SUBSTATION DESIGN

1. SWITCHING SYSTEM

Important components in a sub-station.

There are several bus-bar arrangements

The choice depends upon various factors such as system voltage, position of sub-station, degree of
reliability, cost etc.

(i) Single bus-bar system

 It consists of a single bus-bar

 All the incoming and outgoing lines are connected to the same bus bar.

 Low initial cost

 Less maintenance and simple operation

 The equipment connections are very simple and hence the system is very convenient to
operate

 If the fault occurs on any section of the bus, the entire bus bar is to be de-energized for
carrying out repair work.

 This results in a complete interruption of the supply.

 Not used for voltages above 33kV.

 The indoor 11kV sub-stations are single bus-bar arrangement.

The two 11kV incoming lines connected to the bus-bar through circuit breakers and isolators. The two
400V outgoing lines are connected to the bus bars through isolator, circuit breaker and step down
transformer (11kV/400 V) from the bus bars

(ii) Single bus-bar system with sectionalisation

 Two 33 kV incoming lines connected to sections I and II through circuit breaker and isolators.

 Each 11 kV outgoing line is connected to one section through transformer (33/11 kV) and
circuit breaker.

 Each bus-section behaves as a separate bus-bar.

(iii) Main and Transfer bus-bar system

 It consists of two bus-bars, a “main” bus-bar and a “Transfer or spare” bus-bar

 Each bus-bar has the capacity to take up the entire sub-station load.
 The incoming and outgoing lines can be connected to either bus-bar with the help of a bus-bar
coupler
 bus-bar coupler consists of a circuit breaker and isolators.
 Generally, the incoming and outgoing lines remain connected to the main bus-bar.
 In case of repair of main bus-bar or fault occurring on it, the continuity of supply to the circuit
can be maintained by transferring it to the Transfer bus-bar.
 Frequently used for voltages exceeding 33kV.

2. KEY PLAN, LOCATION OF COMPONENTS

 Preparation of a key plan which should show the location of all components of a
substation and their interconnections, as well as steel structures, control house, fire walls,
driveways, fence and property line.
3. EQUIPMENT SELECTION AND ORDERING
 usually done in a utility company by a designated group of equipment experts.
4. ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR LICENSING
 which includes preparation of necessary drawings sealed by professional engineers,
testifying at public hearings at the municipalities where a new substation is planned to be
built, ordering of noise studies and selecting means of noise mitigation if needed.
5.  CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN
 Civil and structural design which includes:
  Pile design
 Foundations
 Steel structures
 Control house
6. ELECTRICAL LAYOUT DESIGN
 Electrical layout design which includes:
 Positioning of equipment
 Bus design
 Design of manhole and conduit system
 Selection of D.C. batteries and battery chargers
 Layout of control house
 Grounding and lightning protection design
7.  RELAY PROTECTION, SCADA
 RELAY PROTECTION AND INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM SCHEMATICS AND
WIRING DIAGRAMS
 RELAY RACKS OR PANELS
 REMOTE CONTROL AND METERING
8. CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT
 INCLUDES A RESOLUTION OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS DISCOVERED DURING CONSTRUCTION,
ORDERING OF ADDITIONAL MATERIALS, ETC.

OPERATION OF SUBSTATION

 MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT
1. Lightning Arrester Maintenance
- Insulator cleaning.
- Connection tightness.
- Checking of earthing connections.
- Reading of leakage currents on daily basis to be taken. If current shoots in red zone, then
that particular LA is to be replaced as early as possible.
2. Circuit Transformer Maintenance
- Checking of Oil level.
- Checking the insulation resistance.
- Power connection tightness.
- Secondary connection tightness.
- Cleaning Bushings/Insulators.
- Checking proper earthing of body connection.
- Checking earthing of CT secondary star points.

3. Potential Transformer Maintenance

- Checking of oil level & leakage, rectify the same immediately.
- Checking of Insulation Resistance.
- Power connection tightness.
- Secondary connection tightness.
- Check the proper earthing of Body connection.
- Check the secondary fuse condition & replace if required by proper rating.
4. Isolator Maintenance
- Checking of the male / female contacts for good condition and proper Connections.
- Checking proper alignment of male & female contacts & rectify if required.
- Cleaning of Insulators & applying petroleum jelly on fixed contact surface.
- Lubrication of all moving parts on regular basis.
- Tightness of all earthing connections.
 - In case of Isolator with Earth switch, check electrical and mechanical interlock i.e. Isolator
can be closed only when Earth switch is in open condition & vice versa.
- As Isolators are operated on No load, hence check the interlock with
Circuit Breaker, if provided i.e. Isolators can be operated when Breaker is in OFF condition.
5. Circuit Breaker Maintenance
- Tightness of power connections & control wiring connections.
- Cleaning of Insulators.
- Lubrication of moving parts.
- Checking of contact resistance, close-open timing, Insulation resistance
- Checking of gas pressure for SF6 circuit breaker (leakages if any)
- Checking of air pressure for pneumatic operated breaker (leakages if any)
- Checking of Controls, Interlocks & Protections like checking of pole discrepancy system i.e.
whether all three poles are getting ON – OFF at the same time.

 SHUTDOWN WORK
- IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ANY KINDS OF MAINTENANCE WORK ON ANY SECTION, THE
MUST PREREQUISITE IS TO ASSURE THE PROPER SHUTDOWN FOR THAT SECTION. FOR THIS
THE MAINTENANCE ENGINEER WILL SUBMIT WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE AUTHORITY FOR
SHUTDOWN OF THE SPECIFIC PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHERE MAINTENANCE IS
REQUIRED. AFTER THAT THE AUTHORITY WILL TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO ASSURE THE
PROPER SHUTDOWN OF THE SPECIFIC PART OF THE SYSTEM

 SHIFTING DUTY
- Make record of Power (MW) flow
- Make record of Energy (MWh)
- Switchgear equipment’ inspection
- Load Management