Unit - Iii Substations: Topics: Selection of Site For Substation, Classification of Substations: Air Insulated
Unit - Iii Substations: Topics: Selection of Site For Substation, Classification of Substations: Air Insulated
SUBSTATIONS
Topics: Selection of site for substation, Classification of substations: Air insulated
substations -Indoor & Outdoor substations: Substation layout showing the location of all
the substation equipment. Bus bar arrangements in the Sub-Stations: Simple
arrangements like single bus bar, sectionalized single bus bar, main and transfer bus bar
system with relevant diagrams. Introduction to Gas Insulated Substations (GIS) and its
advantages.
Distribution Substations - Location of Substations: Rating of distribution substation,
service area within primary feeders. Benefits derived through optimal location of
substations.
INTRODUCTION:
Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of
several other important functions. Between the generating station and consumer,
electric power may flow through several substations at different voltage levels. A
substation may include transformers to change voltage levels between high
transmission voltages and lower distribution voltages, or at the interconnection of two
different transmission voltages.
A distribution substation transfers power from the transmission system to the
distribution system of an area. It is uneconomical to directly connect electricity
consumers to the main transmission network, unless they use large amounts of power,
so the distribution station reduces voltage to a level suitable for local distribution.
The input for a distribution substation is typically at least two transmission or
sub-transmission lines. Input voltage may be, for example, 115 kV, or whatever is
common in the area. The output is a number of feeders. Distribution voltages are
typically medium voltage, between 2.4 kV and 33 kV, depending on the size of the area
served and the practices of the local utility. The feeders run along streets overhead (or
underground, in some cases) and power the distribution transformers at or near the
customer premises.
In addition to transforming voltage, distribution substations also isolate faults in
either the transmission or distribution systems. Distribution substations are typically
the points of voltage regulation, although on long distribution circuits (of several
miles/kilometers), voltage regulation equipment may also be installed along the line.
4) Atmosphere pollution :
Atmosphere near factories can produce metal corroding gases, air fumes or dust.
Similarly nearer to coastal areas the air is humid and may be salt loaded which is not
suitable for proper operation of power system. Hence substations are not located near
factories or sea coasts.
6) Drainage facility :
The site proposed for substation should have proper drainage arrangement to
avoid pollution of air and growth of micro organism hazardous to equipment and
health.
LOCATION OF SUBSTATIONS
The location of a substation is dictated by the voltage levels, voltage regulation
considerations, sub-transmission costs, substation costs, and the costs of primary
feeders, mains, and distribution transformers.
However, to select an ideal location for a substation, the following rules should
be observed:
1. Locate the substation as much as feasible close to the load center of its service area,
so that the addition of load times distance from the substation is a minimum.
2. Locate the substation such that proper voltage regulation can be obtained without
taking extensive measures.
3. Select the substation location such that it provides proper access for incoming
subtransmission lines and outgoing primary feeders.
4. The selected substation location should provide enough space for the future
substation expansion.
5. The selected substation location should not be opposed by land-use regulations, local
ordinances, and neighbours.
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6. The selected substation location should help minimize the number of customers
affected by any service discontinuity.
7. Other considerations, such as adaptability and emergency.
CLASSIFICATION OF SUBSTATIONS
Substations are classified based on the service, location, function and type of
apparatus they use.
According to Service :
Substations are classified according to voltage levels, switching operations,
power factor correction, and change in frequency and conversion of AC to DC as follows:
a) Transformer Substations: These substations transform power from one voltage
to another as per requirement. These are:
1. Transmission or primary substations: These substations receive power
from local generating stations (11 kV or 33 kV) and step up the voltage (220 kV or
400 kV) for primary transmission so that huge amounts of power can be transmitted
over long distances to the load centres economically.
2. Subtransmission or secondary substation: These substations receive
the power from primary transmission substations at high voltages (above 132 kV)
and step down the voltage to 33 kV or 11 kV for secondary transmission or primary
distribution.
3. Step down or distribution substations: These substations receive the
power from sub-transmission substations or directly from power stations and step
down the voltage for secondary distribution, i.e. 400 V for three phases or 230 V for
single phase for household consumers.
f) Converting Substations: These substations are used for converting AC into DC.
This is useful for special purposes such as electric traction, electric welding, battery
charging, etc.
According to Design
The main components of substation equipment are insulators, bus bars, circuit
breakers, transformers, switches, relays, etc., which are properly protected for
continuity and quality of supply.
According to design, the substations are classified as indoor and outdoor
substations.
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a) Indoor Substations:
Indoor substations are those whose apparatus are installed
within a building. These substations are generally used up to 11 kV voltages only.
Generally these types of substations are installed where the atmosphere is
contaminated with impurities such as metal-corroding gases and fumes, conductive dust, etc.
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Substation layout showing the location of all the substation equipment
Most of the LT substation i.e., 400 - 440 V, 3-phase substations up to 250 kVA are
pole-mounted or platform mounted. The gang operated (GO) isolator switch is meant
for no-load operation and fuse is put for protection on HV side. The low voltage side of
the transformer is connected to the distribution network through a LT main switch and
fuses.
Larger capacity (> 500 kVA) LT substations will have on the LT (400 V) side, a
busbar, distribution box with circuit breakers, disconnecting switches and fuses.
Industrial substations may have generators (stand by) connected to the substation LT
side through suitable switch gear and protection equipment. The primary distribution
substation usually will have a capacity more than 1 MVA and can be up to 20 MVA are
more.
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ii. Fuses: These are for protecting the transformer on over loads and faults. Once a fuse
blows off, the supply is disconnected. The circuit cannot be closed automatically after
the fault.
iii. Circuit breakers: These are switches which will operate automatically under heavy
over loads or faults. They can be closed or opened on load as well as under fault
conditions.
iv. Bus bars: These are heavy duty conductors which can carry both the entire load
current corresponding to the capacity of the substation and also fault current for few
seconds. They are designed to withstand heavy mechanical forces that develop under
fault conditions since the force between two parallel conductors is proportional to
square of the current. They are arranged as parallel bars mounted on insulators. Supply
to transformers is given from busbars through isolator switches or CBS.
v. Transformers: These are used to step down the supply voltage. Distribution
transformers operate from no-load or light load conditions to full load condition with
varying power factors. Their impedance usually ranges from 4 to 6% (0.04 to 0.06 pu)
and no load losses are a minimum. Power transformers in primary distribution
substation are usually loaded from 50% to full load and operated at p.f of 0.8 to 0.9 lag
with suitable power factor correction capacitor banks. Their impedance may be 0.06 to
0.1 so that current under faults is limited by their impedance.
vii. Auxiliary power supply/battery room: Usually for independent operation of CBS,
remote controlled isolator (Gang operated) switches and other equipment, a battery
supply of' 110 V or 220 V with adequate ampere hour capacity is maintained. The
batteries are charged from the substation supply itself.
viii. Control room: A central room is located in primary substations where all the
metering equipment, relays and auxiliary controls are installed. All the electrical
quantities are fed to recording equipment for continuous record when the substation is
remote controlled using 'SCADA' or such other means. The data is fed to the controlling
centre from this point.
ix. Surge diverters or lightning arresters: These are installed at the incoming point of
the feeders as well as the outgoing feeder points to protect the substation from over
voltages due to lightning as well as switching surges. In addition, spark gaps such as rod
gaps are installed across the hushing of transformers, switch gear etc. for the same
purpose. Rod gaps are much cheaper compared to surge diverters but the risk factor for
protection is high.
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1) SINGLE BUS BAR ARRANGEMENT:
It consists of a single bus bar and all the incoming and outgoing lines are
connected to the same bus bar as shown in Fig. Here the 11 kV incoming lines are
connected to the bus bar through isolators and circuit breakers. Three-phase, 400 V and
single-phase, 230 V outgoing lines are connected through isolator, circuit breaker, and
step-down transformer from the bus bar. This type of arrangement is suitable for DC
stations and small AC stations.
The major drawback of this system is that, if the fault occurs on any section of
the bus bar, the entire bus bar is to be de-energized for carrying out the repair work. So,
this results in a loss of continuity of service of all feeders. Similarly, the periodical
maintenance work on bus bars can also be carried out only by disconnecting the whole
supply.
The equipment connections are very simple, and hence, the system is very
convenient to operate. This arrangement is not popular for voltages above 33 kV. The
indoor 11 kV substations often use single bus bar arrangements.
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Merits:
• Each of the outgoing circuits requires a single-circuit breaker. So, this type of
arrangement is the cheapest one.
• The relaying system is simple.
• The maintenance cost is low.
• The bus bar potential can he used for the line relays.
Demerits:
• Maintenance without interruption of supply is not possible.
• Expansion of the substation without shutdown is not possible.
The sectionalisation of the bus bar ensures continuity of supply on the other
feeders, during the time of maintenance or repair of one side of the bus bar. The whole
of the supply need not be shut down. The number of sections of a bus bar is usually 2 or
3 as shown in Fig., but actually it is limited by the short-circuit current to be handled.
Another advantage of sectionalisation is that the circuit breaks of low breaking capacity
can he used on the sections as compared to the previous case. In case of duplicate
feeders, they are connected to different sections of the bus bars so that in the event of a
fault on one of the bus bar sections. The feeders connected to it are immediately
transferred to the healthy-bus bar section and the faulty section is isolated.
An important point to note is that the sections should be synchronized before the
bus coupled is closed for sharing the load.
Advantages:
• The operation of this system is simple as in case of the single bus bar.
• The maintenance cost of this system is comparable with the single bus bar.
• For maintenance or repair of the bus bar, only one half of the bus bar is required to be
de-energized. So complete shutdown of the bus bar is avoided.
• It is possible to utilize the bus bar potential for line relays.
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Disadvantages:
• In case of a fault on the bus bar, one half of the section will be switched off.
• For regular maintenance also, one of the bus bars is required to be de-energized.
• For maintaining or repairing a circuit breaker, it is required to be isolated from the
bus bar.
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GAS INSULATED SUBSTATIONS
Gas Insulated Substation uses sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas which has a
superior dielectric properties used at moderate pressure for phase to phase and phase
to ground insulation. In Gas Insulated Substation the high-voltage conductors, circuit
breaker interrupters, switches, current transformers, voltage transformers and
lightning arresters are encapsulated in SF6 gas inside grounded metal enclosures.
Gas Insulated Substations are used where there is space for providing the
substation is expensive in large cities and towns. In normal substation the clearances
between the phase to phase and phase to ground is very large. Due to this, large space is
required for the normal or Air Insulated Substation (AIS). But the dielectric strength of
SF6 gas is higher compared to the air, the clearances required for phase to phase and
phase to ground for all equipments are quite lower. Hence, the overall size of each
equipment and the complete substation is reduced to about 10% of the conventional air
insulated substation.
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vi) Low Weight:
Low weight due to aluminium enclosure, corresponds to low cost foundations
and buildings.
vii) Shop assembled:
Quick site assembly ensured by extensive pre assembly and testing of complete
feeders or large units in the factory.
viii) Long life and freedom from frequent maintenance.
ix) It can be upgraded in vertical direction very easily.
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From Square shape area, each feeder serves a total load of
Where,
In the above Equations, it is assumed that the total or lumped-sum load is located
at a point on the main feeder at a distance of (2/3) × l4 from the feed point a.
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Consider a hexagonally shaped service area supplied by six feeders from the feed
point that is located at the centre, as shown in the following Figure. Assume that each
feeder service area is equal to one-sixth of the hexagonally shaped total area, or
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Substituting S6 in the above equation
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Substituting Sn in the above equation,
We know,
To compute the percent voltage drop in uniformly loaded lateral, lump and
locate its total load at a point halfway along its length and multiply the kilovolt-ampere-
mile product for that line length and loading by the appropriate K constant.
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Advantages / benefits delivered through optimal location of substation:
2. The substation is very close to the load center of its service area.
6. When future loads are added the access for the incoming and outgoing feeders
is good.
8. The number of customers effected by the service outage is less due to the
9. Enough space for the future substation expansion is allotted. i.e., extension of
substation is possible.
10. The cost of feeders and the power loses are reduced.
11. There is no objection or opposition by legal administration laws for the right
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