Electrical distribution network

The electric distribution network is a power delivery system consisting of cables that deliver electric power from its point of generation to the end users. Electrical distribution systems are primarily designed to meet the consumer's demands for energy. This is achieved by taking energy from primary substations and delivering it to various customer substations through either underground cables or above ground lines. Because of the lack of space, some cities and towns primarily rely more on underground cables and rural areas lean more towards overhead lines. Choosing between underground or above grounds methods can depend on how much protection and control can be provided. When it comes to choosing which method is best for the area, there are three components of planning that are taken into consideration: long term planning, network planning, and construction planning. Long term planning refers to thinking ahead, or in other words, thinking of the future. There are some questions that should be taken into account when using this method, for instance, if there was a new establishment that needed an energy supply, would there be an easy fix to add on to the network? This also falls directly into network planning which should make the distribution easier to manage if conducted effectively. Furthermore, construction planning is all the engineering work and actual mapping that goes into electrical distribution. These distribution systems help to provide each home, business, and other organizations with electricity in order to perform daily functions. For example, some of the functions include keeping the refrigerator running to prevent spoilage of food or lighting up a room with artificial light. Having a reliable system is essential for productivity and the less mistakes that need to be fixed, the more efficient a business can run.

The entire network consists of the following parts:

The first electric distribution system in the United States was built by Thomas Edison in 1882. Even though it was not the first one in the world at that time on account of Edison having built one earlier that same year in London, it was nonetheless an impressive accomplishment. From his power station, which was known as Pearl Street station, Edison was able to provide power to houses within an area of a square mile. This contribution was Edison's 106th successfully completed patent, and his most successful one thus far. The electric distribution system was an impressive feature and astonished even the most prestigious newspapers. The New York Times described the newly lit light bulbs as:

"Soft, mellow and graceful to the eye…without a particle of flicker to make the head ache" -New York Times

While Edison's innovation received quite a bit of publicity and praise, it was not economically successful because the amount of money it cost to create and keep the system running was far greater than the profit the system was capable of generating. The small area of lower Manhattan used 100,000 feet of underground wiring which at that time came to $300,000 and which also failed to turn any profit until two years later in 1884. Electric distribution systems were not economically profitable until the switch was made from Edison's direct current (DC) to the alternating current (AC) developed by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse among others. With that being said, Edison's work was revolutionary for the time period because it allowed the energy user to be separate from the energy source, and also electric lights were safer than coal, candles, and lamps which often started accidental fires. DC currents are still being used today in mobile phones and computers, which is why one needs an AC adapter when plugging these devices into a socket. Some small areas of cities also use a DC system which then connects to the AC system around the area.

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Wikipedia