AC Distribution Calculations:

AC Distribution Calculations differ from those of d.c. distribution in the following respects :

  • In case of d.c. system, the voltage drop is due to resistance alone. However, in a.c. system, the voltage drops are due to the combined effects of resistance, inductance and capacitance.
  • In a d.c. system, additions and subtractions of currents or voltages are done arithmetically but in case of a.c. system, these operations are done vectorially.
  • In an a.c. system, power factor (p.f.) has to be taken into account. Loads tapped off form the distributor are generally at different power factors. There are two ways of referring power factor viz
  • It may be referred to supply or receiving end voltage which is regarded as the reference
  • It may be referred to the voltage at the load point itself.

There are several ways of solving AC Distribution Calculations. However, symbolic notation method has been found to be most convenient for this purpose. In this method, voltages, currents and imped­ances are expressed in complex notation and the calculations are made exactly as in d.c. distribution.

Methods of Solving AC Distribution Problems:

In AC Distribution Calculations, power factors of various load currents have to be considered since currents in different sections of the distributor will be the vector sum of load currents and not the arithmetic sum. The power factors of load currents may be given (i) w.r t. receiving or sending end voltage or (ii) w.r.t. to load voltage itself. Each case shall be discussed separately.

(i) Power factors referred to receiving end voltage: Consider an a.c. distributor AB with concentrated loads of I1 and I2 tapped off at points C and B as shown in Fig. 14.1. Taking the receiving end voltage VB as the reference vector, let lagging power factors at C and B be cos Φ1 and cos Φ2 w.r.t. VB. Let R1,X1 and R2,X2 be the resistance and reactance of sections AC and CB of the distributor.

AC Distribution Calculations

AC Distribution Calculations

AC Distribution Calculations

AC Distribution Calculations

The vector diagram of the AC Distribution Calculations under these conditions is shown in Fig. 14.2. Here, the receiving end voltage VB is taken as the reference vector. As power factors of loads are given w.r.t. VB, therefore, I1 and I2 lag behind VB by Φ1 and Φ2 respectively.

(ii) Power factors referred to respective load voltages: Suppose the power factors of loads in the previous Fig. 14.1 are referred to their respective load voltages. Then Φ1 is the phase angle between VC and I1 and Φ2 is the phase angle between VB and I2. The vector diagram under these conditions is shown in Fig. 14.3.

AC Distribution Calculations

AC Distribution Calculations

AC Distribution Calculations

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