Electrical Substation Components and Their Workings

The power grid is an essential element in the generation of electricity,

transmission as well as distribution systems. Electrical substations are mandatory
for all the processes of the power grid. These are essential devices used to
generate electrical power from the substations. By changing the levels of
frequency, voltage, the required amount of electricity can be changed in
substations for supplying electricity to customers. An electrical substation is
categorized into various types, such as generation, pole mounted, indoor,
outdoor, converter, distribution, transmission, switching substations. In some
cases like thermal plant, several hydroelectric, and wind farm electricity
generation system, one can notice the collector substation, which can be useful
for power transfer from several turbines in the only transmission unit.
Electrical Substation Components
The electrical power can be transmitted from the units of generation to
distribution using various electrical substation components namely isolator, bus
bar, power transformer, etc are connected together in the substation. The
electrical substation components are essential for installation of the substation.
The substation equipment and their functions mainly include the following.

The Electrical substation design is a complex method with full of engineer

planning. The key steps in the substation designing include switching-system,
Planning and placing of equipment, selection of components as well as ordering,
support of engineers, structural design, the design of electrical layout,
protection of relay, and major apparatus ratings.
Power Transformer
The main purpose of the power transformer is to step-up the transmission voltage
at the generation unit & step-down the transmission voltage at the distribution
unit. Generally for rating up to 10MVA (Mega-volt-Amperes) oil immersed,
naturally cooled and 3-phase transformers are used. Similarly, for more than
10MVA (Mega-volt-Amperes), air blast cooled transformers are used.
 Power Transformer
Such kind of transformer functioned at the full-load condition, and when it is at
light load condition then the transformer will be detached. Therefore, the power
transformer efficiency can be highest at the full-load condition.

Instrument Transformer
The main purpose of an instrument transformer is to decrease high current as
well as voltages for a secure & realistic value. These values can be calculated with
conventional devices. The range of voltage and current are 110 V, and 1A (or) 5A.
This transformer is also used for triggering the protective relay (AC type) by
providing the current as well as voltage. These transformers are classified into
two types namely a voltage transformer and a current transformer.

Instrument Transformer
Voltage Transformer
This transformer can be defined as it is an instrument transformer used for
changing the voltage from a superior value to the minor value.

Voltage Transformer
Current Transformer
A current transformer is an electrical device, and the main function of this is to
change the value of current from a superior value to the minor value. This type of
transformer is applicable in meters, control apparatus and parallel by AC
instruments.

Current Transformer
Lightning Arrester
This is the first component in an electrical substation, and the main function of
these components is to protect the components of the substation from passing
high voltage as well as stops the amplitude and duration of the flow of current.
The light arrestor components are connected among the earth as well as a line
which mean parallel to the components under defense at the electrical
substation.

Lightning Arrester
These components divert the flow of current to the ground and therefore protect
the system’s conductor as well as insulation from harm.

Wave-Trapper
The wave-trapper is located on incoming lines to trap the high-frequency signal.
This signal (wave) comes from the remote station which interrupts the current
and voltage signals. This component trips the high-frequency signal and redirects
them to the telecom board.

Circuit-Breaker
This is a type of electrical switch, used to open or close the circuit when an error
arises in the system. It includes two moving parts that are usually closed. When
an error happens in the system, then the relay transmits the signal to the circuit-
breaker & therefore their parts are moved separately. Therefore, errors occur in
the system turns into clear.

Circuit Breaker
Bus Bar
The bus bar is a very important component in an electrical substation. It is a kind
of current carrying conductor where many connections are made. In other terms,
it can be defined as it is one type of electrical connection where the incoming
current and outgoing current take place.

Busbar
As the fault takes place in this component, then all the circuit components
associated to the section ought to be tripped-out for giving entire isolation in the
quick time so that the fault is neglected to the fitting because of conductors
heating.

Isolator in Substation
The isolator is one type of electrical switch, used to isolate the circuit whenever
the flow of current has been disrupted. These switches are named as
disconnected switches, and it works under a no-load condition. Isolators are not
inbuilt by arc-quenching apparatus, and they don’t have any particular current-
making or current-breaking capacity. In some situations, it is used to break the
current charging of the line of transmission.
Batteries
In large power stations or substations, the operation of lighting, relay system, or
control circuits are powered by batteries. These batteries are connected to a
particular accumulator cell based on the operating voltage of the particular DC
circuit.
 Substation Battery
The batteries are classified into two types namely acid-alkaline as well as lead
acid. Lead acid batteries are applicable for substations, power stations due to
their high voltage & very economical low voltage.

Switchyard
The switchyard is the inter-connector among the transmission as well as
generation, & equal voltage is maintained in this device. Switchyards are used to
transmit the power which is generated from the substation at the preferred level
of voltage to the near transmission line or power station.

Switchyard
Relay
The relay is an electrical device, and the main role of this device in the substation
is, it guards the grid component against the irregular conditions like faults. This is
one type of detecting device, used to detect and determine the fault location, and
then it sends the signal to the circuit breaker. After receiving the signal from the
relay, the circuit breaker will detach the faulted part. Relays are mainly useful for
protecting the devices from hazards, damages.

Relay
Capacitor Bank
This device is inbuilt with capacitors that are connected either in series or else
parallel. The main function of this is to store the electrical energy in electrical
charge form. This bank draws primary current which amplifies the PF (power
factor) of the system. As a source, the capacitor bank works for reactive-power,
and the phase-difference among the current as well as the voltage will be
decreased. They will enhance the capacity of ripple current of the power supply,
and it removes the unnecessary characteristics within the system. The capacitor
bank is an efficient method for preserving power factor as well as power-lag
problem correction.

Capacitator Bank
Carrier Current Apparatus
The carrier current apparatus is fixed in the substations for telemeter, supervisory
control, relaying and communication. This system is correctly placed in a carrier
room by connecting to the high-voltage power circuit.

Insulator
The insulator is used for insulating as well as fixing the bus-bar systems in
substations. Insulators are separated into two types namely post type & bushing
type. A post type insulator comprises of the ceramic body and the cap of this
insulator is designed with a cast iron material. It is straightly connected to the bus
bar. The second type of insulator (bushing) includes ceramic shell body, higher &
lower locating washes which are useful for fitting the bus-bar position.

Thus, Upcoming trends in the growth of technology have created progress in the
installation of electrical substation as well as maintenance. For instance,
supervisory control &data acquisition (SCADA) automation made it achievable for
controlling an electricity substation by design from a distant location. Here is a
question for you, what is the 33/11kv substation equipment?

Live Tank  -  the circuit breaker the switching unit is located in an insulator
bushing which is live at line voltage (or some voltage above ground). Live Tank
circuit breakers are cheaper than dead tank and require less space.
Dead Tank  -  the switching unit is located within a metallic container which is
kept a earth potential.  As the incoming/outgoing conductors are taken through
insulated bushings, it is possible to place current transformers on these (with a
Live Tank arrangement this is not possible and separate CTs are required). 

Use, advantages and disadvantages of live tank and dead tank circuit breaker

 Live tank circuit breakers is filled with very much less SF6 gas as
compared to dead tank circuit breaker. Dead tank circuit breaker
require too much sf6 gas as compared to live tank circuit breaker as the
interrupter are in a large metal chamber so to provide necessary
insulation. As SF6 gas is green house gas(gas causes global warming).
Live tank design is so environment friendly.
 Dead tank circuit breaker, there are chances of fault between
interrupter contacts and metal tank so require current transformers in
the bushing to provide fast acting protection in case of fault within
circuit breaker.
  Dead tank circuit breaker is less prone to earthquakes as compared to
live tank.

Working of Air Circuit Breaker and Its Applications

Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) is an electrical device used to provide Overcurrent and
short-circuit protection for electric circuits over 800 Amps to 10K Amps. These are
usually used in low voltage applications below 450V. We can find these systems in
Distribution Panels (below 450V). Here in this article, we will discuss the working
of Air Circuit Breaker. An air circuit breaker is a circuit operation breaker that
operates in the air as an arc extinguishing medium, at a given atmospheric
pressure. There are several types of air circuit breakers and switching
gears available in the market today that is durable, high-performing, easy to
install, and maintain. The air circuit breakers have completely replaced oil circuit
breakers.
Air Circuit Breaker Working

Air circuit breakers operate with their contacts in free air. Their method of arc
quenching control is entirely different from that of oil circuit-breakers. They are
always used for a low-voltage interruption and now tends to replace high-voltage
oil breakers. The below-shown figure illustrates the principle of air breaker circuit
operation.
 Air Break Circuit
Breaker Interruption
Air Circuit breakers generally have two pairs of contacts. The main pair of contacts
(1) carries the current at normal load and these contacts are made of copper
metal. The second pair is the arcing contact (2) and is made of carbon. When the
circuit breaker is being opened, the main contacts open first. When the main
contacts opened the arcing contacts are still in touch with each other. As the
current gets a parallel low resistive path through the arcing contact. During the
opening of the main contacts, there will not be any arcing in the main contact.
The arcing is only initiated when finally the arcing contacts are separated. Each of
the arc contacts is fitted with an arc runner which helps. The arc discharge to
move upward due to both thermal and electromagnetic effects as shown in the
figure. As the arc is driven upward it enters in the arc chute, consisting of
splatters.

The arc in the chute will become colder, lengthen, and split hence arc voltage
becomes much larger than the system voltage at the time of operation of an air
circuit breaker, and therefore the arc is extinguished finally during the current
zero.

The air brake circuit box is made of insulating and fireproof material and it is
divided into different sections by the barriers of the same material, as shown
above, figure (a). At the bottom of each barrier is a small metal conducting
element between one side of the barrier and the other. When the arc, driven
upwards by the electromagnetic forces, enters the bottom of the chute, it is split
into many sections by the barriers, but each metal piece ensures electrical
continuity between the arcs in each section, the several arcs are consequently in
the series.

The electromagnetic forces within each and every section of the chute cause the
arc in that section to start the form of a helix, as shown above, figure (b). All these
helices are in series so that the total length of the arc has been greatly extended,
and its resistance is abundantly increased. This will affect the current reduction in
the circuit.

Figure (a) shows the development of the arc from the time it leaves the main
contacts until it is within the arc chute. When the current next ceases at a current
zero, the ionized air in the path of where the arc had been being in parallel with
the open contacts and acts as a shunt resistance across both the contacts and the
self-capacitance C, shown in below figure with red as a high resistance R.

When the oscillation starts between C and L as described for the idealized circuit
breaker shown in Figure below, this resistance damps the oscillation heavily.
Certainly, it is usually so heavy that the damping is critical, the oscillation cannot
then take place at all, and the restriking voltage, instead of appearing as a high-
frequency oscillation, rises dead-beat to its eventual value of peak generator
voltage. This is shown below the lower waveform.

Oil Circuit Breaker

Oil circuit breaker is such type of circuit breaker which used oil as a dielectric or
insulating medium for arc extinction. In oil circuit breaker the contacts of the
breaker are made to separate within an insulating oil. When the fault occurs in
the system the contacts of the circuit breaker are open under the insulating oil,
and an arc is developed between them and the heat of the arc is evaporated in
the surrounding oil. The oil circuit breaker is divided into two categories
Bulk Oil and Minimum Oil Circuit Breaker
Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker: A breaker which uses a large quantity of oil for arc
extinction is called a bulk oil circuit breaker. Such type of circuit breaker is also
known as dead tank-type circuit breaker because their tank is held at ground
potential. The quantity of oil requires in bulk oil circuit breaker depends on the
system voltage. If the output rating of the voltage is 110 KV, then it requires 8 to
10 thousand kg of oil, and if their output rating is 220 KV, then breakers need 50
thousand Kg of oil.

In bulk oil circuit breaker, oil performs mainly two functions. Firstly, it acts as an
arc extinguishing medium and secondly, it insulates the live parts of the breaker
from earth. The quantity of oil requires for arc extinction is only about one-tenth
of the total and the rest being used for the insulation.

These large quantities of oil

are subject to the carbonisation, sludging, etc., which occurs due to arc
interruption and other causes reducing the insulating properties and requires
regular maintenance.
Bulk oil circuit breaker needs a large tank which increases expenses and also
increases the weight of the circuit breaker. Because of the following disadvantage
the low oil circuit breaker is developed which use minimum oil for arc extinction.

Minimum Oil Circuit Breaker

In this type of circuit breaker minimum oil is used as an arc quenching medium

and it is mounted on a porcelain insulator to insulate it from the earth. The arc
chamber of such type of circuit breaker is enclosed in a bakelised paper. The
lower portion of this breaker is supported by the porcelain and the upper
porcelain enclosed the contacts.

This circuit breaker is of the single breaker type in which a moving contact tube
moves in a vertical line to make or break contact with the upper fixed contacts
mounted within the arc control devices.

A lower ring of fixed contacts is in permanent contact with the moving arm to
provide the other terminal of the phase unit. Within the moving contact, the tube
is a fixed piston. When the moving contact moves downwards, it forces the
insulating oil to enter into the arc control devices . Thus, the arc gets
extinguished.
 Minimum oil circuit breaker requires
less space as compared to bulk oil circuit breaker which is an important feature in
large installations. But it is less suitable in places where the frequent operation is
required because the degree of carbonisation produced in the small volume of oil
is far more dangerous than in the conventional bulk oil circuit breakers and this
also decreases the dielectric strength of the material.

The low oil circuit breakers have the advantages of a requirement of the lesser

quantity of oil, smaller space requirement, smaller tank size, smaller weight, low
cost, reduced risk of fire and reduced maintenance problems. Minimum oil circuit
breaker suffers from the following drawbacks when compared with the bulk oil
circuit breakers

 Increased degree of carbonisation due to a smaller quantity of oil.

 The dielectric strength of oil decreases due to a high degree of
carbonisation.
 Difficulty in removal of gases from the contact space-time
Construction of Oil Circuit Breaker
Oil circuit breaker is very easy in construction. It consists of current carrying
contacts enclosed in a strong, weather-tight earth metal tank and the tank is filled
with transformer oil. The oil is both acts as an arc extinguishing medium and as an
insulator between the live part and earth.

At the top of the oil, air is filled in the tank which acts as a cushion to control the
displaced oil on the formation of gas around the arc and also to absorb the
mechanical shock of the upward movement of oil. The breaker tank is securely
bolted for carrying out the vibration caused on interrupting very high current. Oil
circuit breaker consists gas outlet which is fitted in the tank cover for the removal
of the gases.

Working Principle of Oil

Circuit Breaker
During the normal operating conditions, the contact of the oil circuit breaker is
closed and carry the current. When the fault occurs in the system, the contacts of
the breaker are moving apart, and an arc is struck between the contacts.

Due to this arc, a large amount of heat is liberated, and a very high temperature is
reached which vaporises the surrounding oil into gas. The gas, thus liberated
surrounds the arc and its explosive growth around it displace the oil violently. The
arc is extinguished when the distance between the fixed and moving contact
reaches a certain critical value, depends on the arc current and recovery voltage.

The oil circuit breaker is very

reliable in operation, and it is very cheap. The most important feature of oil circuit
breaker is that no special devices are used for controlling the arc caused by
moving contact. The oil as an arc quenching medium has certain advantages and
disadvantages

Advantages of Oil as an Arc Quenching

1. The oil has a high dielectric strength and provides insulation between the
contact after the arc has been extinguished.
2. The oil used in circuit breaker provides a small clearance between the
conductors and the earth components.
3. The hydrogen gas is formed in the tank which has a high diffusion rate and
good cooling properties.

Disadvantages of Oil as an Arc Quenching

1. The oil used in oil circuit breaker is inflammable and hence, cause a fire
hazard.
2. There is a risk of formation of explosive mixture with air.
3. Due to decomposition of oil in the arc, the carbon particles is generated
which polluted the oil and hence the dielectric strength of the oil
decreases.

Maintenance of oil circuit breaker

After a circuit breaker has interrupted by short-circuit current, sometimes their
contacts may get burnt due to arcing. Also, the dielectric oil gets carbonized in the
area of the contacts, thereby losing its dielectric strength. This results in the
reduced breaking capacity of the breaker. Therefore, the maintenance of oil
circuit breaker is essential for checking and replacement of oil and contacts.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker Working and Applications

A circuit breaker is a device that, interrupts an electric circuit to prevent

unwarranted current, caused by a short circuit, typically resulting from an
overload. Its basic functionality is to interrupt current flow after a fault is
detected. To know more about Circuit breakers read this article Types of Circuit
Breaker and Its Importance. A vacuum circuit breaker is a kind of circuit breaker
where the arc quenching takes place in vacuum medium. The operation of
switching on and closing of current carrying contacts and interrelated arc
interruption takes place in a vacuum chamber in the breaker which is called
vacuum interrupter.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The Vacuum interrupter technology was first introduced in the year of 1960. But
still, it is a developing technology. As time goes on, the size of the vacuum
interrupter has reduced from its early 1960’s size due to different technical
developments in this field of engineering.
 Vacuum Interrupter
Construction of Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The vacuum circuit breaker comprises a steel arc chamber in the center-
symmetrically arranged ceramic insulators. The pressure inside the vacuum
interrupter is maintained below 10^-4 torr.

The material used for current carrying contacts plays an important role in the
performance of the vacuum circuit breaker. The alloys like, Copper-bismuth or
copper-chrome are the ideal material to make VCB contacts.
 Construction Of
Vacuum Circuit Breaker
From the figure shown above, the Vacuum circuit breaker consists of a fixed
contact, a moving contact and a vacuum interrupter. The moving contact is
connected to the control mechanism by stainless steel bellow. The arc shields are
supported o the insulating housing such that they cover on these shields and is
prevented from condensing on the insulating enclosure. The possibility of a leak is
eliminated due to permanent sealing of vacuum chamber for that a glass vessel or
ceramic vessel is used as the outer insulating body.

Working of  Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The sectional view of vacuum circuit breaker is shown in the figure below when
the contacts are separated due to some abnormal conditions, an arc is struck
between the contacts, the arc is produced due to ionization of metal ions and
depends very much on the material of contacts.
 Sectional view of
Vacuum Circuit Breaker
The arc interruption in vacuum interrupters is different from other types of circuit
breakers. The separation of contacts causes the release of vapor which is filled in
the contact space. It consists positive ions liberated from contact material. The
vapor density depends on the current in the arc. When the current decreases, the
rate of vapor release decreases and after current zero, the medium regain its
dielectric strength if the vapor density is reduced.
When current to be interrupted is very small in a vacuum, the arc has several
parallel paths. The total current is divided into many parallel arcs which repel
each other and spread over the contact surface. This is called diffused arc which
can be interrupted easily.

At high values of current, the arc gets concentrated in a small region. It causes
rapid vaporization of the contact surface. The interruption of the arc is possible if
arc remains in diffused state. If it is quickly removed from the contact surface, the
arc will be re-strike.

Arc extinction in vacuum breakers is greatly influenced by material and shape of

the contacts and the technique of considering metal vapor. The path of the arc is
kept moving so that temperature at any one point will not be high.

After the final arc interruption, there is rapidly building up of dielectric strength
which is peculiar of the vacuum breaker. They are suitable for capacitor switching
as it will give a re-strick free performance. The small current is interrupted before
natural current zero, which may cause chopping whose level depends on the
material of contact.

Advantages of VCB

Vacuum offers the utmost insulating strength. So it has extreme superior arc
quenching properties than any other medium.

 The vacuum circuit breaker has a long life.

 Unlike Oil Circuit Breaker (OCB) or air blast Circuit Breaker (ABCB), the
explosion of VCB is avoided. This enhances the safety of the operating
personnel.
 No fire hazard
 The vacuum CB is fast in operation so ideal for fault clearing. VCB is
suitable for repeated operation.
 Vacuum circuit breakers are almost maintenance free.
  No exhaust of gas to the atmosphere and Noiseless operation.
Disadvantages of VCB

 The main disadvantage of VCB is that it is uneconomical at voltages

exceeding 38 kVolts.
 The cost of the breaker becomes excessive at higher voltages. This is due
to the fact that at high voltages (above 38 kV) more than two numbers of
the circuit breaker are required to be connected in series.
 Moreover, the VCBs production is uneconomical if produced in small
quantities.
Applications of Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The vacuum circuit breaker is today recognized as the most reliable current
interruption technology for medium voltage switchgear. It requires minimum
maintenance compared to other circuit breaker technologies.

The technology is mainly suitable for mainly medium voltage applications. For
higher voltage vacuum technology has been developed, but it is not commercially
feasible. Vacuum circuit breakers are used in metal-clad Switchgear and also in
porcelain housed circuit breakers.

Thus, this is all about Vacuum Circuit Breaker (VCB) working and applications. We
hope that you have got a better understanding of this concept. Furthermore, any
doubts regarding this concept or to implement any electrical and electronics
projects ideas, please give your feedback by commenting in the comment section
below. Here is a question for you, What is the working principle of VCB?