Power Distribution and
Utilization
DC Distribution Systems
Dr. Attique Ur Rehman
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology
Why DC Distribution System
For certain applications, DC supply is necessary
Variable speed machinery (DC Motors)
Electrochemical work
Storage battery reserves
Wherever DC power distribution is required, AC power from the transmission network can be
rectified at a substation using converting equipment and then fed to the DC distribution system.
AC power is converted to DC power at the substation by using converters
Mercury arc rectifier
Rotary converters
Motor-generator sets
Types of DC Distribution System
DC Distribution System
2-wire DC system (Unipolar DC distribution system)
3-wire DC system (Bipolar DC distribution system)
Types of DC Distributors
DC Distributors
Distributor Fed at One End
Distributor Fed at Both Ends
Distributor Fed at Center
Ring Distributor
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.
Figure 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.
Distributor Fed at One End
The current in the various sections of the distributor away from feeding point goes on decreasing.
Current in section AC is more than the current in section CD and likewise.
The voltage across the loads away from the feeding point goes on decreasing.
In the above figure, voltage at point E will be minimum.
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.
Distributor Fed at Both End
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.
Figure 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.
Distributor Fed at Both End
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 any section of the distributor, the continuity of supply is
maintained from the other feeding point.
Distributor Fed at Center
The center 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.
Voltage drop at the farthest ends is not as large as that would be in a distributor fed at one end.
Ring Mains Distributor
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.
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.
DC Distribution Calculation
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
Figure 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 – Distributor Fed at One End
Numerical Problem #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.
Numerical Problem #1
Numerical Problem #1
Numerical Problem #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,
If the maximum permissible voltage drop is not to exceed 10 V, find the cross-sectional area of the
conductor. Take ρ = 1.78 × 10-8 Ωm
Numerical Problem #2
Resistance = Resistivity × (Length/Area)
R = ρ ×()
R = Resistance of material
Ρ = Material Resistivity
L = Conductor Length
A = Cross-sectional Area
Numerical Problem #2
Resistance = Resistivity × (Length/Area)
R = ρ ×()
R = Resistance of material
ρ = Material Resistivity
L = Conductor Length
A = Cross-sectional Area
Suppose that resistance of 100 m length of the distributor is ‘r’ ohms. Then resistance of various
sections of the distributor is
RAC = 0·4r Ω ; RCD = 0·6r Ω ; RDE = 0·5r Ω ; REF = 1r Ω
Numerical Problem #2
Numerical Problem #2
R = ρ ×()
The resistance of each conductor of 100 m length is r/2
DC Distribution Analysis – Distributor Fed at Both End
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
Two Ends Fed with Unequal Voltages
DC Distribution Analysis – Distributor Fed at Both End
Two Ends Fed with Equal Voltages
The distributor AB fed at both ends with equal voltages V volts and having concentrated loads I 1, 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, PD 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 PD 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.
DC Distribution Analysis – Distributor Fed at Both End
Two Ends Fed with Equal Voltages
A distributor AB having three concentrated loads I1, I2 and I3 at points C, D, and E, respectively.
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
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, generally given.
DC Distribution Analysis – Distributor Fed at Both End
Two Ends Fed with Equal Voltages - Point of Minimum Potential
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 the given case
DC Distribution Analysis – Distributor Fed at Both End
Two Ends Fed with Unequal Voltages
Distributor AB fed with unequal voltages, end A being fed at V 1 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
V1−V2 = Voltage drop over AB
Numerical Problem #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 cross-section area of the distributor conductor is 1cm2, find the minimum consumer
voltage. Take ρ = 1·7 × 10−6 Ω cm
Numerical Problem #3
R = ρ ×()
Numerical Problem #3
Numerical Problem #3
The load point where the
currents are coming from both
sides of the distributor is the
point of minimum potential.
Numerical Problem #3
The load point where the
currents are coming from both
sides of the distributor is the
point of minimum potential.
Numerical Problem #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,
Numerical Problem #4
Numerical Problem #4
Numerical Problem #4
Numerical Problem #4
The actual distribution of currents in the various sections of the distributor is shown in Figure below
The currents are coming to load point D from both sides of the distributor. Therefore, load point D is the
point of minimum potential.
Numerical Problem #4
