Electrical Overhead and Underground Distribution Systems

In this interactive course, you will learn about planning and design considerations, overhead conductors, structure types and loading, guying, insulators, insulation and fault protection coordination, grounding, and many more.

Course Outline

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• use the knowledge of  conductors, structures, insulation, guys, transformers, switchgear, protection, capacitors, automation and grounding
• identify and describe customer service policy issues, industry standards, and accepted  practices related to the design and application of overhead and underground distribution systems
• apply the applicable standards and codes to the different zones of power distribution systems
• describe the electrical and mechanical characteristics, performance and economic factors that are relevant to the selection and applications of overhead and underground distribution system components
• specify and implement the latest edition of the National & International standards to specify the requirements, ratings & testing of  distribution system components
• select based on relevant performance and economic factors wood, steel, and concrete poles and structural components as well as other components such as distribution transformers and cables
• compute appropriate insulation levels and select insulators, lightning arresters, grounding, and other components that are coordinated to provide acceptable lightning performance as well as short circuit & overload current levels to adjust and coordinate the protective devices (fuses & relays) in tandem (series)
• complete the design of an overhead and underground distribution system by applying all of the principles learned in the course

Description

Those who work in the areas of design, construction, operation, maintenance, or safety of electrical overhead and underground distribution systems in a utility or industrial setting need special knowledge and skills for efficient implementation of safe and economical electrical distribution projects.  Engineers, technicians, designers, contractors, consultants, line workers, inspectors, safety personnel, supervisors, and others involved with electrical overhead and underground distribution systems will benefit from this course.

This informative course is your opportunity to learn in a short duration of five days all about overhead and underground distribution systems. In this interactive course, you learn about planning and design considerations, overhead conductors, structure types and loading, guying, insulators, insulation and fault protection coordination, grounding, electrical & mechanical characteristics of cables, designs & ratings of distribution transformers, types & characteristics of pad-mounted switchgear, capacitors ratings & types, protection in distribution systems, distribution systems automation and distributed generation.

Objective

To gain understanding of overhead and underground distribution systems design, operation and maintenance practices using applicable codes, policies and standards and assimilating the knowledge gained in the course by solving numerical problems.

Who Should Attend

• Designers
• Consulting Engineers
• Engineers
• Technicians
• Contractors
• Line Workers
• Inspectors, Safety Personnel
• Supervisors
• Manufacturers & Vendors involved in electrical overhead and underground distribution systems in a utility or industrial setting will benefit from this course

Your learning experience will include group discussion of specific situations and participant experiences.

Special Features

• Interaction with other participants who work in similar situations
• Review and question and answer session each day
• Specific, practical and understandable information
• Valuable reference materials
• Participation in  solving the numerical problems for the key concepts presented in the course

Program Outline

Day I

Registration and Coffee

Welcome, Introduction, Workshop Preview, Learning Outcomes and the Assessment Method

General Planning and Design Considerations

• Electric power system and power distribution
• Nominal voltage levels
• Applicable codes, policies and standards (IEEE, CSA, CEC, Ontario Electrical Code)
• Main stages of the design process
• Reliability of electric power supply
• Economic considerations
• Power loading (normal and contingency)
• Operations and maintenance considerations
• Aesthetics
• Route selection and rights-of-way
• Joint-use

Electrical Conductors

• Electrical characteristics
• Physical characteristics
• Electrical loading
• Connectors
• Economic conductor selection
• CEC requirements

             - physical loading conditions
             - strength requirements

• Transverse, vertical and tension loads
• Sag and tension characteristics
• Conductor and consideration of seasonal change of sag/tension
• Ruling span and sag / tension calculations
• Design problem (ruling span and sag/tension determination)

Pole Structure, Types and Design

• Wood poles and structures

             - species
             - classification and selection
             - preservatives
             - quality assurance

• Steel poles

             - materials
             - corrosion & cathodic protection
             - design and selection

• Concrete poles

             - materials
             - design and selection

• Wood, steel and fiberglass support arms

             - materials
             - design and selection

Numerical Examples

Questions and Answers

Adjournment

Day II

Insulators and Insulation Coordination

• Characteristics of lightning
• BIL ratings
• Types of insulators and general characteristics (porcelain, glass, polymer)
• Electrical ratings of insulators
• Mechanical ratings of insulators
• CEC requirements
• Insulator selection and application
• Coordination of pole-top assemblies
• Lightning arresters and application
• Design problem

Switches, Sectionalizers & Reclosers

• Load break switches
• Oil switches
• Disconnect switches
• Load break tools, ratings, application & operation
• Air Load break (interrupter) switches
• SF6 & vacuum interrupters (load & fault)
• Reclosers and Sectionalizers types & ratings

Pole-mounted (overhead) Transformers

• Configuration & installation
• Ratings
• Completely self-protected (CSP) type
• Fuse cutouts
• Power fuses, expulsion & current limiting
• Electronic fuses

Numerical Examples

Questions and Answers

Adjournment

Day III

Capacitors

• Application of low voltage &. medium voltage capacitors
• Shunt vs. series
• Standards and ratings
• Application
• Making currents (energization)
• Protection & control
• Economical justification of capacitors' application

Guying

• Guying methods
• CEC requirements
• Calculation of forces
• Guy strand types and sizes
• Anchor types and sizes
• Pole attachments
• Guy strand and anchor selection
• Insulation and grounding
• Design problem

Grounding

• Purposes of grounding
• NESC requirements
• Grounding standards
• Grounding design

Numerical Examples

Questions and Answers

Adjournment

Day IV

Power Systems Studies

• Fault calculations & protective relays co-ordination studies
• Load flow
• Motor starting and capacitors application
• Transients
• Reliability
• Stability

Cables

• Classification
• Cable insulation
• Mechanical and electrical characteristics
• Secondary (low voltage) cables
• Primary cables
• Production tests
• Manholes
• Sizing & temperature limits

Cable Accessories

• Bridges for the measurement of L, C & tan
• Cable terminations
• Cable splices
• Elbows or separable connectors
• Faulted circuit indicators (FCI)
• Fault location equipment
• Route tracing
• Underground cable test vans

Numerical Examples

Questions and Answers

Adjournment

Day V

Pad-mounted Distribution Transformers

• Distribution transformers theoretical background
• Equivalent circuit of a single-phase transformer
• Winding connections
• Cores' types
• Amorphous metal
• Physical properties
• Insulating oil
• Ratings & protection
• Losses & economical comparison
• Vault installed transformers

Pad-mounted Switchgear

• Types & application
• Air insulated
• Liquid insulated
• Fusing
• Gas insulated
• Solid dielectric insulated
• Remote operation
• Box pads

Distributed Generation

• Conventional methods of power generation  (hydro-generation, steam-generation through burning of coal, liquid or gas fuels and nuclear)
• Solar energy, thermal (heat), photovoltaic (light, photon), ocean (temperature gradient) and solar ponds
• Wind
• Energy from biomass including landfill gas and anaerobic digestion
• Geothermal
• Wave & tidal

Distribution Systems Automation

• Main objectives & functions of distribution automation
• Transformer stations SCADA & RTUs
• Remotely (automatically) operated load break switches
• Automatic circuit reclosers

             - Electronic sectionalizer
             - Communication networks & protocols

Case Study - Putting it all together

The instructor describes a project where the participants will work in small groups under instructor guidance to complete specifying & designing a hypothetical distribution system using and applying the knowledge acquired during the duration of the course. Each group makes a presentation that is followed by a discussion.

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Final Adjournment

Daily Schedule:
8:00   Registration and coffee (Day I only)
8:30   Session begins
12:00 Lunch
4:30   Adjournment

There will be a forty-minute lunch break each day in addition to a refreshment and networking break during each morning and afternoon session.

Faculty

Hany A. Kheir, P.Eng has a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from Ain-Shams University, Egypt (1977). He has been a member with PEO since 1983 and APEGBC since 2010. He has been a technical and training services provider (self-employed) from 1995. Before which, he worked with organizations like ABB, Siemens, Square D and Vaughan Hydro in the different capacities as project engineer, application engineering supervisor and planning engineer. He served as a member on several IEC standards committees and sub-committees.     

Additional Details

Pre-Requisites

Certificates offered

3 CEU / 30 PDH

Cancellation Policy

To withdraw from a course, you must send a request, in writing, with the official receipt to our office. Fifteen or more business days in advance: full refund less $50.00 administration charge. Five to fifteen business days in advance: non-refundable credit of equal value for any future EPIC seminar within one year. Credits are transferable within your organization. In case of an unexpected event occurring after this time, you may send someone else to take your place without any additional cost.

Map & Reviews

EPIC Educational Program Innovations Center
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Would have liked more interactive problem solving.

Reviewed by Allen A. 2011