• Although in early ages, Direct current and voltage is used for distribution, AC is mostly

used now.
• The losses due to AC is low
• But for some applications, dc supply is required
• Mainly distribution can be classified into two types.
• DC distribution
AC is converted to DC using converters
• AC distribution
DC distributor types
• DC distributor types are classified according to the way they are fed by the feeder

• Distributor fed at one end

• Distributor is connected to the supply at one end
• Loads are tapped off at different points along the distributor
• Current and voltage in the various sections from the feeding point are decreasing
• When there’s a fault occurs, whole distributor to be disconnected from the supply
DC distributor fed at one end(concentrated loads)

Current from A= 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + 𝐼4
Current for CD section= 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + 𝐼4
Current for DE section= 𝐼3 + 𝐼4
Current for EF section= 𝐼4
Total voltage drop = (𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + 𝐼4 ) 𝑟1 + (𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + 𝐼4 ) 𝑟2 + (𝐼3 + 𝐼4 ) 𝑟3 + (𝐼4 ) 𝑟4
Q1. A 2-wire DC distributor AB has the length of 300m. It is fed at point A. The following
table shows the loads and their positions.

point Distance from A (m) Concentrated load (A)

C 40 30
D 100 40
E 150 100
F 250 50

Find the cross-sectional area of the distributor, if the maximum voltage drop is not to
exceed 10V.
Take resistivity as 1.7*10−8 Ωm
Let’s take r as the resistance of the distributor per 100m.
40m 60m 50m 100m 50m

30A 40A 100A 50A

Section Resistance of each section Voltage drop in each section

AC 0.4r 220*0.4r = 88r
CD 0.6r 190*0.6r = 114r
DE 0.5r 150*0.5r = 75r
EF r 50*r = 50r

𝜌𝑙
Total voltage = 327r 𝑅=
𝐴
10= 327r
1.7∗10−8∗100
r = 10/327 5/327=
𝐴
Resistance for one wire = 5/327 A = 116.4 𝑚𝑚2
DC distributor fed at one end (Uniform Loads)
Let’s take current per meter as i and resistance per meter as r.

Current at point C = il –ix =i(l-x)

Resistance for dx = rdx
Voltage drop at dx distance = i(l-x) rdx
𝑥 𝑥2
Total voltage drop from A to C = ‫׬‬0 i(l−x) rdx = 𝑖𝑟(𝑙𝑥 − 2
)

𝑙2 𝑖𝑟𝑙 2 (𝑖𝑙)(𝑖𝑟) (𝐿)(𝑅)

Total voltage drop from A to B = 𝑖𝑟(𝑙 ∗ 𝑙 − )= = =
2 2 2 2
 Q2. A 200m long 2-wire dc distributor is uniformly loaded with 2A/meter. The resistance
of single cable is 0.3Ω/km. The distributor is fed at one end. Find,
i. The voltage drop upto 150m
ii. Maximum voltage drop

𝑥2
Voltage drop upto distance of x = 𝑖𝑟 𝑙𝑥 −
2
𝑖 = 2𝐴
0.3 1502
𝑟 =2∗ = 0.0006 Ω Voltage drop upto distance of 150m = 2*0.0006 200 ∗ 150 −
1000 2

Voltage drop upto distance of 150m = 22.5V

R =rl = 0.0006*200 = 0.12Ω

I = li = 200 *2 =400A
Maximum voltage drop = RL/2 = 0.12*400/2= 24V
• Distributor fed at both ends
• Distributor is connected to the supply at both ends
• Loads are tapped off at different points along the distributor
• When there’s a fault occurs, continuity of the supply is done by one feeding point
• Two end voltages can be equal or not
• At the point of minimum potential, currents come from the both ends
Q3. A 200m long 2-wire dc distributor AB is fed at both ends. The voltages at feeding
points A and B are 230V and 235V respectively. The loads are as follows.

point Distance from A (m) Concentrated load (A)

C 50 25
D 75 50
E 100 30
F 150 40

i. Currents in various sections of the distributor

ii. Minimum voltage and the point where it occurs
The resistance of one conductor is 0.3Ω/km
 230 V 235 V
25A 50A 30A 40A

Section Resistance of each section Current in each section Voltage drop in each section
AC 0.03 I 0.03I
CD 0.015 I -25 0.015*(I -25)
DE 0.015 I – 75 0.015*(I -75)
EF 0.03 I – 105 0.03*(I – 105)
FB 0.03 I – 145 0.03*(I – 145)

Total voltage drop = 230 -235 =0.03I + 0.015*(I -25) +0.015*(I -75)+ 0.03*(I – 105) + 0.03*(I – 145)
Therefore; I = 33.34 A
 Section Resistance of each section Current in each section (A)
AC 0.03 33.34
CD 0.015 8.34
DE 0.015 -41.66
EF 0.03 - 71.66
FB 0.03 - 111.66

Therefore; D is the minimum potential point

Voltage at D = 230 – ( 33.4*0.03) – ( 8.34*0.015) = 228.875 V
Distributor fed at the center
• Center of the distributor is connected to the supply

Ring circuit
• Distributor is in the form of a closed loop
• Like the distributor fed at two ends and connected the two ends together
• May have one or more points of feeding
Q4. A 2-wire dc distributor forms a ring circuit of ABCDEA, and it is fed at point A at 220V.
The loads are as follows.
10A at B, 20A at C, 30A at D and 10A at E
The resistances of the various sections are;
AB = 0.1 ohm, BC = 0.05 ohm , CD= 0.01 ohm, DE = 0.025 ohm and EA = 0.075 ohm
Determine;
i. The point of minimum point
ii. Current in each section of distributor
 Section Current in each section Current in each section (A)
AB I 29.04
BC I -10 19.04
CD I – 30 -0.96
DE I – 60 -30.96
EA I – 70 -40.96

By using Kirchoff’s voltage Law to the loop; Minimum potential point = C

0.1I +0.05(I – 10) +0.01(I – 30) + 0.025(I – 60) + 0.075(I – 70) =0

I = 29.04A
AC Distribution
AC Distribution system
▪Provides power to individual consumers
▪Distribution is done at much lower voltage levels
▪At substations, electrical power is stepped down and supply to the feeders
▪Then using distribution transformers, power is then step down and fed to the distributors
▪Distributor is tapped off at different points and gives to the consumers
Mainly there are two types of distribution systems
1. Radial system
▪ Different feeders come out from the substation and connect to the primary
distribution transformer
▪ If there’s a fault in the feeder or the transformer, there’s no any alterations
▪ Continuity of the supply fails
2. Ring system
▪ One network of distributors is fed by more than one feeder
▪ If there’s a fault in a feeder, continuity of the supply is done by other feeders
▪ Different sections are isolated at different points
▪ If there’s a fault, that section can be isolated
▪ Number of feeders to be connected depends on the maximum demand, total length
of the line
• Other than dc distribution, for AC distribution power factor of various currents to be
considered
• Take the vector sum of the currents
• Power factor is expressed with respect to the receiving end or sending end voltage

Power factor referred to receiving end voltage

Take receiving end voltage 𝑉𝐵 as the reference
Two currents have the lagging power factors

𝐼1 = 𝐼1 ∠ − ∅1
𝐼𝐶𝐵 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼2 ∠ − 𝜑2
𝐼𝐴𝐶 = (𝐼1 ∠ − 𝜑1 ) + (𝐼2 ∠ − 𝜑2 )
𝑉𝐶𝐵 = 𝐼𝐶𝐵 ∗ (𝑅2 + 𝑗𝑋2 )
𝑉𝐴𝐶 = 𝐼𝐴𝐶 ∗ (𝑅1 + 𝑗𝑋1 )
𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉𝐶𝐵 + 𝑉𝐴𝐶 + 𝑉𝐵
Q1. A single phase AC distributor AB is 300m long and it is fed at A. It has the loads of
i. 200 A at 0.8 p.f. lagging 300m from point A
ii. 100A at 0.707 p.f. lagging 200m from point A
The load resistance and the reactance of the distributor are 0.2Ω and 0.1Ω per kilometer.
Calculate the total voltage drop in the distributor.
Take the reference as the receiving end voltage

Q2. A single phase distributor is 2km long. It supplies a load of 120A at 0.8 p.f. lagging at its far end
and another load of 80A at 0.9 p.f. lagging at its mid point. The resistance and the reactance are
0.05Ω and 0.1Ω per kilometer, respectively. If the voltage at the far end is maintained at 230V,
Calculate
i. Voltage at the sending end
ii. Phase angle between voltages at the two ends
 200
ZAC = (0.2 + j0.1) ∗ = 0.04 + j0.02 𝑉𝐶𝐵 = 𝐼2 ∗ 𝑍𝐶𝐵 = (160 − 𝑗120) ∗ (0.02 + 𝑗0.01)
1000
𝑉𝐶𝐵 = 4.4 − 𝑗0.8𝑉
100
ZCB = (0.2 + j0.1) ∗ = 0.02 + j0.01 𝑉𝐴𝐶 = 𝐼𝐴𝐶 ∗ 𝑍𝐴𝐶
1000
I2 = 200∠ − cos −1 ( 0.8) = 200(0.8 − j0.6) = (230.7 − 𝑗190.7) ∗ (0.04 + 𝑗0.02)
I2 = 160 − j120A 𝑉𝐴𝐶 = 13.04 − 𝑗3.01𝑉
I1 = 100∠ − cos −1 ( 0.707) = 100(0.707 − j0.707)
I1 = 70.7 − j70.7A 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 = 𝑉𝐴𝐶 + 𝑉𝐶𝐵 = 17.44 − 𝑗3.81𝑉
IAC = I1 + I2 = 230.7 − j190.7A 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟖𝟓𝑽
 1000 VCB = I2 ∗ ZCB = (96 − j72) ∗ (0.05 + j0.1)
ZAC = (0.05 + j0.1) ∗ = 0.05 + j0.1
1000 VCB = 12 + j6V
1000 VAC = IAC ∗ ZAC = (168 − j106.88) ∗ (0.05 + j0.1)
ZCB = (0.05 + j0.1) ∗ = 0.05 + j0.1
1000 VAC = 19.08 + j11.45V
ICB = I2 = 120∠ − cos −1 ( 0.8) = 120(0.8 − j0.6)
I2 = 96 − j72A
Sending end voltage = VAC + VCB + VB
I1 = 80∠ − cos −1 ( 0.9) = 80(0.9 − j0.436)
= (19.08 + j11.45) + (12 + j6) + (230 + j0)
I1 = 72 − j34.88A
= (261.08 + j17.45)V
IAC = I1 + I2 = 168 − j106.88A
VA = 𝟐𝟔𝟏. 𝟔𝟕𝐕(Sending end voltage)

17.45
tan( θ) = = 0.0668
261.08
θ = 𝟑. 𝟖𝟐∘