Electric Power Distribution Engineering, Third Edition

Book Preface

Today, there are many excellent textbooks that deal with topics in power systems. Some of them are considered to be classics. However, they do not particularly address, nor concentrate on, topics dealing with electric power distribution engineering. Presently, to the best of this author’s knowledge, the only book available in the electric power systems literature that is totally devoted to power distribution engineering is the one by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation entitled Electric Utility Engineering Reference Book—Distribution Systems. However, as the title suggests, it is an excellent reference book but unfortunately not a textbook. Therefore, the intention here is to fill the gap, at least partially, that has existed so long in the power system engineering literature.

This book has evolved from the content of courses that have conducted by the author at the University of Missouri at Columbia, the University of Oklahoma, and Florida International University. It has been written for senior-level undergraduate and beginning-level graduate students, as well as practicing engineers in the electric power utility industry. It can serve as a text for a twosemester course, or by a judicious selection, the material in the text can also be condensed to suit a single-semester course.

Most of the material presented in this book was included in my book entitled Electric Power Distribution System Engineering, which was published by McGraw-Hill in 1986 previously. The book includes topics on distribution system planning, load characteristics, application of distribution transformers, design of subtransmission lines, distribution substations, primary systems, and secondary systems, voltage drop and power-loss calculations, application of capacitors, harmonics on distribution systems, voltage regulation, and distribution system protection, and reliability and electric power quality. It includes numerous new topics, examples, problems, as well as MATLAB® applications.

This book has been particularly written for students or practicing engineers who may want to teach themselves and/or enhance their learning. Each new term is clearly defined when it is first introduced; a glossary has also been provided. Basic material has been explained carefully and in detail with numerous examples. Special features of the book include ample numerical examples and problems designed to use the information presented in each chapter. A special effort has been made to familiarize the reader with the vocabulary and symbols used by the industry. The addition of the appendixes and other back matter makes the text self-sufficient.