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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book on a Difficult Subject
Review: Although titled "Distribution" this book really refers to the entire transmission-substation-distribution system. This book is extremely well organized and serves as both a reference book and a tutorial for self study. As a reference, it has a lengthy index and good sensible organization of topics, so it is easy to jump right to the item desired. As a tutorial it really shines due to its organization and a simple, direct style of writing. The book's first few chapters review basics such as electric load, equipment, economics, reliability, and so forth. Each such chapter builds rather linearly in detail, and shows how its topics interrelate to the others. Examples are given frequently, using real-world problems and numbers. The rest of the book then examines power delivery systems in a bottom up approach. the author begins with line segments and transformer economics and selection, and shows progressively how element are combined into feeder circuits, into groups of feeders, into sets of groups to form a substation area, and so forth, up to the entire system. At each level, the various tradeoffs in design and cost are examined, and it is shown how the system is optimized and how that optimization impacts other levels of the system. The explanations of feeder layout and configuration tradeoffs, and how to maximize benefit and use flexibility of options in design, are by far the most thorough I've ever seen. There are many case studies and solved problems shown, all of which use real utility system situations and make excellent learning examples. The book is relatively easy to read considering the depth of coverage, but there is a tremendous number of factors and issues that are covered, making it slow learning. However, nowhere else have I seen distribution covered in nearly as much detail or so broadly with respect to performance and cost. Overall, this the most useful book I have seen on distribution planning or systems design.
Rating:
Summary: Should be called the "Distribution Planning Bible"
Review: Amazingly, this book succeeds in covering all of the major topics related to distribution planning: demand, criteria, relia iblity, economics, equipment sizing, feeder layout, substations, service level, forecasting, tools, and much more. It even ties all of these subjects together in three ways with chapters on the overall T&D system, the distribution planning process, and industry paridigms. There is so much to learn from this book. In addition serving as a self-instruction guide, it is also filled with reference material, tons of practical advise, and innumerable insights that challenge common assumptions. This book will become a classic.
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