Electric Power System Basics: For the Nonelectrical Professional

by Steven W. Blume

This book explains the essentials of interconnected electric power systems in very basic, practical terms, giving a comprehensible overview of the terminology, electrical concepts, design considerations, construction practices, operational aspects, and industry standards for nontechnical professionals having an interest in the power industry. From generation to household wiring, this book explains it all in easy-to-understand terms. Electrical Power System Basics exposes readers to all of the important aspects of an interconnected power system without assuming a great deal of existing knowledge or experience. Some very basic formulas are presented throughout the book and several examples, photographs, drawings, and illustrations are provided to help the reader gain a fundamental understanding of the subject.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2007

Reviews

[Brahm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an electrical engineering degree but never actively practiced the discipline (pivoted into automation & controls) and I really wished I'd read this book in school. Perhaps more accurate: I wish I had the patience and discipline to read this while I was a student.

This would have also been good information for my first site job as a baby engineer-in-training, supporting commissioning a 138kV substation. I picked up lots of info on that job but was missing the foundations.

Read to support more recent interests in power grids and electrical systems, this book helped fill in a lot of technical gaps, but I'm rating it 3 stars as it was just not that interesting.

[Brian Cloutier · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent introduction to power systems, but I want to emphasize the word "introduction". It provides a wide range of minutiae, such as a list of the major system operators in the US, and the kinds of communications systems grids use (phones, fiber, microwave, power line, copper), and the different types of conductors including a table of their common sizes. However, it doesn't often go beyond minutiae; most of the book is spent on enumerating all the things involved in power systems. A purpose is assigned to each thing, but the book rarely explains how the thing accomplishes that purpose. A few pages were spent on capacitor banks, for example, but I still have no real understanding of why they're important. I'm told that they're more beneficial the closer to an inductive load they're installed, but I was never told why, or given any tools to figure it out why for myself. This book taught me some interesting things but instead of answering any of the questions I started with, it left me with even more questions.

[Evan Meagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a deep dive on how the electricity grid works.

I am a software engineer at a company that makes energy metering devices. In order to collaborate on a team spanning several engineering disciplines, I've had to brush up on fundamentals that my computer science degree didn't teach me. This book, Electric Power System Basics for the Nonelectrical Professional, has been a great supplement to this process.

In very plain language, the book walks the reader through everything from the basic physics of AC power up to how electrical grids are built, operated, and regulated. On countless occasions, I've been able to avoid wasting my colleagues' time by not needing remedial explanations of how transformers work, what power factor is, or what safety measures to take when working in the lab. Having a general understanding of energy markets and regulatory bodies has allowed me to better understand our business, and thus make me more effective at my job.

The book has its warts (poor quality of photos throughout, lots of ink spent on mundane technical details), but it's absolutely a worthwhile read if you're in a position to benefit from a better understanding of how we generate, transmit, and distribute electrical power.

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

lost me somewhere in the middle

[Quinn Aeryn Huffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone with a math/econ degree and close to ten years experience in energy analytics, I feel I knew a lot of what was in this book through experience, but it filled in some gaps in my understanding, and it was easy to read. Only 4 stars because I felt there were some operational things missing, and it really glossed over the market side of things.

[Lucille Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does what it says on the tin: describes the basics of the Electric Power System, with a focus on North America. Mostly goes into detail section by section, not at any particular length, and sometimes goes a little too into the trees so that one can't see the "Forest", so to speak. Good introduction for what it is.

[Elan]

Desperately needs a copy editor and would benefit from a more explanation of core dynamics involved instead of the frequent mode where it just lists items/components. Still a decent summary of the physical/engineering aspects of the power grid.

[Leah McGovern · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction bc I don't know anything. But I could see people being bored by this book

[Nathan South · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second edition is outdated and spends too much time on minor components and too little time on major items such as operating the grid.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful introduction to how the power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption all work together to produce the electric grid. After reading about half of it, this book has become a reference.

[Ervinas Škikūnas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delivers what it promises, with focus on the standard grid elements - no discussion of "smart" things, demand response, etc.

Biased towards the technical side but still readable.