机电专业英语 教学课件 作者 杨寿智 刘水平 机电专业英语.Lesson 30.pptVIP

Lesson30 Power network structure Text It is not practically feasible with the present state of the technology to generate the electric energy at the location of its use. Local generation would be unacceptable for economic, environmental, and reliability reasons. Consequently, electricity must be generated in bulk quantities in power stations or centers. As the customer locations vary over vast geographic areas, the electric energy must be transmitted over an electric power network connecting the power stations with every customer①. The locations of the power centers are dictated by a number of factors. Fuel availability is one important such factor. For example, coal-fired generator units are often located in the vicinity of vast coal deposits. It is obviously more practical and economical to transport the energy to the user in electric form on electric transmission lines than in the form of coal shipments②. Environmental factors are becoming increasing important in power-station siting. So is availability of condenser-cooling water. As this is being written, the various pros and cons of nuclear power stations and their siting problems are being hotly debated. The size of generator units are becoming increasingly larger. Power ratings in excess of 1000 MW are not uncommon. For comparison, in 1976 in the United States, a 1000-MW unit will satisfy the varied electric power needs of a city with a population of about half a million people. The electric power network must be designed so as to meet the need of every customer and at the same time permit energy shipments in the 1000-MW range③. Immediately, one notices the analogy between an electric power network and a well-designed transportation system. The inerstate superhighway system handles huge blocks of truck, bus, and long-distance auto traffic. State highways take care of medium-distance traffic. The small and lightly traveled urban and rural roads and lanes serve the local traffic needs. In a power network the hu