DOMESTIC APPLICATION OF ELECTRONICS – 2

PROF. DEBASHIS DUTTA GUPTA

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 CONTENT

Concept of RCB and MCB ……………………………………………………..... 3

Transmission of Electricity……………………………………………………….. 5
Electrical machines…………………………………………………...................... 8
Power supply in home usage…………………………………………………….. 11

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 Concept of RCB and MCB

RCB
RCB stands for Residual Current Breaker. It is a general term that encompasses both RCD
(Residual Current Device) and RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker). An RCD is designed
to quickly disconnect the circuit when a residual current exceeds a certain value. Residual
current refers to a current imbalance between the live and neutral conductors.
It works on the principle of “Kirchhoff’s Law” which says, all the incoming currents should
be equal to all the outgoing currents. So, if there’s a difference between the phase line and the
neutral line then, it takes that as a fault and trips the breaker.

MCB
MCB stands for Miniature Circuit Breakers. The MCB is an electromechanical device that
switches off the circuit automatically if an abnormality is detected. The MCB easily senses the
overcurrent caused by the short circuit. The miniature circuit has a very straightforward
working principle. Additionally, it has two contacts; one fixed and the other movable. If the
current increases, the movable contacts are disconnected from the fixed contacts, making the
circuit open and disconnects them from the main supply.

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Excess current causes the bimetallic strip within the MCB to heat, bend, and trip. This releases
a switch that moves the electrical contact points apart to confine the arc (electrical discharge).
An MCB is designed to protect against both overloading and short-circuiting. These are
detected differently using separate processes. Overload protection is provided by the bimetallic
strip using thermal operation, whereas short-circuit protection is provided by the tripping coil
via electro-magnetic operation.

Types of RCB
There are two types of RCB or RCCB
2 Pole RCCB
It is utilized in a single-phase supply which only contains a neutral wire and a live wire. It has
two ends and at those ends, the neutral wire and live wire are connected. With the help of a
rotary switch, you can switch the RCCB on and off. It also has a test button that assists in
periodically testing the functionality of the RCCB.
4 Pole RCCB
4 Pole RCCB is utilized in a 3-phase supply connection that includes a neutral wire and 3
phase wires. Again this has two ends where both the neutral wire and 3 phase wires are
connected. This is the only difference between the 2 and 4 pole RCCB, the rest of the work is
similar.

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Types of MCB
Several different MCB types are available types A, B, C, D, K, and Z. However, the three key
versions are type B, type C, and type D.
Type B MCB
Type B circuit breakers are designed to trip if the current flowing through hits between three
and five times the recommended maximum or ‘rated load’. This is the most sensitive type of
MCB, designed for domestic applications, and low voltage commercial settings where any
current surges are likely to be small.
Type C MCB
Type C circuit breakers are used for more powerful electrical devices where any surges are
likely to be higher – typically commercial and industrial environments. They are designed to
trip at currents between five and ten times their rated load. Good examples include smaller
electric motors and florescent lighting
Type D MCB
D-type MCBs are the least sensitive type, only activating when current surges to between ten
and twenty times the recommended maximum. D-rated MCBs are built for heavy-duty
commercial and industrial devices where very strong current surges occasionally occur.
Examples include welding equipment, X-ray machines, large motors, and uninterruptible
power supply units.

Transmission of Electricity

Block diagram of transmission line

L’ = inductance
R’ = resistance
C’ = capacitance
G’ = conductance

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Generator
Electric generators, also known as dynamos is an electric machine that converts mechanical
energy into electrical energy. The electric generator’s mechanical energy is usually provided
by steam turbines, gas turbines, and wind turbines. Electrical generators provide nearly all the
power that is required for electric power grids.
The classification of electric generators depends on the type of electrical energy that is
produced, which is either direct current or alternating current.
AC generators: AC generators are known as single-phase generators and are limited to 25 kW.
DC generators: These generators are divided into three categories, and they are shunt, series,
and compound-wound. Shunt generators are used in battery chargers. Series generators are
used in street lights. While most of the DC generators are compound-wound.

Components of an Electric Generator

The main components of an electric generator are given below
The Frame – the structure
An Engine – the source of mechanical energy
The Alternator – produces an electrical output from the mechanical input
A Fuel System – to keep the generator operational
A Voltage Regulator – to regulate the voltage output
A Cooling System – to regulate heat levels that build up in the system
A Lubrication System – for durable and smooth operations over a span
An Exhaust System – to dispose of the waste exhaust gases produced in the process
A Charger – to keep the battery of the generator charged
Main Control – the control panel controlling generator interface

Power transformer
Power transformers are electrical instruments used in transmitting electrical power from one
circuit to another without changing the frequency. They operate by the principle of
electromagnetic induction. They are used in transmitting electrical power between generators
and distribution primary circuits.

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Power transformers are classified into three types based on their application.
 Large power transformers can have a range of 100MVA and higher.
 Medium power transformer can range can be from 100MVA.
 Low-power transformer can range from 500 to 7500kVA.

Transmission line
Transmission line is the long conductor with special design (bundled) to carry bulk amount of
generated power at very high voltage from one station to another as per variation of the voltage
level.
A short transmission line is classified as a transmission line with:
 A length less than 80km (50 miles)
 Voltage level less than 69 kV
 Capacitance effect is negligible
 Only resistance and inductance are taken in calculation capacitance is neglected.

A medium transmission line is classified as a transmission line with:

 A length more than 80 km (50 miles) but less than 250 km (150 miles)
 Operational voltage level is from 69 kV to approx. 133 kV
 Capacitance effect is present
 Distributed capacitance form is used for calculation purpose.

A long transmission line is classified as a transmission line with:

 A length more than 250 km (150 miles)
 Voltage level is above 133 kV
 Line constants are considered as distributed over the length of the line.

Overhead transmission line

An overhead power line is a structure used in electric power transmission and distribution to
transmit electrical energy along large distances. It consists of one or more conductors
(commonly multiples of three) suspended by towers or poles. Since most of the insulation is
provided by air, overhead power lines are generally the lowest-cost method of power
transmission for large quantities of electric energy.

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Underground transmission line
The electric power transmission can be done using a method like undergrounding as an
alternative to overhead power transmission. These cables have low visibility and not affected
by bad -weather. But, the cost of these cables is high and laying process is time-consuming
instead of overhead building.
At present, there are two types of underground power transmission cables which are assembled
in a pipe and solid dielectric cable. The first type is circulated around the cable in order to
control the heat as well as protect the cable. The second type of cable doesn’t require fluids,
and it is the most current advancement in technology.

Electrical machines

Microwave generator
A microwave generator is a sophisticated, mostly electronic, piece of equipment designed to
generate and emit microwave energy from electricity.
Industrial microwave generators provide power to a growing number of applications. These
units are often used in food processing, industrial drying, and industrial heating marketplaces.
In addition, our generators reach end users from a wide variety of backgrounds. This includes:
government, materials handling, energy, plasma processing, and an abundance of
entrepreneurial ventures that use microwaves to enhance their process.

Microwave oven
A microwave oven or simply microwave is an electric oven that heats and cooks food by
exposing it to electromagnetic radiation in the microwave frequency range.[1] This
induces polar molecules in the food to rotate and produce thermal energy in a process known
as dielectric heating.

Principles of microwave cooking

A microwave oven heats food by passing microwave radiation through it. Microwaves are a
form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation with a frequency in the so-called microwave
region (300 MHz to 300 GHz). Microwave ovens heat by causing molecules to spin under the
influence of a constantly changing electric field, usually in the microwave frequencies range,
and a higher wattage power of the microwave oven results in faster cooking times.
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Block diagram of microwave oven

Types of microwave oven

The three main microwave oven types are solo grill and convection
 Solo microwaves are basic models for reheating and defrosting.
 Grill microwaves add grilling capabilities.
 Convection ovens combine microwave energy with a convection feature for baking and
roasting.

Electronic controller for washing machine

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Air conditioning
Cooling in traditional air conditioner systems is accomplished using the vapour-compression
cycle, which uses a refrigerant's forced circulation and phase change between gas and liquid to
transfer heat. The vapour-compression cycle can occur within a unitary, or packaged piece of
equipment; or within a chiller that is connected to terminal cooling equipment (such as a fan
coil unit in an air handler) on its evaporator side and heat rejection equipment such as a cooling
tower on its condenser side. An air source heat pump shares many components with an air
conditioning system, but includes a reversing valve, which allows the unit to be used to heat
as well as cool a space.
Air conditioning equipment will reduce the absolute humidity of the air processed by the
system if the surface of the evaporator coil is significantly cooler than the dew point of the
surrounding air. An air conditioner designed for an occupied space will typically achieve a
30% to 60% relative humidity in the occupied space.

Features of basic loud speaker

Frequency Response: This refers to the range of frequencies that the loudspeaker can
reproduce accurately. A wider frequency response typically results in better sound quality
across a broader range of audio frequencies.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity measures how efficiently the speaker converts electrical power into
sound output. It’s usually expressed in decibels (dB) and indicates how loud the speaker will
be for a given input power level.
Power Handling: This specifies the maximum amount of power (in watts) that a loudspeaker
can handle without being damaged. It’s important to match the power handling capabilities of
the speaker with the output power of the amplifier to prevent overloading or damaging the
speaker.
Impedance: Impedance is the resistance to the flow of electrical current in the speaker’s voice
coil. It’s measured in ohms and affects how much power the speaker draws from the amplifier.
Matching the impedance of the speaker to the amplifier’s output impedance is important for
optimal performance.
Distortion: Distortion refers to any unwanted changes or additions to the original audio signal
introduced by the loud-speaker. It can occur due to various factors, including nonlinearities in
the speaker’s components or mechanical limitations. Lower distortion levels generally result
in cleaner and more accurate sound reproduction.
Directivity: Directivity describes how the sound radiation pattern of the speaker changes with
frequency and angle. Some speakers have a more directional output, focusing sound in a
specific direction, while others have a more omnidirectional output. The directivity pattern can

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affect the speaker’s dispersion characteristics and how sound is perceived in different listening
environments.
Size and Enclosure Type: The size and type of enclosure housing the loudspeaker can impact
its performance, particularly in terms of bass response and overall efficiency. Different
enclosure designs, such as sealed, ported, or horn-loaded, have unique acoustic properties that
influence the speaker’s sound output.
Durability and Build Quality: The durability and build quality of the loudspeaker components,
including the cone material, voice coil construction, and magnet assembly, determine its
longevity and reliability under various operating conditions.

Power supply in home usage

Regulated power supply

An electronic circuit that produces a stable DC voltage of fixed value across the load terminals
irrespective of changes in the load is known as regulated power supply.

Block diagram of Regulated power supply using transistor and zener diode

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Block diagram of Regulated power supply using LM317

Inverter
A power inverter, inverter, or invertor is a power electronic device or circuitry that changes
direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). There are two types of inverter single phase
and three phases.

Solar cell
A solar cell is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by
the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon.
It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a device whose electrical characteristics, such as
current, voltage, or resistance, vary when exposed to light. Solar cells are the building blocks
of photovoltaic modules, otherwise known as solar panels. The basic construction of a solar
cell is shown in the adjacent figure

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