Electric Power Distribution Equipment and Systems

Book excerpt: Power distribution and quality remain the key challenges facing the electric utilities industry. Choosing the right equipment and architecture for a given application means the difference between success and failure. Comprising chapters carefully selected from the best-selling Electric Power Distribution Handbook, Electric Power Distribution Equipment and Systems provides an economical, sharply focused reference on the technologies and infrastructures that enable reliable, efficient distribution of power, from traversing vast distances to local power delivery. The book works inward from broad coverage of overall power systems all the way down to specific equipment application. It begins by laying a foundation in the fundamentals of distribution systems, explaining configurations, substations, loads, and differences between European and US systems. It also includes a look at the development of the field as well as future problems and challenges to overcome. Building on this groundwork, the author elaborates on both overhead and underground distribution networks, including the underlying concepts and practical issues associated with each. Probing deeper into the system, individual chapters explore transformers, voltage regulation, and capacitor application in detail, from basic principles to operational considerations. With clear explanations and detailed information, Electric Power Distribution Equipment and Systems gathers critical concepts, technologies, and applications into a single source that is ideally suited for immediate implementation.