Electric Power Distribution for Industrial Plants

Adolph A. Biss, P.E.

Course Outline

This four hour online course covers the fundamentals of wiring design and the distribution system at voltage levels 600 volts or less. An understanding of the design elements of the system and of system operation is important for obtaining efficient plant operations, for trouble shooting problems which may arise, and planning future changes.

This course includes a multiple choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this Course, the student will:

• Be familiar with NEC wiring requirements;
• Learn how to use NEC Table data;
• Be familiar with circuit requirements for electric power, heating and lighting loads 600 volts or less;
• Be capable of designing motor branch circuits and other loads;
• Be able to calculate voltage line loses;
• Be able to determine load diversity;
• Be able to determine total power demand;
• Be familiar with develop a One Line diagram;
• Be familiar with protective equipment and circuits;
• Be able to correct plant power factor;
• Be familiar with power factor corrective equipment; and
• Learn how to size the electrical Service Entrance and proper voltage level.
  
  

Intended Audience

This course was initially sponsored by West Penn Power Company and intended for those who design and specify plant distribution systems. It has now been modified to meet current National Electrical Code requirements and intended for engineers, inspectors and others concerned with plant electrical distribution.


Benefit to Attendees

Attendee of this course will be able to plan an elemental electrical distribution system with respect to design, reliability, safety and voltage selection.

Course Introduction

An industrial plant is only as good as its electric power distribution system. When the power supply is unreliable or fails, production suffers or stops. In practically all plants, processes change so that loads are connected here and there and transferred from one circuit to another. Sooner or later an overloaded condition occurs. Then fuses blow or breakers trip and the factory is down. The tangled electrical distribution system has gotten a strangled hold on the operation. On the other hand, good adequate wiring makes it possible for a plant to enjoy flexibility and reliability not possible otherwise.

Course Content

The course content is in a PDF file (1.8 MB) Electric Power Distribution for Industrial Plants.

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

The course covers wiring fundamentals and electric power distribution system for low voltages 600 volts or less. Specifically, the course will enable one to design an entire plant electrical distribution system, covering the installation of motors, furnaces and lighting equipment on branch and feeder circuits, proper service entrance, protective devices for the equipment and circuits, proper voltages and system planning.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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