Part 5: National Grid Network

Low Voltage Transmission

 Power transmitted at low voltage, current in the cables

increases, so power loss increases
High Voltage Transmission
- After the addition of transformer

 In the transmission of electrical energy, alternating

current is used because its voltage can be easily
increased and decreased by transformers.
 Energy Loss in Electricity Transmission

 Due to heat produced in cables

 Power loss can be reduced by
 decreasing resistance of cable
 decreasing current in the cables
 However, reducing the resistance of the cable are not
recommendable
 thick cable are too thick and heavy to be supported safely
 not economical as good conductors like gold or copper are
expensive
 Energy Loss in Electricity Transmission
 Therefore, current in the cables in reduced by using
transformers to perform high voltage transmission so that
 current in cables turns smaller
 power loss along the cables in minimized
 Example
Based on the data given in the diagram,

a) Calculate the current in cables and power loss due to heating

b) With the use of a step – up transformer which steps up to 20 times
the output voltage, find the current and power loss in cables
c) What can you deduce from the answer of (a) and (b)
Solution
National Grid Network
 National Grid Network

 National Grid Network is a network system of high

voltages cables which connects all the power stations in the
country to the consumers.
 The purpose of increasing the voltage to 132 kV is to lower
the current flowing through the grid, and this reducing
power loss during transmission.
 Cost of generation of electricity is reduced because high
voltage transmission
If a particular station breaks
down or is shut down for
maintenance work, the other
stations can supply electrical
energy to the affected area.
The grid network also enables
less efficient stations to be shut
down at off-peak period,
thereby reducing the overall
cost of generation and
transmission.

Advantage of
National Grid
Network

Power stations in areas where Power stations can be located

the demand is low can supply outside city limits so that air
electricity to areas where the and environmental pollution
demand is high. can be reduced.
 Problems Involving Electricity Transmission
and Way to Overcome
 Power loss during transmission
 Use low resistance or thicker aluminium cables to
ensure a high voltage transmission
 Struck by lightning
 Pylons carrying lightning conductors are properly
fixed into ground and cables are fixed with porcelain
support to avoid touching the pylons
 Struck by light aircraft
 Detectable lights and markers are attached to the
pylons
 Problems Involving Electricity Transmission
and Way to Overcome
 High cost of cables
 Aluminium cables are used because they have low
resistance, light and economical
 Charge leakage
 To prevent charge leakage, the aluminium cables are
supported by high metal pylons and the metal support
of the pylon is earthed
 Danger of high voltage transmission. Overhead or
underground?
 High voltage cables are the cheapest way of sending
power over long distances and cable have to be
suspended from high pylons.