Why is Power Transmitted at High Voltage Instead of High Current?

Why is Power Transmitted at High Voltage Instead of High Current?

Transmitting electrical power at high voltage and low current is a more efficient and economical approach for long-distance power transmission, as it helps reduce resistive losses, minimizes the need for expensive conductors, and improves overall system efficiency. In the following article, we will explain why high voltage is chosen for power transmission instead of low voltage or high current, citing various valid reasons.

Power is transmitted at high voltage instead of high current for several practical and economic reasons. The power (P) in an electrical system is calculated using the formula:

$P=VI$

Where:

• $P$ is electric power,
• $V$ is voltage, and
• $I$ is electric current.

From this formula, you can see that power is directly proportional to both voltage and current. However, when transmitting power over long distances, it is more efficient to use high voltage and low current for the following reasons:

Reduced I²R Losses:

• • Power losses in a transmission line are directly proportional to the square of the current (I²) and the resistance ($R$) of the line. High current results in higher I²R losses, leading to significant energy loss as heat dissipation.
  • By increasing the voltage, you can reduce the current for a given amount of power. This reduction in current helps minimize resistive losses in the transmission lines, making the overall system more efficient.

Voltage Drop:

• • Voltage drop along a transmission line occurs due to the resistance of the line. Higher current results in a larger voltage drop, which can lead to a drop in the quality and efficiency of power transmission.
  • Transmitting power at high voltage helps to minimize the voltage drop, ensuring that the power delivered to the end-users is closer to the generated power.

Economical Use of Conductors:

• • Conductors (wires) used in power transmission have a cost associated with their production and installation. Higher current requires larger, more expensive conductors to handle the increased load.
  • The volume of the conductor is inversely proportional to the square of voltage (VcosΦ) when power ‘W,’ the length of the transmission line (L), resistivity of the conductor (ρ = ρ), and power loss in transmission lines are constant. This implies that the higher the voltage level, the lower the volume of conductor needed.
  • By transmitting electric power at high voltage, the current is reduced, allowing the use of smaller size and less expensive conductors.

Transformer Efficiency:

• • Transformers, which are used to step up or step down voltage, are more efficient when working with higher voltages. Higher voltage transmission reduces the number of times voltage needs to be transformed along the transmission path, minimizing losses.
  • In this regard, choosing high voltage is the best option for smoothly managing the transmission and distribution of electrical energy in various applications.

Regulation Standards:

• • National and international standards often dictate the maximum allowable voltage drop and minimum power factor for power transmission. Using high voltage allows utilities to meet these standards more effectively.
  • The selection of high voltage should be kept within safe limits. If the voltage is increased beyond the suitable level, the overall cost will rise due to the need for additional insulation, transformers, switchgears, lightning arresters, poles and towers, conductors, insulators and other components and devices used in substations, switchyards, and power stations. Furthermore, it will increase the fault level, meaning that the likelihood of a fault occurring will be higher.

What Would Happen If We Were to Use High Current Instead of High Voltage for Power Transmission?

If we opt for high current instead of high voltage for power transmission and distribution, the cost of systems will increase, reducing the overall system efficiency.

While high current can be used for short-distance power transmission, it is not practical for long-distance transmission due to the increased power losses (I²R), higher costs, large size devices (large kVA rating of equipment i.e. alternator, transformer, switchgears and conductors, etc.) and safety concerns associated with elevated current levels.

Transmitting power at high current instead of high voltage will have the following impacts on the power system.

• Increased Power Losses I²R
• Larger Voltage Drop
• Need for Larger Equipment
• Transformer and Equipment Compatibility issue
• Reduced Transmission Efficiency
• Safety Concerns
• Limited Transmission Distance

High voltage transmission, on the other hand, offers a more efficient and economical solution for transmitting power over extended distances.

FAQ

Why is power transmitted at high voltage and low current?

Electricity is transmitted at high voltages to reduce the energy loss due to resistance that occurs over long distances

Why is high voltage better than high current?

Transmitting with a higher voltage means you can use a lower current for the same amount of power, but much lower power loss in the line. One reason is the wires don’t need to be as heavy as they would be in a high current lower voltage scenerio

Why power is transmitted from a power station at a very high AC voltage?

Transmitting electricity at high voltages over long distances reduces the energy loss due to the joule heating

Why is electricity transmitted at high voltage GCSE?

To ensure that the minimum amount of power is lost from the cables: the cables are thick so that their resistance is low. high voltages are used to reduce the current through the transmission lines

Why is it better to transmit AC with high voltage and low current?

It is better to have lower current and higher voltage to reduce losses. AC is much easier (therefore cheaper) to step up and down in voltage(using a transformer) than DC, and can be done more efficiently than the much more expensive and complex DC step-up/step-down systems

What are the advantages of high voltage power transmission?

Advantages Of Transmitting Electricity At High Voltage

• Reduction in Power Loss.
• Lower Infrastructure Costs.
• Increased Power Transmission Efficiency.
• Asset Power Solutions are High Voltage Electricians

Why does higher voltage increase power?

Similarly, adding higher voltage to an electrical power supply means it pushes more energy, or the same amount of energy with less current. Less current, in our water analogy, would mean we could use a smaller diameter pipe; adding more current would mean using a larger pipe

Why power is transmitted from power house from high voltage AC?

Power is transmitted from a powerhouse on high voltage AC because. the life of current carrying wire is prolonged. it is more economical due to less power loss. the rate of transmission is faster at high voltage