Losses in power transmission networks

THE DETERMINATION of transmission-system losses as a function of generating-station loading is of importance to the engineers responsible for the efficient operation of electric power systems. Those responsible for load dispatching have for the most part operated with a good knowledge of generation costs in each individual station, but have had relatively little knowledge of the effect on system losses resulting from shift of load from one station to another. In order to operate at a maximum over-all efficiency it is necessary to determine, for any generator schedule, the cost of system losses and then to correlate these costs with station operating costs. Such an approach is of value in the operation of existing stations and in the location of proposed new generating stations. The present article is concerned with the derivation of a loss formula, expressing the total transmission loss in terms of station loadings. The formula may be applied to the co-ordination of losses with station costs as described in a recent paper.