In this free online course, learn about the fundamentals and protection of utility distribution stations and feeders.

Did you know that electrical power is reduced twice at different stages before it is consumed by users? The distribution substation connects the transmission system and lowers the transmission voltage to medium voltage, ranging from 2kV to 35kV. Primary distribution lines carry this voltage to distribution transformers located at consumers’ premises, where it is lowered to the quantity that can be used. In this course, you will learn about power distribution as well as the methods and techniques required to protect distribution substations. You will be taught the procedure for per phase analysis and how it is used in a power system. In per phase analysis, you'll learn about the notion of a balanced system and how it can be used to convert a three-phase system to a single-phase system and then back to a three-phase system. Alongside this, this course examines the phase relationship of phase-to-phase quantities and phase-to-neutral quantities.

One of the fundamental laws used in electricity studies is Gustav Kirchhoff's current law. You will gain an understanding of Kirchhoff’s current law and how it applies to the protection of distribution substations. Thereafter, you will learn about feeder protection and how it relates to the time-current curve. Overcurrent protective devices are basically electrical devices or equipment used to protect power lines or feeders against the dangerous effect of overcurrent, such as an overload current or a short circuit current that will create a fault current. This course explores the categories of feeder protection, the objective of the protective scheme regarding distribution substation and the proper application of overcurrent protective devices such as relays, fuses and circuit switchers. 

A fuse is an overcurrent protective electrical device that is used to provide protection for electrical circuits against overcurrent. You will be shown different types of fuses, the components that make them up as well as how fuses operate to provide overcurrent protection for feeders. Fuses are not the only protection device needed in an electrical circuit. This course examines more overcurrent protective devices such as circuit switchers and breakers, what they are made up of and how they function to provide overcurrent protection to electrical circuits or substations. After that, you will be shown the advantages and disadvantages of using such overcurrent protective devices. The course further discusses the relationship between the time-current curve and relays as well as the function of surge protective devices. You'll be shown the reasons for transformer protection, factors affecting it, the requirements for transformer protection and the types of transformer faults. Basic knowledge in electrical circuitry is required to take this course. This course is for civil engineering and electrical engineering students, technicians, technologists and supervisors or anyone interested in how distribution stations and feeders work. Understanding utility distribution stations and feeder protection is essential for maintenance and meeting the energy demands of customers.