GENERAL ⎜ ARTICLE

Electricity
1. Its Generation, Transmission and Distribution

D P Sen Gupta

The experiments of Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry

in electromagnetic induction ushered in the era of
electricity during the late nineteenth century. Human
civilization has undergone a total change since then.
This paper in two parts describes the basic principles of
AC power generation, its transmission and distribution.
D P Sen Gupta graduated
in Physics from
Presidency College,
The well known observations made by Oersted that an electric
Calcutta and in Electrical current produces a magnetic field led a number of researchers
Engineering from IIT to investigate whether the converse was true i.e. whether
Kharagpur. After his
electric current can be produced from a magnetic field.
Ph.D. from the university
of Liverpool, he taught
Michael Faraday of England and Joseph Henry of the United
there for five years before States are the best known among these investigators. One can
joining the Indian understand the urgency of these investigations when one
Institute of Science where
considers that the only source of current electricity in those
he is presently an
Emeritus Fellow.
days was a Volta’s pile.

Things have changed since then. Millions of megawatts of

electrical power generating sources have been installed all over
the world and billions of units (kilowatt hour) of electricity are
produced and consumed everyday. The installed capacity in
India is more than 85,000 megawatts and the annual energy
consumed exceeds 350 billion units and yet we have an acute
power and energy crisis.

Essentially an electric generator is a huge electromagnet that is

rotated either by thermal power or water power inside a set of
coils to produce electricity. The electricity so produced is
transmitted, distributed and used in modern gadgets. The
running of electric motors is related to the observation made by
Oersted that an electric current makes a compass needle move.

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Many engineers all over the world have toiled for nearly one and Faraday's first
a half centuries to bring the basic observations made by Oersted, observation led to
Faraday and Henry to bear fruit and transform the face of the the construction of
earth. Nicola Tesla, Thomas Alva Edison, C P Steinmetz, George transformers and
Westinghouse are some of the better known among them. his second
observation to
Faraday’s famous experiments on electromagnetic induction generators of
may be summarized in two major observations. electricity.

• That a voltage is induced in a coil when electric current

flowing in another coil placed nearby is either switched on or
switched off or changed.
• That a voltage is induced in a coil when a magnet (or an
electromagnet) is moved close to or away from it.

It was the genius of Michael Faraday that made him link up

these observations into a single law which states that

dλ dφ
e = =N ,
dt dt

where e is the induced voltage and λ is equal to N φ termed as

flux linkage. Faraday had observed that the voltage induced was
proportional to the number of turns N in the coil in which the
voltage was produced and φ was the flux produced by the
magnet or the electromagnet. Lenz’s modification (1835) of
Faraday’s law assigns direction to the induced voltage and is e =
–dλ/dt=–N(dφ/dt), the voltage induced is equal to the negative
rate of change of the flux linkage.

Maxwell restated this equation as

∂B
∇× E = − ,
∂t
E and B representing electric and magnetic fields respectively.
It is not difficult to see that Faraday’s first observation has now
led to the construction of transformers and the second to the
construction of generators.

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Transformer

In a transformer there are generally two coils called the primary

and secondary coils which are stationary with respect to each
other. If the current in the primary coil changes with time, the
flux it produces also changes with time. When this time varying
flux links the secondary coil, a voltage is induced in it. The
primary voltage e1 is

e1= –N1 (dφ/d t) where N1 is the number of turns in the primary

winding and the voltage induced in the secondary coil is e2=
–N2 (dφ/dt), N2 being the number of turns in the secondary
winding.

From these relations, it follows that

e1 N1
= .
e2 N2

If we wish to increase or step up a voltage, the secondary coil

should have larger number of turns than the primary or N2 >
N1. If we intend to decrease or step down a voltage, N2 < N1. In
other words if 11 kV alternating (AC) voltage is applied to a
transformer whose primary coil has N1 turns, it will be stepped
up to 220 kV if N2 = 20N1.

Since no power is generated in a transformer (in fact a small

fraction is dissipated), the input power = output power or
e1 i1 = e2 i2 if losses are neglected. Therefore,
e1 i2 N1
= = .
e2 i1 N2

If the voltage is stepped up by a factor of 20, the current will be

correspondingly stepped down to (1/20th) of the primary
current. We shall presently see that it is the time varying nature
of alternating current (AC) that enables us to transform voltages
and currents as required and makes it suitable for transmission
and distribution of bulk power ( Figures 1 and 2).

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A B

C
D

Figure 1 Early development of the transformer. A - Faraday experimental model - 1831;

B - Stanley original model - 1885; C - one of the first commercial models - 1890; D - case
for the 1890 transformer.

Direct current (DC) does not lend itself to similar transformation

because it does not vary with time. (see Box 1)

Figure 2 A typical substation.

T represents a transformer. The tank placed

above it contains oil. The coils of the
transformer are wound round a core (made
of steel laminations) and immersed in oil
which removes the heat produced in the
core and the coils.
I represents an isolator which is a kind of
'switch' used to isolate the station from the
grid. Note the huge insulators (marked i)
that are used.
The steel structures marked S support the
conductors through insulators (courtesy:
Kirloskar Electric Company, Bangalore).

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Box 1
If an alternating voltage is sinusoidal in nature its instantaneous value is

ν = Vm sin ωt,

where Vm is the peak value of the voltage and ω (rad/sec) the angular velocity is equal to 2πf, f being
the frequency of the voltage in Hz. If this voltage is applied to a coil, the current flowing through it
lags the voltage by an angle θ and is Im sin (ωt – θ ). Single phase AC power is given by P = (Vm Im
cos θ)/2 = Vrms Irms cos θ ( rms stands for root mean square value. Vrms = Vm / 2 for sinusoidal voltage).
cos θ is called the power factor.

The current Im sin (ωt – θ) produces a flux φ = φm sin(ωt –θ ) and when this flux links N1 turns,
e1 = – N1 d φ/dt or emf in the primary winding is e1 = N1 φm ω cos ( ωt – θ). On the other hand a direct
current is time invariant. i.e. Vdc = constant, the flux produced by it is also a constant and d/dt (N1 φdc)
= 0. In fact if a dc voltage V = 100V (say) is applied to the primary coil of a 100/200 volts transformer the
coil will burn out since the current that will flow through the coil is very large, Idc = V /R, R being a small

quantity. For AC the inductance of a coil offers the major impedance and IAC = V / R 2 + ω 2 L 2 where

ωL >> R and IAC is small.

Generator

Faraday’s second observation pertains to the relative movement

of a coil and a magnet (or an electromagnet). It is the mechanical
work done in moving (rotating) an electromagnet within a set of
electrical coils that causes electrical energy to be produced.

If a magnet or an electromagnet is rotated inside a coil, alternating

(AC) voltage is generated. It is obvious that the polarity of the
voltage produced alternates since the coil is linked by alternating
magnetic field (North - South - North - South ....) as the magnet
is rotated. Figure 3 shows that AC voltage is produced by a
rotating magnet.

If we have an electromagnet with 4 poles (Figure 4) instead of

two as in Figure 3, for one complete rotation of the rotor, the

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Figure 3 When a magnet

(electromagnet) is rotated
inside a coil (in reality a set
of coils ) the magnetic field
keeps changing its direc-
tion. The voltage/current in
the coil correspondingly
changes direction or
alternates. (Fleming's right
hand rule).

voltage would change its polarity four times. This corresponds

to two cycles. In other words if the rotor with 4 poles is rotated
at n cycles per second, the frequency of the alternating voltage
would be f = 2n Hz. If there are 6 poles, the frequency of the
voltage will be f = 3n Hz. If, in general, the rotor has p number
of poles, the frequency of the voltage generated is f = (np/2) Hz
where n is the speed of rotation in rps. Conversely, if the
frequency to be generated is f Hz, the number of poles required
is p=(2f/n).

This concept is important since it enables us to understand the

basic difference between a hydro-generator and a generator
driven by a steam turbine. Figure 4 If the rotor has
four poles instead of two
and is rotated at the same
A steam turbine is driven at a high speed by super-heated steam speed n as in Figure 3, the
under pressure. The rotor of the generator coupled to the frequency of the voltage
generated is 2n. If the
frequency has to be kept
constant (as is always the
case) the rotor should be
rotated at n/2 revolutions
per second if there are 4
poles and at n/3 rps if there
are six poles. In hydro
generators, the rotor can
be rotated at low speeds
only and hence it is to be
fitted with a large number
of poles.

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turbine is a huge cylinder of solid steel and it is wound in a

manner that it produces two poles (some times, but seldom, four
poles). Since 50 Hz power supply is used in India and also in
Europe, the turbine has to be rotated at 50 rps (3000 rpm) for the
frequency of the alternating voltage to be

2
f= × 50 = 50 Hz. (since p = 2).
2

In the US and Canada, the frequency of power supply is 60 Hz

which means the rotor electromagnets need to be rotated at
60 rps (3600 rpm) (See Box 2).

Turbines driven by water (Hydro Electric Power Generation)

cannot function very fast (Figure 5). Hence the generator
electromagnets, that rotate at slow speeds have to have a larger
number of poles. Typically a hydro-generator driven at 10 rps
would have a rotor fitted with p = 2f/n =10 poles in order that f
may be 50 Hz. The power that may be obtained from a generator
obviously comes from the mechanical power input into the
turbine (either steam power or water power). Figure 3 represents
single phase power generation. It may not be immediately
obvious as to what single phase power means until we understand
Figure 5 Hydropower
two phase and three phase power generation.
generation. Water flowing
from tributaries is stored in
a suitable valley. A dam is
constructed for storing the
water which is allowed to
overflow if the level exceeds
a specified height. The
water runs down huge
pipes called penstocks and
rotates a turbine. This in
turn rotates the rotor which
has a number of electro-
magnets, their number
depending on the speed at
which the turbine is rotated
(see text).

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Box 2
It may be interesting to figure out why we settled for 50Hz or 60Hz for AC power supply rather than
choosing lower or higher frequencies (say 25 Hz or 200 Hz). Indeed some of the generators installed
in the early part of this century did produce electricity at 25Hz. The Sivasamudram hydroelectric
generators set up in 1902 to supply power to the Kolar gold fields in Karnataka produce electricity at
25Hz. They still generate about 33MW, half of which is converted to 50Hz and fed into the main grid and
the other half is still supplied to the Kolar gold mines at 25Hz.

It may be useful to know that power P generated from a machine is

P = kD 2Ln watts ,

where D is the rotor diameter, L the length and n is the rotor speed, k being a constant. Larger speed
n obviously means less D 2L (machine volume). In other words, smaller machines which run at higher
speeds can produce a large amount of power. High rotor speed means high frequency [f = np/2] and
it would seem there is a very good reason to choose high frequency power generation. ( In fact
generators used in aircrafts produce 400 Hz power so that the volume and the weight can be kept low).

High frequency power, however, produces a major problem in transmitting it over a distance.
Transmission lines offer high impedance z to the flow of current if the frequency is high.

z= , X L = line reactance = 2πfL. L, the line inductance, increases with the line length. The
R 2 + X L2
effective resistance R of the line also increases with the frequency due to skin effect. This explains why
engineers chose 25Hz generation to transmit power from Sivasamudram to the Kolar gold fields, along
the longest transmission line ( ~ 150 km) of the time. High frequency power transmission may interfere
with communication.

Lower frequency generation means lesser power from a machine. High frequency power is difficult to
transmit owing to high line impedance. The frequency of 50 or 60 Hz was therefore a compromise
between the two. Once one of these frequencies was chosen, all generators connected to the grid (Part
II) must conform and the frequency comes to stay.

If we have two sets of coils Figure 6 and rotate a magnet inside

in the direction shown, obviously the voltage produced in coil 2
will lag the voltage produced in coil 1 by 900. The alternating
voltage produced in these two coils (two phases) will be as shown
in Figure 6. If we have three coils, at 1200 with respect to each
other, the voltages produced in these coils will be phase shifted
by 1200 as in Figure 7.

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Figure 6 If an electro-
magnet is rotated and two
sets of coils are present in
the stator (a cylindrical
casing in which coils are
embedded) as shown,
making 90o w.r.t. each other,
the voltage generated in the
set AA' , leads that in BB' by
90o . A generator like this
could be called a 2-phase
generator (seldom made).
This would constitute what is called a 3-phase system (Box 3).
Three phase power generation is found to be the most economical
way to generate electrical power and is used all over the world.
The three phases are often designated as Red, Yellow and Blue
or RYB. (In some countries these are called ABC).

In the next part of this article we will discuss the merits of AC vs

DC, Tesla's induction motor and the power system and domestic
connection.

Figure 7 Instead of two sets of coils placed 90 o w.r.t each other,

if there are three sets, placed at 120o w.r.t. each other the
voltages generated in them are 120o phase displaced. The voltage
generated in the coil marked RR', leads the voltage in the coil YY'
by 120o which leads the voltage in coil BB' by 120o again. (It is a
3 phase system with the phase - sequence RYB. If the rotor were
to be rotated in the counter clock wise direction, the sequence
of the voltages would be RBY.

Address for Correspondence

D P Sen Gupta
Department of Electrical
Engineering
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560 012, India

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Box 3 The Three Phase System

The three windings of a three phase system have six terminals which can be connected either as Star
or as Delta (Figure 8 ). If the three windings of a generator (or of a transformer) are connected as a star,
it will have four accessible points RYB and N where N stands for Neutral.

If we measure the voltage between R and N, or the two ends of the red phase, we measure what is called
the phase voltage VR = Vm sinω t. The phase voltage VY lags VR by 120o. So VY = Vmsin(ω t –120o).
r r
VRY = VR − VY = Vm[ sin ω t −

= 3 Vm sin(ωt+30 o ),

which shows that the line to line voltage is 3 times the line to neutral (or phase) voltage. If the phases
are connected in Delta, the line to line voltage is the same as the phase voltage. In star connection the
line current and the phase current are the same. In delta connection the line current is 3 times the
phase current. Power in either case is given as

P= 3 VI cos θ,

sin (ω t − 120o )]
where V and I are the root mean square values of the line voltage and line current respectively.

Figure 8 Three phases can

be connected either in star
(Y) or as Delta (Δ). In star
connection the line and
phase currents are one and
the same. But the line to
line voltage is 3 times
the voltage between a line
(or phase) and the neutral.
In domestic connections a
wire from the neutral and
any one of the phases are
brought in.

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