Overview
ABSTRACT
Having briefly described the general organization of the electricity grids and laid down the choices concerning the basic technical options, some of which may have very important technical and economic consequences for electricity distributors, this article describes the different elements of the medium and low voltage electrical power distribution systems. In order to assist decision makers and engineers in their technical choices, the architecture of the source substations, the structures of the MT networks, the automation of the MT networks, the description of the MT/BT transformation substations, the structures of BT networks and the quality of supply are extensively detailed in this article.
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Read the articleAUTHOR
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Alain COIFFIER : Engineer from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) - Former Head of Department, Network Division, ERDF (Électricité Réseau de Distribution France)
INTRODUCTION
Access to electrical energy is an important factor in a country's economic development. Although the situation worldwide has improved over the years, there are still areas, particularly in Africa, where the population has no access to electricity. In other countries, the distribution of electrical energy is intermittent throughout the day or even the year.
Historically, electrical energy was produced locally close to the place of consumption. Over time, small producers have pooled their production by creating small networks to compensate, on the one hand, for the failure of a production tool and, on the other, to optimize the installed power of all the production machines located in a geographical area. It has also made it possible to supply other users who have no production facilities of their own. Over time, the network expanded to become the network it is today.
In France, the development of the electrical system has enabled the electrification of the entire country, with a level of quality that is generally adapted to users' needs.
According to Électricité de France (EDF) records, in 1918 only 58% of the population had access to electricity. By 1929, this figure had risen to 83%, reaching 90% in 1937. Electrification of France was completed in 1956.
The percentages shown above illustrate the gap between decisions to upgrade power grids and the actual implementation of these decisions in the field.
Warning: in this international treatise, the author deliberately does not use the terms used to designate voltages in the French standard. NFC 18-510 . For a French electrician, these terms should be translated as follows:
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LV: LV voltage 50 V < U ≤ 1000 V
MV: HV voltage 1000 V < U ≤ 50 kV
MV/LV substations: MV/LV substations
HV and EHV: HV partitioned into HVB1: 63 and 90 kV; HVB2: 150 and 225 kV; HVB3: 400 kV
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KEYWORDS
quality of supply | security of supply | MV and LV networks | HV/MV substations | automation of MV networks
Structure of Distribution Networks
Brief description of electrical networks
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