Power and Energy in Power and Energy in the Homethe Home

Alex Skwarczynski and Morgan Briggs

From the plant to the From the plant to the home...home...

There are three main steps to electricity There are three main steps to electricity distribution:distribution:

Stepping up the VoltageStepping up the Voltage

Stepping down from Transmission to Stepping down from Transmission to DistributionDistribution

Directing electricity to the homeDirecting electricity to the home

Types of PlantsTypes of Plants

Power Plant to Power Plant to TransformerTransformer

The first step to generating electricity occurs in The first step to generating electricity occurs in a power plant.a power plant.

Electricity is generated at 20,000 volts.Electricity is generated at 20,000 volts.

After electricity is created, it travels through a After electricity is created, it travels through a transformer that “steps” up the electricity to transformer that “steps” up the electricity to either 115,000 volts or 765,000 volts. either 115,000 volts or 765,000 volts.

Raising the voltage allows the electricity to Raising the voltage allows the electricity to move more efficiently over long distances move more efficiently over long distances through transmission lines. through transmission lines.

Step-Up Transformers

• Step- Up transformers move the electricity from the primary coil to the secondary coil.

• Step-Up transformers take low voltage, high current power and change it to high voltage, low current power.

• High voltages minimize the amount of power lost in transmission lines.

Decreasing VoltageDecreasing Voltage

Before the electricity can enter the distribution Before the electricity can enter the distribution substations, transformers lower the voltage to substations, transformers lower the voltage to 4,000 volts or 69,000 volts.4,000 volts or 69,000 volts.

Lowering the voltage allows the electricity to Lowering the voltage allows the electricity to travel through smaller distribution lines to travel through smaller distribution lines to residential areas and commercial areas. residential areas and commercial areas.

Transmission lines spread throughout the Transmission lines spread throughout the United States’ power grid in order to provide United States’ power grid in order to provide electricity for as many people as possible. electricity for as many people as possible.

Transmission Verses Distribution

• Transmission is radial and can be supplied by multiple sources, such as various power plants.

• Transmission lines are always above 100Kvolts.

• Distribution is networked and moves in only one direction, along with functioning under 100Kvolts.

Transmission Lines

• Transmission lines mostly use three phases alternating current, but HVDC is used only for long distances typically greater than 600 miles.

• Power is usually transmitted through overhead transmission lines. Underground power transmission has a significantly higher cost and greater operational limits but it is sometimes used in urban areas.

To the homeTo the home

Transformers reduce the voltage from the Transformers reduce the voltage from the transmission lines even more so the electricity transmission lines even more so the electricity can be safely delivered to homes and can be safely delivered to homes and businesses.businesses.

Electricity travels into homes through wires Electricity travels into homes through wires called service drop. These service drops called service drop. These service drops connect to meter boxes that measure the connect to meter boxes that measure the amount of electricity used by the customer. amount of electricity used by the customer.

Overview Overview

Step-Down TransformersStep-Down Transformers•Before electricity can Before electricity can power a home it must power a home it must be transformed down be transformed down to 240 voltsto 240 volts•The 240 volts is The 240 volts is divided into two 120 divided into two 120 volt currents offset by volt currents offset by 180 degrees180 degrees•This allows home This allows home devices to run on 120 devices to run on 120 or 240 voltsor 240 volts

How AC worksHow AC works

• The dashed line represents The dashed line represents the root mean square or the root mean square or average of the AC average of the AC electricity.electricity.

• In the US that average is In the US that average is 120V and the peaks are 120V and the peaks are about 170V.about 170V.

Meter BoxMeter Box

•As electricity enters As electricity enters the home it is the home it is recordedrecorded•Utility companies Utility companies record energy usage record energy usage in kilowatt-hoursin kilowatt-hours•Common prices per Common prices per kilowatt-hour are 10-kilowatt-hour are 10-18 cents and vary on 18 cents and vary on locationlocation

Electronics in the HomeElectronics in the HomeEvery home has a breaker box to manually turn on and off Every home has a breaker box to manually turn on and off electricity. electricity.

The circuit breaker box is used whenever electrical wiring in a building has too much current flowing through it, these simple machines cut the power until somebody can fix the problem.

Breakers prevent overload from destroying delicate components or starting fires.

Wattage for common Wattage for common AppliancesAppliances

• Aquarium = 50–1210 Watts• Clock radio = 10• Coffee maker = 900–1200• Clothes washer = 350–500• Clothes dryer = 1800–5000• Dishwasher = 1200–2400• Dehumidifier = 785• Electric blanket (Single/Double) = 60 /

100• Fans

Ceiling = 65–175Window = 55–250Furnace = 750Whole house = 240–750

• Hair dryer = 1200–1875• Heater (portable) = 750–1500• Clothes iron = 1000–1800• Microwave oven = 750–1100

• Personal computerCPU - awake / asleep = 120 / 30 or lessMonitor - awake / asleep = 150 / 30 or lessLaptop = 50

• Radio (stereo) = 70–400• Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet) =

725• Televisions (color)• 19" = 65–110• 27" = 113• 36" = 133• 53" - 61" Projection = 170• Flat screen = 120• Toaster = 800–1400• Toaster oven = 1225• VCR/DVD = 17–21 / 20–25• Vacuum cleaner = 1000–1440• Water heater (40 gallon) = 4500–5500• Water pump (deep well) = 250–1100• Water bed (with heater, no cover) =

120–380

These Appliances cost These Appliances cost money every time you use money every time you use themthem

Playing a video gamePlaying a video game

What can you do?What can you do?

• Energy efficient Energy efficient electronics not electronics not only help the only help the environment, but environment, but also save you also save you money.money.

Light bulbsLight bulbs

• LED bulbs look LED bulbs look expensive at expensive at first but use first but use less electricity less electricity and last longer and last longer saving money saving money laterlater

• Light bulbs are Light bulbs are a good place to a good place to start saving start saving moneymoney

InsulatingInsulating

• When air enters When air enters or exits your or exits your house, you are house, you are losing moneylosing money

Making hot water Making hot water affordableaffordable

• An improved water An improved water heater means less heater means less guilt over hot guilt over hot showers, money showers, money back in your bank back in your bank account, and a account, and a healthier healthier environmentenvironment

A more extensive optionA more extensive option

• Homeowners can help the grid, make money instead of Homeowners can help the grid, make money instead of spending, and aid the enviromentspending, and aid the enviroment

Smart PracticesSmart Practices

• Money can be saved everyday without buying Money can be saved everyday without buying new equipmentnew equipment

• Turn off the lights when you aren't in the roomTurn off the lights when you aren't in the room

• Take shorter showersTake shorter showers

• Put computers in sleep modePut computers in sleep mode

• Adjust your thermostatAdjust your thermostat

Works Cited

• "CPS Energy Works for You." Energy Delivery. CPS Energy, n.d. Web. 16 June 2014.

• "Power and Energy in the Home." TCIPG. University Partners, n.d. Web. 17 June 2014.