My Science School

            We know that electricity is generated at power stations through large generators. Normally power stations are of two types: hydraulic and thermal. These power stations are at a distance from cities to avoid pollution. Electricity is transmitted to the cities and villages with the help of the transmission lines. Do you know how it is done?

            Electricity is transmitted with the help of two parallel wires. In modern power stations the voltage increases as much as 400,000 volts. The reason is that the power lines which carry the electricity lose power if it travels of low voltage and therefore, the voltage is increased in a step-up transformer. The current is then fed into a network of high-voltage power lines called “Grid”, which distribute electricity for use through different sub-stations and underground cables or overhead wires. But before it can be used, the voltage is lowered suitably in a stepped down transformer.

            Big factories and industries may consume current of several thousand volts, but for domestic use of current, it may be upto 220 volts. In this way electricity is transmitted from power stations to distant areas.