How many houses could be powered with 11KV?

The voltage is irrelevant. It is what the power capacity rating of the system that is relevant.

The conductors, transformers, generation, all have a limit of what power can be delivered.

Why the question? Please explain.

Thanks man

I'm studying electrical engineering, as a design that needs to be done, I have to power up a small town with a total of 33KV using 4 mini substations.

With you know how to distribute 33KV to 4 mini substations also?

Scary, to think that an engineer that will provide a distribution design to power a residential subdivision with a 11KV source had to ask for help on a website such as this.

The class or lesson given got you started with the constant of 11 KV. You need to take it from there to size and rate all the conductors, equipment and devices needed to carry the power required safely and reliably.

I have given a few hints.

What is the next step?

Sure I know how to distribute 33KV to 4 substations. Problem is what will be the power requirements?

See a commonality here?

You seem to be missing the point entirely. Each household has probably 100 A @ 240 V or 200 A @ 240 Volts depending primarily if their homes have gas heat or are all electric. Rarely you'll find 400 A @ 240 V service or 3 phase for residential.

That' s a minimum of 24,000 KVA for each home.

How many homes can you place on 11 KV, well that depends primarily on the conductor size. Using 24 AWG wire you'll probably only be able to put 1 home on 11 KV since 24,000 KVA/11 KV is just over 2 AMPS. Mechanically 24 AWG could not be used.

You have to start somewhere. Technology limits is one place to start. Power plant capacity is another. Household capacity is yet another.

Im a first year and haven't learnt this stuff yet,

My e mail address is >Address Removed<

If you could e mail me I with give you the details

I want to run a small shopping centre and about 200 houses in my town but I don't know how much power all of that will take.

No email necessary, please provide any details here.

So seems you got the word "power".

How you calculate power?

Has that been covered in the class? If not, you need to start at the beginning.

Just in case you don't realize it, I will not be giving you any answers without sweat equity on your part. If others give you the answers, then so be it, my intention of getting you to think of the right questions has failed.

Kiss gave you some data to get started, what do you do with it?


Keep in mind, not only do the conductors have limits of capacity, so do all the other components in the system, such as substation transformers, switchgear, voltage regulators, air breaks, reactors, etc. Are you familiar with all of the components of a substation?

Yes I am familiar with those components but I had no idea that some of those where used in a sub station. I will research those components and I will get back to you once I have chose my components for my design.

Thank you

I want to add two more terms for you to research: "distance" and "% voltage drop".

It would be best if gokes tells us how he/ she plans to solve the problem! We can then give some direction if gokes needs it.

This is first year EE stuff??

Don't you think they should teach this stuff THEN ask you to apply it? :rolleyes:

I think this is an exercise to have the students apply the 3 phase power formulas, or see what they know, or how well they understand theory, or problem solving skills.

You can't swing a dead cat without finding power formulas in text books or hmmmm... let me think...


See , he is till not sure, the loads need to be determined before any gear is chosen. Back asswards direction is he going. Oops ,another hint, any bets it is missed?

Wait, this is only power, he hasn't even touched upon BIL, AIC, Pf, voltage clearances, conductor ampacity, lightning arrestors, grounding, along with Vd, as Kiss mentioned, thou Vd is not a major issue with Medium and High Voltage initially in the design process.

Can we all agree to follow Washington's advice?

By the way, I asked if you know how to calculate power, got no answer. And what does 11 KV have to do with 33KV and minisubstations?

This is first year EE stuff?????

Don't you think they should teach this stuff THEN ask you to apply it? :rolleyes:
I agree! It seems the instructor is a little a** backwards!