Christopher Stewart

Ring and radial circuits AEP3

The objective was to investigate the performance of a ring and radial supply system.
The apparatus used was;
- Digital multi-meter
- Test leads
- PL230 power supply
- 3 bulbs

Method - We was given a radial distribution system and the first exercise was to determine the
current distribution at each point ,the value of each lamps was 0.2 amps 0.2 x the number of lamps 3
= 0.6amps going through the circuit losing 0.2 at each point thereafter. Once we had found the
current distribution throughout the circuit we could then find the voltdrop at each point, my
prediction was that the further down the radial circuit the lamps were the less the lamps would
shine therefore the further down the radial circuit the less voltage there would be at each lamp.








To get the voltdrop at each point in our radial circuit, for example you would start at point A & B, we
would then times the amps 0.6 by the ohms (2) and then take the voltage coming into that point 24v
away; 0.6 x 2 = 1.2 24v 1.2 = 22.8v You would then do this at each point B & C, D & E making
sure you carried the voltage lost from the previous point along.

Calculations
0.6 x 2 = 1.2 24v - 1.2 = 22.8v
0.4 x 6 = 2.4 22.8v - 2.4 = 20.4v
0.2 x 4 = 0.8 22.8v - 0.8= 19.6v
C
A
2
24 V
DC
Lamp A

B
Lamp B
Lamp C
D
+
2
E
Radial distribution circuit
Fig 1

To get the efficiency of the circuit we had to divide the power out by the power in;

Power out (22.8 x 0.2) + (20.4 x 0.4) + (19.6 x 0.2) = 12.56
Power in 24 x 0.6 = 14.4
12.56 / 14.4 = 0.87% efficiency
After finishing the task we came up with predictions before completing a practical test. The results
are show below in the table;
Predictions (v) Results(v) % Difference
VB 2 22.8 22.92 + 0.5
VC 4 20.4 20.81 + 2
VD 6 19.6 20.11 + 2.6

From my results you can see they was reasonable close to my predictions the table shows that as
you go further down the radial circuit the values decrease. If I was to do it again in the future to get
better accuracy a use of a standard cell could be used, and also use newer test leads.

Our second task was the same but in a ring distribution circuit. Firstly we looked to find the current ,
we knew that the voltage was 24V , to calculate the current we made I the unknown factor for each
section between bulbs we use the formula 0 = -2I 6 (I 0.2) (I 0.4) 2 (I - 0.6) = 0
we then had to simplify the formula be expanding the brackets and the pairing common numbers.
This helped us get I
-2I 6I + 1.2 4I + 1.6 2I + 1.2 = 0
-14I + 4 = 0
I = 4 / 14 =
which gave us I = 0.258 A
When we carried out the experiment the results we achieved was 0.271ma and 0.298ma. The
differences could be because of the supply units that we had used we could of checked this against a
standard cell.







(All lamps are rated 24 V 0.2 A)
Ring distribution circuit
Fig 2
C A
2
24 V
DC
Lamp A
B
Lamp B
Lamp C
D
+
+
24 V
DC
2
E
-
-
After we had found the current we then aimed to get the voltage drop at each point this was done
by, times the amps by the ohms and then subtracting the voltage at each point as we went along the
ring circuit. Our prediction was that the lamp A and C would be the same brightness and B would be
slightly less brighter than A and C. Our comparisons are shown below;
Calculations
AB= 0.2 x 2 = 0.4 24v - 0.4 = 23.6v
BC= 0.2 x 6 = 1.2 23.6v - 1.2 = 22.4v
CD = 0.2 x 4 = 0.8 22.4 + 0.8 = 23.2v

BULBS Predictions(v) Results(v) Difference
Bulb 1 a,b (VB) 23.6 23.40 - 1
Bulb 2 b,c (VC) 22.4 23.07 +4.7
Bulb 3 c,d (VD) 23.2 23.40 +0.8

Comparing the predictions to the results, the experiment went as expected at both ends of the
circuit the results were higher than in the middle.

Comparing both ring and radial circuits both circuits offer advantages and disadvantages. The
advantages of a radial would be that if a fault occurred it is simple to fault find as there is only one
line to be cleared although on the down side no alternative power supply is on offer furthermore the
consumer on the end of each distributor will suffer voltage reduction so bigger size cables are
needed, this makes it expensive . The advantage of a ring is thats cable size does not have to be as
big as in a radial circuit so therefore reduces cost and also each distributor is supplied by two feeders
meaning if there is a fault, the system will still be getting supplied this was used with the Lincoln 11
kV a ring system using isolators at each load point enables much more security of supply to be
achieved, opening only one section this makes it much easier to carry out repairs furthermore this
makes the system much more versatile and helps with voltage drops

To effectively improve voltage profile you could use a bigger more expensive sized cabled to save on
cost and reduce power loss. Also 3phase balancing would help improve the effectively. On the other
hand digging up roads to add new cables would not be worthwhile because of the time and cost it
would take to carry out .
If a radial system was running at 240v and the lamps were consumers connected by underground
cables the supply voltages would be acceptable as long as its within =10% and -6% .In my research
this is what I found;
The standard nominal supply voltage in domestic single-phase 50 Hz installations in the UK is still
240V AC (RMS), but since 1 January 1995 (Electricity Supply Regulations, SI 1994, No. 3021) this has
an asymmetric voltage tolerance of 230 V+10%6% (253216.2 V), which covers the same voltage
range as continental 220 V supplies to the new unified 230 V standard. This was supposed to be
widened to 230 V 10% (253207 V), but the time of this change has been put back repeatedly and
as of 2007 is set for 2008 (BS 7697). The old standard was 240 V 6% (254.4225.6 V), which is
mostly contained within the new range, and so in practice suppliers have had no reason to actually
change voltages.
Therefore this would suggest the supply voltage would be acceptable as +10% - 6% of 230V would
equal 239.2V giving the customers the correct consumer voltage .

In Fig 3 we used multisim to make an electronic simulation to verify our answers, from this you can
see that the results are fairly close to our practical calculations in the ring and radial ;


Radial Predictions Results Multisim
2 VB 22.8v 22.92v 22.93v
4 VC 20.4v 20.81v 20.87v
6 VD 19.6v 20.11v 20.20v

Ring Predictions Results Multisim
AB 23.61v 23.40v 23.44v
BC 22.42v 23.07v 22.95v
CD 23.25 23.40 23.39v



1)

A B C D E



0.2A 0. 2A 0.2A

2)

2 6 4 2
24v