CHAPTER 5b

5.2 : SOURCE AND DISTRIBUTION

Electrical Supply
Electricity is a basic part of nature and it is one of most
widely used forms of energy.
It is a secondary energy source which means it comes
from the conversion of other sources of energy, like
coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other natural
sources, which are called primary sources.
The energy sources used to make electricity can be
renewable or non-renewable.

Source and Distribution

Primary Source (Renewable Energy)

Hydropower
Flowing water is used to spin a turbine connected to a
generator.
Two basic types of hydroelectric systems
Flowing water accumulates in reservoirs created by the use of
dams. The water falls through a pipe called a penstock and applies
pressure against the turbine blades to drive the generator to
produce electricity.
Run-of-river, the force of the river current (rather than falling
water) applies pressure to the turbine blades to produce
electricity.

Hydropower

Dam
Runoff River

Primary Source (Renewable Energy)

Solar power
Power is derived from the energy of the sun.
Photovoltaic conversion generates electric power
directly from the light of the sun in a photovoltaic
(solar) cell.
Solar-thermal electric generators use the radiant
energy from the sun to produce steam to drive
turbines.
Weaknesses:
sun's energy is not available full-time and it is
widely scattered.
The processes used to produce electricity using the
sun's energy have historically been more expensive
than using conventional fossil fuels.

Solar Power

Primary Source (Renewable Energy)

Wind power
Wind power is derived
from the conversion of the
energy contained in wind
into electricity.
Wind power is a rapidly
growing source of
electricity.
A wind turbine is similar to
a typical wind mill.

Primary Source
(Non-Renewable Energy)
Coal
It is a black solid that is reasonably soft.
Consists of carbon atoms that come from plant material from ancient
swamp forests.
When coal is burns, it will produces mainly carbon dioxide, some
carbon monoxide and soot (which are unburned carbon).
Many coals when burned produce smoky flames.
There are different types of coal. Some contain impurities such as
sulphur that pollute the atmosphere further when they burn,
contributing to acid rain.
The energy from coal content weight is not as great as oil because
when coal burns it produces more carbon dioxide than oil.

Coal Power Plant

Primary Source
(Non-Renewable Energy)

Natural Gas
In addition to being burned to
heat water for steam, can
also be burned to produce
hot combustion gases that
pass directly through a
turbine, spinning the blades
of the turbine to generate
electricity.
Gas turbines are commonly
used when electricity utility
usage is in high demand.

Primary Source (Non-Renewable Energy)

Petroleum (oil)
Petroleum can be used to make steam to turn a turbine.
Petroleum and gas are non-renewable: they will not last forever.
When gas and oil is burnt they produce mainly carbon dioxide and water,
releasing the energy they contain.
The oil-based fuels provide less energy per kilogram than natural gas.
Both oil and natural gas produce carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.

Primary Source
(Non-Renewable Energy)
Nuclear
Nuclear power is a method in
which steam is produced by
heating water through a
process called nuclear fission.
In a nuclear power plant, a
reactor contains a core of
nuclear fuel, primarily
enriched uranium. When
atoms of uranium fuel are hit
by neutrons they fission
(split), releasing heat and
more neutrons.

Under controlled conditions, these other neutrons can strike more uranium
atoms, splitting more atoms, and so on. Thereby, continuous fission can take
place, forming a chain reaction releasing heat. The heat is used to turn water
into steam that, in turn, spins a turbine that generates electricity.

Power Station In Malaysia

In Malaysia, the electricity generation capacity is about

82% from thermal power stations and 18% from
hydroelectric power stations.

Coal power stations:

Manjung Power Station, Manjung, Perak
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Power Station,
Kapar, Selangor
Jimah Power Station, Lukut, Negri Sembilan
Tanjung Bin Power Station, Pontian, Johor

Oil power stations:

Tuanku Jaafar Power Station, Port Dickson, Negeri
Sembilan
Tanjung Kling Power Station, Melaka

Gas turbine power stations:

Lumut Power Station, at Pantai Remis, Perak
Sultan Iskandar Power Station, Pasir Gudang, Johor
Serdang Power Station, Serdang, Selangor

Oil and gas turbine power station:

Sultan Ismail Power Station, Paka,
Terengganu.

Steam turbine power station:

Connaught Bridge Power Station, Klang,
Selangor.

Hydroelectric power stations:

Sultan Mahmud Power Station, Tasik

Kenyir, Terengganu

Sultan Ismail Petra Power Station,

Pergau, Kelantan

Temenggor Power Station, Temenggor

Dam, Perak

Kenering Power Station - Kenering

Dam, Perak

Chenderoh Power Station - Tasik

Chenderoh, Perak

Sultan Idris Power Station, Lata

Iskandar, Perak

Distribution

Single Phase Power Supply (240KV)

Single-phase electric power refers to the

distribution of alternating current electric
power using a system in which all the voltages
of the supply vary in unison.
Is in used when loads are mostly lighting and
heating, with few large electric motors.
Widely used especially in rural areas, where the
cost of a three-phase distribution network is
high and motor loads are small and uncommon.
The largest supply normally available as single
phase varies according to the standards of the
electrical utility.

Three Phase Power Supply (415KV)

The most common method used by electric power

distribution grids.
used to power large motors and other large loads.
Larger consumers such as large buildings, shopping
centres, factories, office blocks, and multiple-unit
apartment blocks usually need three-phase service.
More economical than others because it uses less
conductor material to transmit electric power than
equivalent single-phase or two-phase systems at the
same voltage.
The waveforms of the three supply conductors are
offset from one another in time (delayed in phase) by
one-third of their period.
This delay between phases has the effect of giving
constant power transfer over each cycle of the current,
and also makes it possible to produce a rotating
magnetic field in an electric motor.

Three Phase Power Supply

Three phase systems may or may not have a neutral wire.

A neutral wire allows the three phase system to use a higher voltage while
still supporting lower voltage single phase appliances

Three phase has properties that make it very desirable in electric power systems:
The phase currents tend to cancel out one another, summing to zero in the
case of a linear balanced load. This makes it possible to eliminate or reduce
the size of the neutral conductor; all the phase conductors carry the same
current and so can be the same size, for a balanced load.
Power transfer into a linear balanced load is constant, which helps to reduce
generator and motor vibrations.
Three-phase systems can produce a magnetic field that rotates in a specified
direction, which simplifies the design of electric motors.

Power Distribution

CHAPTER 5c
5.3 : BUILDING ELECTRICAL SUPPLY

Electrical Supply for Building

The purpose of electrical installation in
buildings is to supply and distribute power.
Buildings that are used for different purposes
have different requirements.
Building structure must be known before the
power supply and distribution system can be
planned and designed.

Electrical Supply in Small Building

For residential buildings, the public
utility provides the supply voltage
for the distribution systems via
separate transformer stations.
Each residential building is
connected to the power supply
system via a low voltage cable.

Supply Cable to Building

Service cable to meter cupboard fixing
on the inside wall.

Service cable to meter cupboard

fixing on the outside wall.

Supply Cable to Building

External cabinet for easy meter reading

Supply Control

The service cable usually terminates inside the building in a main cut-out, fitted as
near as possible to the service cable entry.
A meter is fitted after the main cut-out and everything up to and including the
meter are the property and responsibility of the electrical supply company.
A switch or circuit breaker is fitted after the meter and a distribution board follows
the switch. Everything from the switch to furthest outlet point is the property and
responsibility of the building owner.
The service intake and the control unit is 240 V single-phase for a domestic or
similar small building and for larger buildings is 415 V three-phase supply may be
required, depending upon the load.
The control unit must be sited so as to fulfil the following conditions:

It must allow the supply cable to be brought in without undue difficulty.

It must be reasonably accessible for meter reading and general maintenance.
It must be separated from any gas meter by a fire-resisting partition.
It should be placed in a position where heavy condensation is unlikely.
There should be an easy and accessible route for the outgoing cables.

Distribution Board (ELCB)

Meter Board

Rewireable
fuse

Protection Against Excess Current

All circuits must be protected against
excess and three devices are available,
-miniature circuit breaker
-rewireable fuses
-cartridge fuses
Miniature circuit breakers are virtually
tamper-proof, their use is to be
recommend for circuit protection.
miniature circuit breakers are designed
to protect circuit conductors by opening
automatically before conductor damage.
Cartridge fuses is used to protect the
equipment form overloaded current or
damage.

miniature
circuit
breaker

Cartridge
fuses

Earthing
The basic principle of earthing is that of
limiting the difference in voltage between live
conductors and earth.
If a person touches a live conductor that is
correctly earthed, the flow of electricity
through the earth conductor should form a
path of lower resistance than that of a
persons body and the person should not
receive an electric shock.
An earth leakage
circuit breaker

Conductor and Cable Rating

The amount of current which a conductor or cable can carry is
limited by the heating effect caused by the resistance to the
flow of electricity.
The maximum permissible current under normal conditions,
must not be so high that dangerous temperatures are
attained, which could lead to fires.
Even with cables inside metal conduits or ducts or where
mineral insulated copper, even though the cables are
completely fireproof, the transmission of heat to other
materials in proximity may still lead to fires.

Conductor and Cable Rating

When choosing a cable for a particular job, it is necessary to take into

account not only the maximum current the conductor will have to carry,
but also the drop in voltage that will occur when the current is carried.
IEE Regulations stipulate that the maximum permissible drop in voltage in
a conductor shall not exceed 2.5 % of the nominal voltage when the
conductor is carrying its full-load current.
The temperature reached by a cable is also affected by the following
operating conditions:
Whether the cable is surrounded by the room air or is enclosed in a conduit or
duct.
The closeness to other cables which may cause heat to build up, due to
induced currents.
The temperature of the ambient of surrounding air.

 The British Standards provide tables of cable size for

various operating conditions.
Conductor
Nominal crosssectional area
(mm2)

Enclosed in conduit or trunking

Number and
diameter of
wires (mm)

Two core cable single phase a.c or d.c

Current rating (A)

Voltage drop (mV)

per ampere, per
metre

1.0

1/1.13

13

44

1.5

1/1.38

16.5

29

2.5

1/1.78

23

18

7/0.85

30

11

7/1.04

38

7.3

10

7/1.35

52

4.4

Table 5.0: Electrical cable capacities. (Part tables of B.S. 6004 and 6346)

Conductor and Cable Rating

Example 1:
One PVC insulated two core cables with copper conductors, non armoured and enclosed
in conduit is 14 m in total length and is required to supply a 5 kW electric heater. If the
nominal voltage of the supply is 240 V, find the size of cable required, coarse excess
current protection being provided.

Solution:
(i)
Current I=P/V=5000W/240V= 20.8 A
(ii)

From Table 4.1; a 1/1.78 cable will allow a current of 23 A to flow with drop of 18 mV
(0.018 V) per ampere, per metre run.

(iii)
(iv)
(v)

Voltage drop in cable = 20.8 x 0.018 x 14 = 5.242 V approx

Check percentage of nominal voltage: = 5.242/240v= 2.184 % (less than 2.5%)
Maximum voltage drop allowable for the cable = 240V x 2.5% = 6V

Therefore, the cable is suitable.

Chapter 5
5.4 DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM

Lighting Circuit

Every sub-circuit which

originates from the lighting
distribution fuse board is
generally limited to a total
load of 1000 W and requires
5 A fuses and switches.
In large buildings, 15 A fuses
and wiring are sometimes
used, due to the higher total
load on the circuit.
Wiring to lighting points
should be carried out on
what is known as the loop in
method shown in figure.

Loop-in method of wiring.

Switch Control

Cable connection
A one way light switch is connected with
wiring to control a lamp.
If required, several lamps may be
controlled from one switch.

One-way Switch Control

Switch Control

Theoretical of one-way switch and two-way switch

Switch Control

The two-way switch is, in principle, a single-pole changeover

switch. When connected in pairs, the switches provide control of a
lamp from two positions and may therefore be installed in
bedrooms, landings and corridors.

Switch Control

Used in conjunction with two, two-way switches, provides control of a lamp from three
or more positions.
Suitable for long corridors with several doors, long halls and multi-flight staircases,
require intermediate switch control for reasons of both safety and convenience.

Switch Control

Socket Outlets
1 gang 13A

2 gang 13 A

3 phase socket

to avoid long runs of flexible

cables and multi-point adaptors, the
number of socket outlets must be
adequate for the consumers
needs.
The location of the items of
furniture and electrical equipment
should
be
considered
when
positioning socket outlets, lighting
points and switches.

multiple socket

Socket Outlets

Travel plug adapter

Number of socket outlets for small house

Space / Location

Desirable number of socket

outlets

Dining room

Living room

Double bedroom

Single bedroom

Kitchen (working area)

Hall

Landing

Garage

Lighting and socket outlets for a small

house.

Bath and Shower Rooms

Special precautions are required in bathrooms and similar rooms to
avoid danger from the electrical installations.
Lighting fittings should enclose the lamp completely and there
should be no exposed metalwork on the fittings.
Switches inside bathrooms should be of the pull-cord type,
mounted on the ceiling or high on the wall.
Ordinary switches or other means of control should be situated so
as to be normally inaccessible to a person using a fixed bath or
shower.
In any room containing a fixed bath or shower, there must be no
stationary appliance with elements that can be touched by a person
in a fixed bath or shower, nor there must be any socket outlet for
connecting a portable appliance.

LARGE BUILDING / INDUSTRY

hospitals, factories and office blocks will require a three phase supply due
to the higher electrical load.
The loading may be too high therefore a private sub-station is needed
which fed electricity from the high voltage cables from the nearest
switching station.
The electrical installation in a large building is similar to a small building,
but is divided into sections.
There may be one main intake panel incorporating large fused switches or
circuit-breakers, each of which controls a feeder cable to subsidiary
distribution panels in different parts of building, or each separate building
in group.
The subsidiary distribution panels are smaller versions of the main intake
panel and they control distribution boards for each sub-section.

CURRENT RATING

The current rating of the cable and components must never be less than
the protective device which controls it.
A fused switch of 100 A rating can only serve a cable having a current
rating of 100 A or more and the switchgear at the opposite end of the
circuit must be of 100 A rating up to the next smaller fuse or miniature
circuit-breaker.
It is important that fuses or miniature circuit-breaker should provide
discrimination, e.g. each subsidiary fuse or circuit-breaker should isolate a
fault in its own section before the fuse or circuit-breaker one stage further
back in the installation can operate.
To ensure this, the ratings of two successive fuses or miniature circuitbreakers must differ by at least 30 per cent and preferably 50 per cent. To
achieve this, it may sometimes be necessary to increase the cable and
switchgear ratings so that the main fuse or miniature circuit-breaker can
not operate before the subsidiary one.

VOLTAGE DROP
In a small electrical installation the voltage drop in the
circuit wiring is not usually significant, but in larger
installations the voltage drop in the cables between the
main intake and the subsidiary distribution panels may
be very high.
The IEE Regulations require that the voltage drop
between the main intake point and each supply point
shall not exceed 2.5 per cent of the nominal supply
voltage.

METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION

Radial distribution
The main intake normally consists
of a main switch connected to
fused switches through a bus-bar
chamber.
Several separate feeder cables
are run from the main intake panel
to the subsidiary distribution panels
which may be situated in separate
buildings or at strategic points
inside one building.

METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION
Ring main distribution
In the case of a large development scheme
having several buildings around the
perimeter of the site, a ring-main circuit
would be taken around the site with
supplies taken into each building.

advantages:
Each building and individual sections of the ring
may be isolated without switching off the entire
installation.
The current may flow in either direction which
reduces the voltage drop.

The ring may be sized to take account of the diversity factor for all the buildings, since
a heavy load may be required for any one of the buildings, but it is unlikely that such a
load will be required for all the buildings simultaneously

METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION-Tall Building

Rising main distribution

For buildings above five storeys in heights, it is
normally preferable to pass conductors vertically
through the buildings. The supply to each floor is
connected to the rising main by means of tap-off
subsidiary units.

Types in use:
PVC or vulcanized rubber insulated cables mounted
on porcelain cleats inside brick or concrete ducts with
hardwood or metal access doors on each floor.
Paper, mineral, PVC or vulcanized rubber insulated
cables run in sheet steel vertical ducts.
Uninsulated copper or aluminium bars run in steel
sheet vertical ducts.

METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION-Tall
Building
Type of distribution depends on:
Building types and dimension
Supply length
Load required for building operations

Two most popular central power supply for

high rise building are: Cable type system
Busbar system

BUSBAR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The electrical distribution system in high rise flats and office

buildings normally uses a busbar system.
A busbar is a solid copper bar that carries the electrical current.
The busbars run vertically inside trunking and are supported by
insulated bars across the trunking chamber.
The electrical supply to each floor is connected to the rising main
by means of tap-off units.
To balance electrical distribution across the phases, connections at
each floor should be spread between the phase bars.
To prevent the spread of fire and smoke, fire barriers are
incorporated with the busbar chamber at each compartment floor
level.
The chamber must also be fire stopped to the full depth of the
floor.

BUSBAR TRUNKING
SYSTEM

FLOOR DUCTS

The main purpose of a floor duct system is to enable desks to be moved

to any position in the office or within building. The duct can be used to
carry both low-voltage electrical supplies for machines and lighting and
extra low-voltage supplies for private and public telephones.
Steel and pitch fibre ducts are materials that generally use for ducts.
There are three types of floor duct layouts; grid, branching and perimeter

FLOOR DUCTS-Grid
This method provides
adequate flexibility for
telephone and electrical
supplies and is used in
open-plan offices. A
suitable spacing of the
ducts is 1.5 to 2 m, but
other spacings may be
used depending upon the
degree of flexibility
required

FLOOR DUCTS-Branching
This method uses a central feeder
duct with branches to each window
bay. The branches may either
terminate just short of the wall, or
extend to wall outlets. Figure 4.26
shows a branching duct layout with
wall outlets. The layout provides
reasonable flexibility for open-plan
offices, but is also used for
partitioned offices with the central
feeder duct in the corridor.

FLOOR DUCTS-Perimeter
This is the cheapest
method but does not
provide
the
flexibility
obtained by the grid and
branching layouts. A main
feeder duct is located about
450 mm form the outside
wall with short branches
taken from junction boxes
to
wall
outlets
for
telephones
or
both
telephones and electrical
supply.

Group Assignment-due date

(6/5/2014)
1. Explain in detail the principles issues of
Electrical Safety in high rise building (give 5
issues).
2. Explain in detail, the power distribution
system for commercial high rise building.
Provide necessary sketches to illustrates your
answer.

End of Chapter 5
Thank you