Engineering Utilities: Electrical & Environmental Systems

• Engineering Utilities encompasses environmental and electrical systems, lighting, and communication, including electrical theory like Ohm's Law and circuit types.

Core Concepts

• Electrical theory studies the movement of electric charge through conductors.
• Electrical systems deal with electricity generation and delivery to buildings.
• Lighting systems involve both natural and artificial lighting.
• Communication systems enable information exchange through devices, software, and services.
• Electricity powers or produces electrical effects.
• Electric power plants generate electricity from various energy sources.

Types of Power Plants

• Hydroelectric power plants utilize flowing water to drive turbines for electricity generation.
• Geothermal power plants harness Earth's internal heat from underground reservoirs.
• Wind power plants convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity.
• Solar power plants use solar radiation to generate electricity.
• Nuclear power plants use uranium.
• Fossil fuel power plants use coal, natural gas, or oil.

Fundamental Principles

• Electricity is energy resulting from charged particles, discovered by Benjamin Franklin in the 1700s.
• Electricity is measured in Joules/Second (SI unit) or Watts (English unit).

Charged Particles

• Protons are positively charged particles within an atom, discovered by Ernest Rutherford in 1920.
• Electrons are negatively charged particles within an atom, discovered by J.J. Thomson in 1897.
• Neutrons are neutral particles within an atom, discovered by James Chadwick in 1932, and are slightly heavier than protons.

Ohm's Law

• Ohm's Law: voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the current flowing and inversely proportional to resistance.

Electrical Components

• Voltage is the electrical force that causes electrons to move, discovered by Alessandro Volta in 1881, unit named Volts (V). Volta also invented the first electric battery in 1800.
• Electric current is the flow of electricity moving through a conductor, discovered by André-Marie Ampère in 1820, unit named Ampere (A).
• Resistance counteracts the electric current flow, discovered by Georg Simon Ohm in 1827, unit named Ohms (Ω). Ohm also formulated Ohm's Law. Copper's constant resistivity is 1.72 x 10^-8 ohm-meter (ρ).

Electricity Consumption

• Electricity consumption measures electrical energy used over time, in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Factors Affecting Consumption

• Season: Demand peaks in summer.
• Weather: Extreme conditions can cause outages.
• Population: Larger populations consume more.
• Appliances: Energy efficiency matters.
• Activities: Home or business activities impact use.
• Consumption habits: Individual habits influence energy use.

Electrical Circuits

• Electrical circuits are closed loops of interconnected components.
• DC circuits carry direct current.
• AC circuits carry alternating current.
• Series connections have the same current through all components.
• Parallel connections share a common electrical point and voltage.

Safety Equipment

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes items for safety.
• Hard hats protect against head impact.
• Insulated gloves protect against electric shock.
• Rubber-soled/safety shoes prevent current from grounding through the body.
• Flame-resistant clothing protects against electrical fires.
• Safety goggles/face shields protect against arcs or sparks.

Electrical Tools

• Multimeters measure voltage, current, and resistance.
• Wire strippers remove insulation from wires.
• Pliers bend, twist, and cut wires. Needle nose pliers are for tight spaces.
• Crimping tools attach connectors to wires.
• Cable testers check cable continuity and faults.
• Power supplies provide adjustable DC or AC power.
• Circuit breaker finders locate the correct breaker in a panel.
• Infrared thermometers measure surface temperatures for detecting overheating.
• Insulation resistance testers measure insulation resistance.
• Cable cutters cut electrical cables.
• Electrical tape insulates wires and secures connections.
• Clamp meters measure current without direct contact.
• Voltage testers determine if a circuit is live.
• Lumens testers measure light distribution distance.
• Earth/ground testers measure ground resistance.
• Phase sequence testers indicate phase polarity in 3-phase supplies (ABC positive, CBA negative).

Electrical Hazards Overview

• Electric shock occurs upon contact with a live conductor, causing burns, nerve damage, or death. Use insulated tools, de-energize circuits, and ensure proper grounding.
• Electrical burns result from heat generated by electricity passing through the body, from contact with overheated equipment. Use PPE and ensure proper insulation and circuit protection.
• Arc flash is a short circuit that releases energy, causing burns, eye injury, or death. Use arc flash-rated PPE and install arc flash protection equipment.
• Electrical fires. Regularly maintain electrical systems and avoid overloading to prevent fires.
• Overloading occurs when a circuit exceeds its capacity, potentially causing fire or damage. Ensure circuits capacity match devices use circuit breakers or fuses.

Specific Hazard Scenarios

• Overhead power lines can cause serious injury or death upon contact. Maintain a safe distance, use insulated tools, and follow safety protocols.
• Grounding failures pose a shock risk. Ensure proper grounding and regular inspections.
• Static electricity can ignite flammable materials. Use anti-static equipment, grounding straps, and mats.
• Explosions can occur from faulty equipment in flammable environments. Use explosion-proof equipment and regular inspections.
• Electrical faults, like short circuits and ground faults, cause fires, equipment damage, and shock. Install GFCIs and conduct regular maintenance.
• Wet environments increase shock risk due to water's conductivity. Install GFCIs and keep equipment dry.