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Electrical Distribution System Analysis

By Prof .Narayana Prasad Padhy, Late. Prof. G. B. Kumbhar   |   IIT Roorkee
Learners enrolled: 1692   |  Exam registration: 42
ABOUT THE COURSE :
This course offers a comprehensive study of electrical distribution systems, emphasizing the fundamental differences from transmission systems in terms of structure and load patterns. With the rapid transition from passive to active networks, driven by the integration of distributed generation, energy storage, and smart-grid technologies, traditional transmission system analysis tools have proven to be insufficient. This
course addresses these emerging challenges by introducing specialized modeling and analysis techniques tailored specifically for distribution systems.

The curriculum encompasses the modeling of essential components, including feeders, distribution transformers, voltage regulators, capacitors, loads and distributed generation. It covers advanced analysis methods, such as load flow and short-circuit analysis, which are crucial for the effective design, planning, and operation of contemporary distribution networks. A particular focus is placed on voltage and reactive power (volt-var) control (VVC), utilizing both traditional and advanced technologies. The course also includes a case study on a practical distribution system, such as the distribution network at IIT Roorkee, providing real-world insights into the operation of distribution systems.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: 
UG and PG Students, Research Scholars, Distribution Utility Engineers, College Teachers, and Industry Professionals.

PREREQUISITES: Power System Analysis.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: 1. Power distribution utilities.  2. Load dispatch centers.  3. Distribution system equipment manufacturers.
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 21 Jul 2025
End Date : 10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends : 04 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 15 Aug 2025
Exam Date : 25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1 : 
Module 1: Introduction to Electrical distribution system 
Module 2: Components of distribution system substation and busbar layouts
Module 3: Components of distribution system and feeder configurations
Module 4: Nature of loads in a distribution system 
Module 5: Load allocation in a distribution system

Week 2 : 
Module 1: ‘K’ Factors and Their Applications
Module 2: Analysis of Uniformly Distributed Loads
Module 3: Lumping Loads in Geometric Configurations: Rectangular
Module 4: Lumping Loads in Geometric Configurations: Triangular
Module 5: Series Impedance of Distribution Lines and Feeders-Part I

Week 3 : 
Module 1: Series Impedance of Distribution Lines and Feeders-Part II
Module 2: Models of Distribution Lines and Cables
Module 3: Modeling of Single-Phase and Three-Phase Transformers
Module 4: Modeling of Three-Phase Transformers-Part I
Module 5: Modeling of Three-Phase Transformers –Part II

Week 4 : 
Module 1: Modeling of Three-Phase Transformers –Part III
Module 2: Modeling of Three-Phase Transformers –Part IV
Module 3: Modeling of Step Voltage Regulators-Part I
Module 4: Modeling of Step Voltage Regulators-Part II
Module 5: Modeling of Step Voltage Regulators -Part III

Week 5 : 
Module 1: Modeling of Step Voltage Regulators -Part IV
Module 2: Load Models in Distribution System-Part I
Module 3: Load Models in Distribution System-Part II
Module 4: Modeling of Distributed Generation
Module 5: Applications and modeling of Capacitor Banks

Week 6 : 
Module 1: Summary of Modeling of distribution system components
Module 2: Backward/Forward Sweep Load Flow Analysis Part I
Module 3: Backward/Forward Sweep Load Flow Analysis  Part II
Module 4: Direct Approach Based Load Flow Analysis Part I
Module 5: Direct Approach Based Load Flow Analysis   Part II

Week 7 : 
Module 1: Direct Approach Based Load Flow Analysis Part III
Module 2: Direct Approach Based Load Flow Analysis: Weakly meshed system
Module 3: Gauss Implicit Z-matrix Method
Module 4: Sequence component based Short Circuit Analysis
Module 5: Thevenin's equivalent and phase variable based Short Circuit Analysis

Week 8 : 
Module 1: Direct Approach for short-circuit analysis: Introduction and LG Fault
Module 2: Direct Approach for short-circuit analysis: LLG and LLLG Fault
Module 3: Direct Approach for short-circuit analysis: LL Fault and Examples
Module 4: Direct Approach for short-circuit analysis: Weakly meshed system
Module 5: Applications of distribution system analysis

Week 9 : 
Module 1: Distributed generation integration issues in distribution system
Module 2: Distribution system protection issues
Module 3: Power quality, reliability, and availability
Module 4: Design and Operation Part-I
Module 5: Design and Operation Part-II

Week 10 : 
Module 1: Definition and objective of Volt-var control (VVC)
Module 2: Traditional approaches of VVC
Module 3: Distribution Automation
Module 4: SCADA-Based VVC and Integrated VVC
Module 5: Advanced technologies for VVC Part-I

Week 11 : 
Module 1: Advanced technologies for VVC Part-II
Module 2: System Planning-Part-I
Module 3: System Planning-Part-II
Module 4: Electricity Forecasting
Module 5: Case study: IIT Roorkee distribution system

Week 12 : 
Module 1: Optimization techniques
Module 2: Optimal location and sizing battery energy storage system (BESS)
Module 3: Practical Insights into Electrical Distribution Systems
Module 4: Field deployment of BESS
Module 5: Emerging Technologies and Future Trends

Books and references

1. W. H. Kresting, Distribution System Modeling and Analysis, CRC Press, New York, 2002.
2. A. A. Sallam and O. P. Malik, Electric Distribution System, IEEE Press, Piscataway, NJ, 2011.
3. J. H. Teng, “A direct approach for distribution system load flow solutions,” IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 882–887, 2003.
4. Edited by B. Das, Power Distribution Automation, IET Power and Energy Series, 75, London, 2016.
5. R. F. Arritt and R. C. Dugan, “Distribution system analysis and the future smart grid,” IEEE Trans. on Industry Applications, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 2343-2350, November/ December 2011.
6. M.Resener, P. Pardalos, S. Rebennack, and S. Haner, Handbook of Optimization in Electric Power Distribution Systems. Energy Systems Series, Springer, 2020.
7. R.E. Brown, "Electric Power Distribution Reliability (2nd ed.)," CRC Press, 2009.
8. A. Pabla, "Electric Power Distribution: Sixth Edition," McGraw-Hill Professional, New York, 2011
9. S.A. Soliman and A.M. Al-Kandari, Electrical Load Forecasting: Modeling and Model Construction. Burlington, MA, USA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2010
10. S. Haben, M. Voss, and W. Holderbaum, Core Concepts and Methods in Load Forecasting: With Applications in Distribution Networks, 1st ed. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2023.
11. A. Dubey and S. Paudyal, Distribution System Optimization to Manage Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) for Grid Services. Foundations and Trends® in Electric Energy Systems, vol. 6, no. 3-4, pp. 120-264, 2023.

Instructor bio

Prof .Narayana Prasad Padhy

IIT Roorkee
Dr. Narayana Prasad Padhy, Chairperson (I/C), Board of Governors MNIT Jaipur, Director, MNIT Jaipur and Director, IIIT Kota, Chair Professor IIT Palakkad Technology IHub Foundation (IPTIF), is a Professor (HAG) of Electrical Engineering and has served as Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT Roorkee, Founder Head Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Professor In-Charge Training and Placement, NEEPCO, and Institute Chair Professor at IIT Roorkee.

He received his graduation degree in Electrical Engineering in 1990, Masters (Power Systems Engineering) with Distinction in 1993, and Ph.D. (College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, Chennai) in 1997. He worked as an Assistant Professor at BITS Pilani, India, for a year, after which he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Roorkee, as a Lecturer in 1998. He was promoted to the position of full Professor in 2008. Dr. Padhy researches in the area of Power Systems Engineering and Smart Grid. He has successfully supervised 23 research scholars and is currently guiding 21 research scholars. He has authored over 300 high quality papers with over 65 IEEE Transactions, with an overall citation of 10000 plus (h-index=50, i-index 143). He has also authored six textbooks and three successfully granted patents. His popular NPTEL online course on "Introduction to Smart Grid" has over 50,000 views. His new NPTEL course on "Smart Grid: Basics to Advanced Technologies", focuses on the practical research challenges of smart grid and provides laboratory demonstration. Two of his new NPTEL courses on "Power System Operation and Control" and "NPTEL course on Electrical Distribution System Analysis" start from July 2024.

He is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineers (FNAE), The Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK (FIET), Institution of Engineers, India (FIE), Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, India (FIETE), The International Society for Energy Environment and Sustainability (ISEES), Chair Sectional Committee – V (Electrical Engineering) – INAE -India. As Senior Member of IEEE and Power and Energy Society, IEEE USA, he has actively contributed to various IEEE professional activities as Chair, PES Network Charging Working Group and Chair, IEEE Roorkee Subsection, Chair, IEEE UP Section, Member, IEEE PES Intelligent Systems Subcommittee. He also served as Vice-Chair, CIGRE National Study Committee on C4: Power System Technical Performance. He is actively involved in the Mission Innovation (MI) 2.0 - Green Powered Future Mission, engaging with about two dozen countries on the international platform.
Dr. Padhy has served as a Visiting Professor/Fellow at Canadian and UK universities. His research engagements supported institutional tie-ups with eminent US universities (MIT, Texas A&M, and WSU), UK universities (Bath, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Durham), DTU Denmark, and industry partners like TERI, BSES Delhi, Tata Power and ABB. He successfully established the AC-DC Hybrid Microgrid (ADMIRE) Lab at IIT Roorkee and dreams of deploying India's first Smart Academic Campus (SAC). He has successfully executed 13 international/national research projects and is currently leading 6 international research projects, with a funding of over INR 200 million. He serves as a knowledge partner/consultant to various Smart City projects of the central government and state governments. Dr. Padhy has been conferred various national and international awards and honours. These include Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Research Fellowship from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany (2009), Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award (2021), IEEE IAS GlobConHT 2023 Global Lifetime Achievement Award, IEEE Smart City Jury Award 2022, IEEE PES Chapter Outstanding Engineer Award from IEEE Power & Energy Society, USA (2018), Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee felicitation for bringing laurels to the Institute in 2017, and BOYSCAST Research Fellow Award for Young Scientist elected from Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India (2005). His services to the Smart City and Smart Grid Technology development have been recognised by several honorary awards. He has successfully supervised six PhD thesis for being awarded the Grid India Power System Awards (GIPSA), formerly known as POSOCO award.


Late. Prof. G. B. Kumbhar

Prof. Ganesh B. Kumbhar received the B.E. Degree in electrical engineering from Government College of Engineering, Karad in 1999, the M. Tech. Degree from the IIT-Madras in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree from the IIT Bombay in 2007. Currently, he is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT-Roorkee. Previously, he has worked with Eaton Corporation Ltd., Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., and Crompton Greaves Ltd. in the areas of design and analysis of power system equipment. He has also worked as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the Centre for Energy System Research at Tennessee Tech. University, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA. His research interests include distribution system analysis, distributed generation planning and analysis, smart grid technologies and applications, power and distribution transformers, modeling and simulation, design and analysis.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: October 25, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Roorkee. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team


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