ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY Authorities of power production i. Kenya power and lighting company Kenya Power owns and operates most of the electricity transmission and distribution system in the country and sells electricity to over 6,761,090 million by end of June 2018. ‘The Company's key mandate is to plan for sufficient electricity generation and transmission capacity to meet demand; building and maintaining the power distribution and transmission network and retailing of electricity to its customers. fi, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) It manages and develops all public power electricity generating facilities. It sells electricity in bulk to Kenya Power. KenGen is the main player in electricity generation accounting for 1,238MW (76%) of installed electricity generation capacity for the national transmission grid as at 30th June 2013. ili, Kenya electricity transmission company (KETRACO) is mandated to construct new transmission lines with government funding to accelerate infrastructure development. KETRACO was incorporated in December 2008, is a fully owned State Corporation and a Special Purpose Vehicle to plan, design, construct, own, operate and maintain new high voltage (132kV and above)electricity transmission grid and regional inter-connectors, iv. Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is tasked with developing steam fields to reduce upstream power development risks so as to promote rapid development of geothermal electric power. GDC is a fully owned Government Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that undertakes surface exploration of geothermal fields, explorations, appraisals, drilling, steam production and entering into steam sales agreements with investors in the geothermal electricity generation. v. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ERC is an independent agency responsible for regulation of the energy sector agencies, oversight, coordination preparation of Least Cost Power Development Plans (LCPDP), and monitoring and enforcement of sector regulations. vii The Energy ‘Tribunal ‘The Energy Tribunal is an independent legal entity that arbitrates disputes between parties in the sector, vil, Rural Electrification Authority (REA) REA is a government wholly owned entity, charged with implementing the Rural Electrification Programme. It came into operation in July 2007. viii, Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB) KNEB is charged with spearheading and fast tracking development of nuclear electricity generation to enhance production of affordable and reliable electricity. Page 1 of 13ix. Independent Power Producers (IPPs) IPPs are private investors in the power sector involved in generation either on a large scale or for the development of renewable energy under the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) Poliey. Source: httpd/energy.go.ke!page_id-528, https://kple.co.ke/contenv/item/14/kenya-power Power supply systems Generating stations A generating station employs a prime mover coupled to an alternator for the production of electric power. The prime mover converts energy from some other form of mechanical energy. The alternator converts mechanical enerey of the prime mover into electrical energy which is transmitted and distributed with the help of conductors to various customers. The electric power is generated at 11kV then stepped up to 132 KV, 200kV or more for ‘transmission. Typical layout é & i ‘consuness 3 a 2 a Primary transmission ‘The electric power at 132kV is transmitted by 3phase, 3wire overhead system to the outskirts of the city. This forms the primary transmission, Secondary transmission ‘The primary transmission line terminates at the receiving station (RS) which usually lies at the outskirts of the city. The voltage is reduced to 33KV by step-down transformers, then transmitted by 3phase, 3wire overhead system to various substations (SS) located at strategic points in the city. Primary distribution ‘The secondary transmission line terminates at the substation (SS) where voltage is reduced from 33KV to LIKV 3phase 3 wire. The 11kV line runs along the important road sides of the city. Big consumers (having demand more than 50 kW) are generally supplied power at 1IKV for further handling with their own substations Secondary distribution Page 2 of 13The electric power from primary distribution line (1 IkV) is delivered to distribution sub-stations, (DS). They are located near consumers’ localities and step-down voltage to 400V 3phase, 4 wire for secondary distribution. The voltage between phases is 400V and between any phase and neutral is 230V. The single phase domestic loads are connected between one phase and the neutral, whereas 3-phase 400V motor loads are connected across 3-phase lines directly. ‘Types of generating stations Hydro-electric power station This is a generating station which utilizes the potential energy of water at a high level for the generation of electrical energy. They are generally located on hilly areas where dams can be built conveniently and large water reservoirs can be obtained. Water head is created by constructing a dam across a river or lake. This water is led to a water turbine which captures the energy in the falling water and changes the hydraulic energy into mechanical energy at the turbine shaft. The turbine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. A) Surge tank. Schematic arrangement of a Hydro-electric plant Advantages a) Requires no fuel as water is used for the generation of electrical energy b)_Itis quite, neat and clean as no smoke or ash is produced ©) Requires very small running charges because water is the source of energy which is available free of cost 4) It is comparatively simple in construction and requires less maintenance. ©) Itdoes not require a long starting time like a steam power station. 4) Itis robust and has longer life. 2) They serve many purposes i.e. help in irrigation and controlling floods. Disadvantages a) Involves high capital cost due to construction of dam. b) There is uncertainty about the availability of huge amounts of water due to dependence on the weather conditions ©) Skilled and experienced hands are required to build the plant Page 3 of 134d) Requires high costs of transmission lines as the plant is located in hilly areas which are quite away from the consumers fi, Steam/thermal power station This is a generating station which converts heat energy of coal combustion into electrical energy. Steam is produced in the boiler by utilizing the heat of coal combustion, The steam is then expanded in the prime mover (steam turbine) and is condensed in a condenser to be fed into the boiler again. The steam turbine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical energy. This type of power station is suitable where coal and water are available in abundance and a large amount of electric power is to be generated. Advantages a) The fuel (coal) used is quite cheap. b) Less initial cost as compared to other generating stations ©) Can be installed at any place irrespective of the existence of coal. The coal can be transported to the site of the plant 4d) Itrequire less space as compared to the hydro-electric power station, €) Cos of generation is lesser than that of diesel power station. Disadvantages a) Pollutes the atmosphere due to the production of large amount of smoke and fumes b) Costlier in running cost as compared to hydro-electric plant. Diesel power station This is a generating station in which diesel engine is used as the prime mover for the generation of electrical energy The diesel burns inside the engine and the products of this combustion acts as the ‘working fluid’ to produce mechanical energy. The diesel engine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy The generation cost is considerably high due to high price of diesel, therefore, they are only used to produce small power. This plants ate also used as standby sets for continuity of supply to important points i. hospitals, radio stations, cinema halls, and telephone exchanges. Advantages a) The design and layout of the plant is quite simple. b) Occupies less space as the number and size of the auxiliaries is small. ©) Can be located at any place. 4) Can be started quickly and can pick up load in a short time. ©) There are no standby losses. f) Requires less quantity of water for cooling. 2) The overall cost is much less than that of steam power station of the same capacity. Page 4 of 13» i) ‘The thermal efficiency of the plant is higher than that of a steam power station. Requires less operating staff. Disadvantages a) b) ©) a °) iv. The plant has higher running charges. The plant doesn’t work satisfactorily under overload conditions for a longer period. ‘The plant can only generate small power. ‘The cost of lubrication is generally high. The maintenance charges are generally high. Nuclear power station ‘This is a generating station in which nuclear energy is converted into electrical energy. Heavy elements such as Uranium (U%*) or Thorium (Th*™) are subjected to nuclear fission in a special apparatus known as a reactor. The heat thus released is utilized in raising steam at high temperature and pressure. The steam runs the steam turbine which converts steam energy into mechanical energy. The turbine drives the altemator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. ‘The most important feature of a nuclear station is that huge amount of electrical energy can be produced from a relatively small amount of nuclear fuel a8 compared to other conventional types of power stations. Advantages a) b) ©) oo) °) 5 a) ‘The amount of fuel required is quite small. Therefore, there is considerable saving in the cost of fuel transportation. A nuclear power plant requires less space as compared to any other type of the same size. It has low running charges as a small amount of fuel is used for producing bulk electrical energy, This type of plant is very economical for producing bulk electric power. It can be located near the load centers because it doesn’t require large quantities of water and need not be near coal mines. Therefore, the cost of primary distribution is reduced. There are large deposits of nuclear fuels available all over the world. Therefore, such plants can ensure continued supply of electrical power for thousands of years. It ensures reliability of operation Disadvantages a) b) ©) a 2 6 ‘The fuel used is expensive and is difficult to recover. ‘The capital cost on a nuclear plant is very high as compared to other types of plants ‘The erection and commissioning of the plant requires greater technical know-how. The fission by-products are generally radioactive and may cause a dangerous amount of radioactive pollution. ‘Maintenance charges are high due to lack of standardization. They are not well suited for varying loads as the reactor does not respond to load fluctuations efficiently. Page 5 of 13g) The disposal of the by-products, which are radioactive, is a big problem. They have either to be disposed of in a deep trench or in a sea away from sea shore. ¥. Gas turbine power plant ‘This generating station employs gas turbine as the prime mover for the generation of electrical energy. Air is used as the working fluid. ‘The air is compressed by the compressor and is led 0 the combustion chamber where heat is added to air, thus raising its temperature. The hot and high pressure air from the combustion chamber is the passed to the gas turbine where it expands and does the mechanical work. The gas turbine drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Advantages a) Simple in design compared to steam power station since no boilers and their auxiliaries are required. b) Much smaller in size compared to steam power station of the same capacity. ©) The initial and operating costs are much lower than that of equivalent steam power station. d) Requires less water as no condenser is used, ©) Maintenance charges are quite small ) Gas turbines are much simple in construction and operation than steam turbines. 2) Can be started quickly from cold conditions: ‘h) There are no standby losses. Disadvantages a) Before starting the turbine, the compressor has to be operated for which power is required from an external source. b) Since greater part of power developed by the turbine is used in driving the compressor, the net output is low. ©) The overall efficieney is low (20%) because the exhaust gases from the turbine contains sufficient heat, d) The temperature of combustion chamber is quite high (3000°F) so that its life is reduced vi Geothermal power plant Geothermal power stations are similar to other steam turbine in that heat from a fuel source (in geothermal case, the Earth's core) is used to heat water or another working fluid. The working fluid is then used to tum a turbine of a generator, thereby producing electricity. The fluid is then cooled and retumed to the heat source. Dry steam power stations Dry steam stations are the simplest and oldest design. This type of power station is not found very often, because it requires a resource that produces dry steam, but is the most efficient, with the simplest facilities. Tn these sites, there may be liquid water present in the reservoir, but no water is produced to the surface, only steam, Dry Steam Power directly uses geothermal steam of 150°C or greater to turn turbines. As the turbine rotates it powers a generator which then Page 6 of 13produces electricity and adds to the power field. Then, the steam is emitted to a condenser. Here the steam tums back into a liquid which then cools the water. After the water is cooled it flows down a pipe that conducts the condensate back into deep wells, where it can be reheated and produced again, Flash steam power stations Flash steam stations pull deep, high-pressure hot water into lower-pressure tanks and use the resulting flashed steam to drive turbines. They require fluid temperatures of at least 180 °C, usually more. This is the most common type of station in operation today. Flash steam plants use geothermal reservoirs of water with temperatures greater than 360 °F (182°C). The hot water flows up through wells in the ground under its own pressure. As it flows upward, the pressure decreases and some of the hot water boils into steam. The steam is then separated from the water and used to power a turbine/generator. Any leftover water and condensed steam may be injected back into the reservoir, making this a potentially sustainable resource. Binary cycle power stations Binary cycle power stations are the most recent development, and can accept fluid temperatures as low as 57°C. The moderately hot geothermal water is passed by a secondary fluid with a much lower boiling point than water. This causes the secondary fluid to flash vaporize, which then drives the turbines. This is the most common type of geothermal electricity station being constructed today. Both Organic Rankine and Kalina cycles are used, The thermal efficiency of this type of station is typically about 10-13%. ‘Source: https:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power Advantages a) Comparatively ecologically clean, Unlike coal-fired power plants, geothermal ones use a renewable heat source with a constant supply. The amount of greenhouse gas from geothermal power plants is only 5% in the contrary with coal-fired power plants. b) More energy. Geothermal power stations have great capacity — they can gravely help in meeting the demand for energy that grows every year, both in developed and developing countries, ©) Stable prices. Simple power plants depend on fuel, so the cost of their electricity is varying, based on the market price of fuel. Since geothermal power plants do not use fuel, they do not need to take into account its cost, and they can offer their customers stable electricity costs, 4) Low operating costs. Geothermal installations require minimal maintenance compared to conventional power plants. As a result, they are reliable and cheap in operation. ©) Renewable and sustainable source. Geothermal energy will never end, unlike non- renewable energy sources. As long as the earth supports our lives, geothermal energy will exist and geothermal power will work. 1) Permanent power supply. Unlike other renewable energy sources, geothermal one can provide a constant supply of energy — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, regardless of external factors. For example, solar panels can produce electricity only during the day, and wind turbines produce energy only with sufficient wind g) Small area. They occupy less space than their coal, oil and gas equivalents. Although they will reach far below the earth’s surface, their area will be negligible h) Low noise work. There is a little noise in the production of geothermal energy. The main source of noise is the fans that are in the cooling systems. To reduce its level, engineers can install in the generator shops materials with high damping properties. It helps to reduce noise pollution. i) Energy security. Using local geothermal resources, the need to supply sources from other countries reduces, which, in tum, lowers dependence on extemal influences and helps to increase our energy security. Page 7 of 13Disadvantages a) Ecological problem. High environmental consumption of fresh water can be a loss for the environment, which will ultimately lead to its deficit, Liquids extracted from the earth during drilling contain a large number of toxic chemicals (including arsenic and mercury), as well as greenhouse gases (such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and radon). If they are incorrectly disposed or treated, they can get into the atmosphere or leak into groundwater and damage the environment and human health b) Geographical limits. Geothermal activity is the highest along the tectonic fault lines in the earth's crust. Exactly in these places the geothermal energy has the greatest potential. ‘The drawback is that only few countries can use geothermal resources. Therefore, while having a look at their geographical peculiarities, stich countries are the main producers of geothermal energy: the USA, Iceland, Kenya, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico ©) Seismic instability. There are reasons to believe that geothermal structures have caused underground shakings in different parts of the world. Despite the fact that seismic activity is often insignificant, it can lead to building damage, injuries and death. 4) Expensive construction. Geothermal power plants require significant investments. Although they have low operating costs, the cost of their construction may be much higher than coal, oil and gas plants. Much of these expenses concerns the exploration and drilling of geothermal energy resources. What is more, geothermal power plants require specially developed heating and cooling systems, as well as other equipment that can withstand high temperatures, ©) Possible exhaustion. Studies show that without careful management, geothermal tanks can be exhausted. In such cases, the geothermal power plant will become unnecessary until the tank is restored. The only inexhaustible option is to get geothermal energy directly from the magma, but this technology is still in the process of development. This option is worth investing at least because the magma will exist billions of years. Source: https://avenston.com/en/articles/geothermal-pp-pros-cons! vil, Wind power plant This generating station employs wind turbine as the prime mover for the generation of electrical energy. Winds tums the propeller-like blades of the wind turbine around a rotor. These blades drive the wind turbine which converts wind energy into mechanical energy. The wind turbine (which is a set of gears) drives the alternator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Advantages * Wind energy is a green energy source. Harnessing wind energy does not pollute the environment nearly as much as fossil fuels, coal and nuclear power do. * As mentioned in the introduction of this article, the potential of wind power is absolutely incredible. Several independent research teams have reached the same conclusions: The worldwide potential of wind power is more than 400 TW (terawatts) Page 8 of 13‘+ Wind energy is a renewable source of energy. Wind is naturally occurring and there is no way we can empty the energy resources. Wind energy actually originates from the nuclear fusion processes that take place on the sun. ‘+ Space efficient. The wind turbines can’t be placed too close to each other, but the land in-between can be used for other things. + Although wind power only accounts for about 2.5% of total worldwide electricity Production, the capacity is growing at an incredible rate of 25% per year (2010). This does not only contribute in the fight against global warming, but also helps lowering costs: + Prices have decreased over 80% since 1980. Thanks to technological advancements and increased demand, prices are expected keep decreasing in the foreseeable future, ‘+ It is generally true that operational costs tend to be low once the turbines first have been manufactured and erected. However, not every wind turbine is created equal — some are more susceptible to maintenance than others. Disadvantages + Aesthetic impact: Many people are concemed with the visual effects that wind turbines have on the beautiful scenery of nature. They believe that giant wind turbines distract viewers from the beautifull surroundings. ‘The initial cost is high. ‘Wildlife: Wind turbines may be dangerous to flying animals. Many birds and bats have been killed by flying into the rotors. Experts are now conducting research to learn more about the effects that wind turbines have on marine habitats. + Remoteness of location: Although this may be an advantage (placing wind turbines in desolate areas, far away from people), it may also be a disadvantage. The cost of travel and maintenance on the turbines increases and is time consuming. Offshore wind turbines require boats and can be dangerous to manage Noise: Some wind turbines tend to generate a lot of noise which can be unpleasant Safety at Sea: In the darkness/at night it may be difficult for incoming boats to see wind turbines thus leading to collisions. Source: |https:/Avww.google.com/search?q=wind+ power*station&erlz=1C |GGRV_enKE867KE8678&0q= wind+ power station&aqs=chrome..69157.9264j0)7&sourceid=chromedie=UTF-8 https://energyinformative.org/wind-energy-pros-and-cons/ Transmission and distribution systems Fundamentally electric power transmitted by overhead systems or underground system. In both cases, there are two types of process for electrical power transmission either by A.C or by D.C. The process of A.C and D.C transmission has its own advantage and disadvantages also over one another. i. D.C, Transmission: ‘This type of power transmission can be possible by several ways a) D.C two wires, b) D.C two wires with midpoint earth and Page 9 of 13©) DC three wires. Advantages of D.C transmission: a) It requires only two conductors. b) There is no problem of inductance and capacitance. ©) There is no surge problem. 4) Voltage drop is less than A.C transmission, so better voltage regulation. ©) There is no skin effect. So we can utilize the entire cross-section of the conductor. 1) Less corona loss which reduces the interference with communication circuit. g) Less insulating material than A.C is required. Disadvantages are: a) Due to commutation problem, electric power cannot be generated at D.C voltage. b) D.C voltage cannot be stepped up ot down because transformer uses only A.C. voltage and current. ©) D.C. switch, circuit breaker has its own Ii tions. fi, A.C. Transmission: ‘The most common way of transmitting electrical power is A.C transmission, The various process of A.C. transmission are - Single phase A.C. system: These are also subdivided by ‘© Single phase two wire. ‘Single phase two wire with point earthed. Single phase three wire. + Two phase A.C system: = Two phase four wires. = Two phase three wires. - Three phase A.C. system: Three phase four wires. ‘* Three phase three wires. Advantages of A.C transmission: a) A.C voltage can easily be stepped up and stepped down at desired level by transformer. b) Maintenance of A.C. substation is easy and cheaper. ©) In electric power system, from generation to distribution, throughout the network, ac. voltage is handled, So no extra care is needed like D.C. voltage. 4) Power can be generated at high voltages Disadvantages of A.C transmission: a) A.C. lines require more copper as it requires more conductor than D.C. b) A.C. transmission line construction is more complicated than D.C. ©) Askin effect occurs only in A.C, effective resistance of the line increased. 4) For line capacitance, continuous loss of power occur due to charging current. Page 10 of 13©) The voltage drop is greater than D.C. Distribution system. This is the part of power system which distributes electric power for local use. It is the electrical system between the sub-station fed by the transmission system and the consumers’ meter. Tt consists of feeders, distributors and the service mains, - Feeders — a conductor which connects the sub-station (or localized generating station) to the area where power is to be distributed. No tappings are taken from the feeder so that current remains the same throughout - Distributor — a conductor from which tappings are taken for supply to the consumers, ‘The current throughout a distributor is not constant because tappings are taken at various places along its length. = Service mains — a small cable which connects the distributor to the consumers” terminals. Ac distribution ‘Nowadays electrical energy is generated, transmitted and distributed in the form of altemating current because it can be conveniently changed in magnitude by means of a transformer. This system is the electrical system between the step down substation fed by the transmission system and the consumers’ meters. The AC distribution system is classified into; + Primary distribution system - Secondary distribution system i, Primary distribution system This operates at voltages higher than general utilization and handles large blocks of electrical energy than the average low-voltage consumer uses. The voltage used depends on the amount of power to be conveyed and the distance of the substation required to be fed. The most commonly used primary voltages are 11kV, 6.6kV and 3.3kV. Due to economic considerations, primary distribution is carried out by 3-phase, 3-wire system. Power is supplied to various substations for distribution or to big consumers at this voltage. ‘Typical schematic layout Primary cistrioutin ——> i — ' rf ‘Substation Phase —. ' SWio Gy kv! + ww Dl | —t * Substation | sum | — || (eae (esa 1 Big consumers Sub-siation (Factory) Page 11 of 13ii, Secondary distribution This includes range of voltages at which the ultimate consumer utilizes the electrical energy delivered to him. It employs 400/230 V, 3-phase, 4-wire system. The substations are situated near the consumers” localities and contain step-down transformers. The voltage is stepped down to 400V and power is delivered by 3-phase, 4-wire AC system. The voltage between phases is 400V and between any phase and neutral is 230V. The single phase domestic loads are connected between one phase and the neutral, whereas 3-phase 400V motor loads are connected actos 3-phase lines directly. [__y _ 2-Phase Delia/Slar jstrbutlon transformer TARY = '| ~2s ==) || House + House 2 House 8 as en ! Factory Phase ' oad : DC distribution ‘The DC supply from the substation may be obtained in the form of; - 2ewire distribution - 3.wire distribution i, 2Lwire distribution, It consists of two wires, one is the outgoing/positive wire and the other is the return/negative wire, The loads ice. lamps, motors etc. are connected in parallel between the two wires, This system is never used for transmission purposes due to low efficiency but may be employed for distribution of DC power. Page 12 of 13ii, 3.wire DC system It consists of two outers and a middle/neutral wire which is earthed at the substation, The voltage between the outers is twice the voltage between outer and neutral wire. The advantage of this system is that it makes available two voltages at the consumer terminals between any outer and the neutral and 2V between the outers. Loads requiring high voltages (e.g, motors) are connected across the outers, whereas lamps and heating circuits requiring less voltages are connected between either outer and the neutral. 1 2 Pm fi A cable is a length of insulated single conductor (solid or stranded), or of two or more such conductors, each provided with its own insulation, which may be laid up together. A cable consists of two basic parts; ‘© The conductor + The insulator + Aimeans of protection CABLES ‘Types and sizes of cable conductors ‘The conductor is the type of metal which allows the electrical current to flow through it. The electrical conductor is generally made up of metals like copper, aluminium and their alloys. ‘The electrical conductor which is used for power transmission is usually stranded. Stranded conductors have great flexibility and mechanical strength as compared to a single wire of the same cross-section area, In stranded conductor usually, the centre wire is surrounded by the successive layers of wires containing 6, 12, 18, 24, wires. a, Hard drawn copper conductor Such type of conductors gives high tensile strength. It has high electrical conductivity, long life, and high scrap value. It is most suitable for distribution work where spans and tapping are more. b. Cadmium copper conductor ‘The tensile strength of the copper is increased by approximately 50 percent by adding about 0.7 to 1.0 percent cadmium to it, but their conductivity is reduced by about 15 to 17 percent, The Page 13 of 13