 and I3 tapped off at
points C, D and E respectively.
The current in the various sections of the distributor away from feeding
point goes on decreasing. Thus current in section AC is more than the
current in section CD and current in section CD is more than the current in
section DE.
The voltage across the loads away from the feeding point goes on
decreasing. Thus in Fig, the minimum voltage occurs at the load point E.
In case a fault occurs on any section of
the distributor, the whole distributor
will have to be disconnected from the
supply mains. Therefore, continuity of
supply is interrupted.
Types of DC Distribution
Distributor Fed at Both Ends
The distributor is connected to the supply mains at both ends and loads are
tapped off at different points along the length of the distributor.
The voltage at the feeding points may or may not be equal.
Fig. shows a distributor AB fed at the ends A and B and loads of I1, I2 and I3
tapped off at points C, D and E respectively.
The load voltage goes on decreasing as we move away from one feeding
point say A, reaches minimum value and then again starts rising and
reaches maximum value when we reach the other feeding point B.
The minimum voltage occurs at some load point and is never fixed. It is
shifted with the variation of load on different sections of the distributor
The cross-section area of the conductor required for a doubly fed
distributor is much less than that of a singly fed distributor.
If a fault occurs on any feeding point or
section of the distributor, the continuity of
supply is maintained from the other
feeding point.
Types of DC Distribution
Distributor Fed at the Centre
The centre of the distributor is connected to the supply mains.
It is equivalent to two singly fed distributors, each distributor having a
common feeding point and length equal to half of the total length.
Ring Mains Distribution
The distributor is in the form of a closed ring.
It is equivalent to a straight distributor fed at both ends with equal
voltages.
The distributor ring may be fed at one or more than one point.
Centre-Fed
Ring mains
Types of Loading in DC Distribution
Concentrated Loading
The concentrated loads are those which act on particular points of the
distributor.
A common example of such loads is that tapped off for domestic use.
Distributed/Uniform Loading
The distributed loads are those which act uniformly on all points of the
distributor.
Ideally, there are no distributed loads.
A nearest example of distributed load is a large number of loads of same
wattage connected to the distributor at equal distances.
Note!!
• In DC distribution calculations, one important point of interest is the
determination of point of minimum potential on the distributor.
• The minimum potential depends upon the loading conditions and the
method of feeding the distributor.
• The distributor is so designed that the minimum potential on it is not less
than 6% of rated voltage at the consumer’s terminals.
DC Distribution Analysis
Distributor Fed at One End - Concentrated Loading
The Fig. shows the single line diagram
of a 2-wire DC distributor AB fed at one
end A and having concentrated loads
I1, I2, I3 and I4 tapped off at points C,
D, E and F respectively.
DC Distribution Analysis
Example 1: A 2-wire DC distributor cable AB is 2 km long and supplies loads of
100A,150A,200A and 50A situated 500 m, 1000 m, 1600 m and 2000 m from
the feeding point A. Each conductor has a resistance of 0·01 Ω per 1000 m.
Calculate the PD at each load point if a PD of 300 V is maintained at point A.
Solution
DC Distribution Analysis
DC Distribution Design
Example 2: A 2-wire DC distributor AB is 300 meters long. It is fed at point A.
The various loads and their positions are given below :
Solution
Suppose that resistance of 100 m length of the distributor is ‘r’ ohms. Then
resistance of various sections of the distributor is :
RAC = 0·4 rΩ ; RCD = 0·6 rΩ ; RDE = 0·5 rΩ ; REF = rΩ
DC Distribution Design
Resistance = Resistivity * (Length / Area )
R = Resistance of material, in Ohms
Ρ = Material Resistivity, in Ohms per meter
L = Conductor Length, in meters
A = Cross-sectional Area, in square meters
Resistivity is the measure of how much a given size of specific material resists the current flow
Types of DC Distribution
Distributor Fed at Both Ends
• The distributor is connected to the supply mains at both ends and loads are
tapped off at different points along the length of the distributor.
Two Ends Fed with Equal Voltages
• The distributor AB fed at both ends with equal voltages V volts and having
concentrated loads I1, I2, I3, I4 and I5 at points C, D, E, F and G respectively.
• As we move away from one of the feeding points, say A, p.d. goes on decreasing till
it reaches the minimum value at some load point, say E.
• It then again starts rising and becomes V volts as we reach the other feeding point B.
• All the currents tapped off between points A and E (minimum p.d. point) will be
supplied from the feeding point A while those tapped off between B and E will be
supplied from the feeding point B
• The current tapped off at point E itself will be partly supplied from A and partly from
B. If these currents are x and y respectively, then, I3 = x + y
• At the point of minimum potential, current comes from both ends of the distributor.
Types of DC Distribution
Point of Minimum Potential
A distributor AB having three concentrated loads I1, I2 and I3 at points C, D and E
For Fig (i), current supplied by feeding end A is IA, then the current distribution in the
various sections of the distributor can be worked out as:
IAC = IA ; ICD = IA − I1 ; IDE = IA − I1 − I2 ; IEB = IA − I1 − I2 − I3
Voltage drop between A and B = Voltage drop over AB
or V −V = IA RAC + (IA − I1) RCD + (IA − I1 − I2) RDE + (IA − I1 − I2 − I3) REB
The unknown IA can be calculated as the values of other quantities are generally
given.
For Fig (ii), the load point where the currents are coming from both sides of the
distributor is the point of minimum potential i.e. point E in this case
Types of DC Distribution
Two Ends Fed with Unequal Voltages
Fig. shows the distributor AB fed with unequal voltages, end A being fed at V1 volts and
end B at V2 volts.
The point of minimum potential can be found by following the same procedure as:
Voltage drop between A and B = Voltage drop over AB
or V1−V2 = Voltage drop over AB
DC Distribution Analysis
Example 3: A 2-wire DC street mains AB, 600 m long is fed from both ends at 220 V.
Loads of 20 A, 40 A, 50 A and 30 A are tapped at distances of 100m, 250m, 400m and
500 m from the end A respectively. If the area of X-section of distributor conductor is ,
find the minimum consumer voltage. Take ρ = 1·7 × 10−6 Ω cm.
Solution
DC Distribution Analysis
DC Distribution Analysis
DC Distribution Design
Example 4: A 2-wire DC distributor AB is fed from both ends. At feeding point A, the
voltage is maintained as at 230 V and at B 235 V. The total length of the distributor is
200 m and loads are tapped off as under :
Solution
DC Distribution Design
DC Distribution Design
(ii)
The actual distribution of currents in the various sections of the distributor is shown in
Fig.
The currents are coming to load point D from both sides of the distributor. Therefore,
load point D is the point of minimum potential.