Module:
ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 2
REFERENCE:
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION-5TH ED. J. WUJEK & F. DAGOSTINO
Hi there, future Engineers!
In this module we will continue to discuss the basic Principles of ELECTRICITY THEORY.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After working on this module, the reader will be able to know and understand the
following:
▪ The Relationship between Magnetism and Electrical Current
▪ Direct and Alternating Current
▪ Transforming Voltage and Current
▪ Impedance and the Power Factor
▪ Cost of Electrical Energy and Power
Introduction…
Magnetism is the force exerted by magnets when they
attract or repel each other. Magnetism is caused by the
motion of electric charges. Every substance is made up of
tiny units called atoms. Each atom has electrons, particles
that carry electric charges.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICAL CURRENT
DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT
Direct Current
Direct current (DC) is current flow in one
direction in an electrical circuit. It is
always from the negative to the positive
terminals of the power source such as a
battery.
DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENT
Alternating Current
Alternating current (AC) is a continuous
reversal of the direction of current flow such
that at a point in time the current flow is in one
direction and at another point in time it is in
the reverse direction. Direction of current flow
reverses as the polarity of the power source in
the circuit reverses.
Single-Phase Alternating
Current Power
A single-phase (1Φ) alternating
current distribution system refers
to a system in which all the
voltages of the supply vary in
unison.
A basic system typically has two
conductors: one is neutral and
the other carries current (the hot
or live conductor).
Three-Phase Alternating Current Power
A three-phase (3Φ) alternating current
distribution system consists of three
separate lines of single-phase power
with each line out of phase by 120° (1⁄3
of a cycle).
Basic three-phase circuits typically have
three current-carrying (hot or live)
conductors plus one grounded (neutral)
conductor.
Transformers
A transformer is an electrical device
that transfers an alternating
current and voltage from one
circuit to another using the
induction phenomenon.
Sample Problem 1
IMPEDANCE
Impedance (Z) is a measure of resistance
to current flow on an AC circuit due to
the combined effect of resistance,
inductance and capacitance.
Inductors
An inductor is a coil of wire that creates
an electromagnetic field.
On AC circuits, inductive loads are
created as current flows through coils or
windings found in motors, transformers,
and light fixture ballasts (fluorescent and
high-intensity discharge fixtures).
Capacitors
A capacitor is composed of metal plates separated by air or a
dielectric material such as paper, ceramic, or mica.
Capacitors store electrical
energy in an electrostatic field
and release it later, much like
your body stores and releases
static electricity as you rub
your feet across the carpet
and touch a grounded object.
Ohm’s Law for AC circuits.
Voltage (E)
Current (I)
Impedance (Z)
Impedance is measured in ohms (Ω).
Sample Problem 2
POWER FACTOR (PF)
The power factor (PF or cosϕ) for a single-phase circuit is the
ratio between real power and apparent power in a circuit
The three components of AC power are:
• Real power is the “working power” that performs useful effort in a circuit (e.g., creating heat, light, and
motion).
• It is expressed in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW).
• Reactive power is the power that generates the magnetic field required for inductive devices to
operate. It dissipates no energy in the load but which returns to the source on each alternating current
cycle.
• It is expressed in units called volt-amps-reactive (VAR) or kilovolt-amperes reactive (kVAR), rather
than watts.
• Apparent power is the “power available to use.” It is the “total” power required by an inductive device
that is a composite (vector sum) of the real power and reactive power.
• It is expressed in volt-amperes (VA) or kilovolt-ampere (kVA), because it is the simple product of
voltage and current.
Sample Problem 3
Sample Problem 4
PF Correction
The PF is an important consideration in design of an AC
circuit or system, because when a PF is less than 1.0, the
circuit’s wiring has to carry more current than would be
necessary to deliver the same amount of real power.
The goal of a power company is a PF of 1.0 or a unity power
factor.
Sample Problem 5
Consider a building drawing 200 A at 480 V. The system equipment (i.e.,
conductors, transformers, switchgear) must be rated at 96 kVA (because 200
A x 480 V = 96 kVA). If the PF of the loads is only 0.7, how much real
power is being consumed.
The main advantages of the PF correction are as follows:
1. A high PF reduces the load currents, resulting in a considerable
saving in hardware costs (i.e., conductors, switchgear, substation
transformers, and so on).
2. Power companies typically impose low power factor penalties, so
by correcting the PF, this penalty can be avoided.
3. The electrical load on the power company is reduced, which allows
the power company to supply the surplus power to other
consumers without increasing its generation capacity.
End of the module..
