Evolution of
Power
System
INTRODUCTION
First Complete Electric Power System – 1882
The first complete electric power system (comprising a generator,
cable, fuse, meter, and loads) was built by Thomas Alva Edison – the
historic Pearl Street Station in New York City which began operation in
September 1882.
This was a dc system consisting of a steam-engine-driven dc
generator supplying power to 59 customers within an area roughly
1.5 km in radius. The load, which consisted entirely of incandescent
lamps, was supplied at 110 V through an underground cable system.
Within a few years similar systems were in operation in most large
cities throughout the world. With the development of motors by Frank
Sprague in 1884, motor loads were added to such systems. This was
the beginning of what would develop into one of the largest
industries in the world.
Introduction of AC Systems –
1886
In spite of the initial widespread use of dc systems, they were almost
completely superseded by ac systems. By 1886, the limitations of dc
systems were becoming increasingly apparent. They could deliver
power only a short distance from the generators.
To keep transmission power losses and voltage drops to acceptable
levels, voltage levels had to be high for long-distance power
transmission. Such high voltages were not acceptable for generation
and consumption of power; therefore, a convenient means for voltage
transformation became a necessity.
The development of the transformer and ac transmission by L. Gaulard
and J.D. Gibbs of Paris, France, led to ac electric power systems. George
Westinghouse secured rights to these developments in the United
States.
Contd…
In 1886, William Stanley, an associate of Westinghouse,
developed and tested a commercially
practical transformer and ac distribution system for 150
lamps at Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
With the development of polyphase systems by Nikola Tesla,
the ac system became even more attractive.
By 1888, Tesla held several patents on ac
motors, generators, transformers, and transmission
systems. Westinghouse bought the patents to these early
inventions, and they formed the basis of the present-day ac
systems.
AC vs DC (Tesla vs Edison)
Electric utility industry should be standardized on dc or
ac. There were passionate arguments between Edison, who
advocated dc, and Westinghouse, who favored ac.
By the turn of the century, the ac system had won out over
the dc system for the following reasons:
Voltage levels can be easily transformed in ac
systems, thus providing the flexibility for use of
different voltages for generation, transmission, and
consumption.
AC generators are much simpler than dc generators.
AC motors are much simpler and cheaper than dc
motors.
The ac versus dc controversy ended with victory for the ac
Frequency – 50Hz vs 60Hz
In the early period of ac power transmission,
frequency was not standardized. Many different
frequencies were in use: 25, 50, 60, 125, and 133
Hz.
This posed a problem for interconnection.
Eventually 60 Hz was adopted as standard in
North America, although many other countries use
50 Hz.
Early AC Systems
The early ac systems used 12, 44, and 60 kV (RMS line-to-line).
This rose to 165 kV in 1922, 220 kV in 1923, 287 kV in 1935, 330
kV in 1953, and 500 kV in 1965.
Hydro Quebec energized its first 735 kV in 1966, and 765 kV was
introduced in the United States in 1969.
To avoid the proliferation of an unlimited number of voltages, the
industry has standardized voltage levels.
The standards are 115, 138, 161, and 230 kV for the high
voltage (HV) class, and 345, 500 and 765 kV for the extra-high
voltage (EHV) class.
HVDC Transmission Systems – 1950s
With the development of mercury arc valves in the early
1950s, high voltage dc (HVDC) transmission systems became
economical in special situations.
The HVDC transmission is attractive for transmission of large
blocks of power over long distances. The cross-over point
beyond which dc transmission may become a competitive
alternative to ac transmission is around 500 km for overhead
lines and 50 km for underground or submarine cables.
HVDC transmission also provides an asynchronous link
between systems where ac interconnection would be
impractical because of system stability considerations or
because nominal frequencies of the systems are different.
Modern HVDC Transmission
System
The first modern commercial application of HVDC
transmission occurred in 1954 when the Swedish mainland
and the island of Gotland were interconnected by a 96 km
submarine cable.
With the advent of thyristor valve converters, HVDC
transmission became even more attractive. The first
application of an HVDC system using thyristor valves was at
Eel River in 1972 – a back-to-back scheme providing an
asynchronous tie between the power systems of Quebec and
New Brunswick.
With the cost and size of conversion equipment decreasing
and its reliability increasing, there has been a steady increase
in the use of HVDC transmission.
Advantages of Interconnected
System
Interconnection of neighbouring utilities usually leads to
improved system security and economy of operation.
Improved security results from the mutual emergency
assistance that the utilities can provide.
Improved economy results from the need for less
generating reserve capacity on each system.
Interconnection permits the utilities to make economy
transfers and thus take advantage of the most economical
sources of power. These benefits have been recognized
from the beginning and interconnections continue to grow.
