Off-Grid Distribution System Design
摘要
This chapter considers the design of the distribution system used in mini-grids and other off-grid systems. The purpose of the distribution system is to facilitate the safe, efficient, and reliable flow of power to the end users. There are several ways of doing this, including with AC or DC grids, overhead or underground lines, hub-and-spoke or trunk-and-branch topologies, and single-phase, split-phase, and three-phase configurations, among other variations. This chapter describes these approaches, how they affect the operation of an off-grid system, and their relative advantages and disadvantages. The chapter also covers how to calculate voltage drop and power loss for different distribution line designs. An illustrative example based on the Mwase off-grid system, introduced in the previous chapter, is included to demonstrate these concepts.