Introduction to Air-Insulated Substations

10
Koji Kawakita

Contents
10.1 Site Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
10.2 Site Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
10.3 Conceptual Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
10.4 Project Management Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

An air-insulated substation (AIS) is one where the main circuit potential is insulated
from the ground by air using porcelain or composite insulators and/or bushings. AIS
is fully composed from air-insulated technology components such as circuit brea-
kers, disconnecting switches (disconnectors), surge arrestors, instrument trans-
formers, power transformers, capacitors, busbars, and so on, and the components
are connected to each other by stranded flexible conductors, tubes, or buried power
cables. AIS is the most common type of substation, accounting for more than 70% of
substations all over the world.
Therefore, electrical engineers are recommended to develop a good understand-
ing of AIS design before learning about gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and mixed
technology switchgear (MTS), which are developed based on AIS technologies. The
pros and cons of using either AIS, GIS, or MTS technologies are described in
CIGRE technical brochure #390 and in Part D.
This Part B describes the issues to be considered in the design and construction of
a new AIS substation. Figure 10.1 shows the general work flow for establishment of
any new substation and applies also to GIS and MTS as well as AIS.

K. Kawakita (*)
Engineering Strategy and Development, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Nagoya, Japan
e-mail: Kawakita.Kouji@chuden.co.jp

# Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019 143

T. Krieg, J. Finn (eds.), Substations, CIGRE Green Books,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49574-3_10
144 K. Kawakita

LOAD GROWTH GENERAL PLAN

ASSESSMENT OF THE NETWORK

IS NO
REINFORCEMENT
REQUIRED?

YES

CONSIDER
IS A NEW NO OTHER MEANS
SUBSTATION
OF
TECHNICAL, REQUIRED?
REINFORCEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL AND
COMMERCIAL POLICY YES

PREPARE
PRELIMINARY * GENERAL LOCATION,
PLANS * LINE DIRECTIONS, END
SOIL INVESTIGATIONS,
TRANSPORT ROUTES.

DETERMINE
GENERAL
SITE
DESIGN
LOCATION

DETERMINE
SPECIFIC EXACT SITE
DESIGN LOCATION
& ORIENTATION

PREPARE
MAIN DETERMINE
CONNECTIONS SUBSTATION
& PROTECTION LAYOUT
DIAGRAM

PREPARE
CARRY OUT
CIRCUIT
CIVIL DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
WORK
& SOFTWARE

PREPARE END
WIRING
CIVIL
DIAGRAMS
WORKS
& CABLE
SCHEDULE

INSTALL TEST,
PLANT & COMMISSION,
EQUIPMENT TAKEOVER

Fig. 10.1 Establishment of a new substation

10 Introduction to Air-Insulated Substations 145

10.1 Site Location

The choice of a site location for a new substation is a compromise between technical,
economic, environmental, and administrative factors.
In simple terms the problem is often to find the most suitable location within a
geographic region where the substation can be built, given the total number of
circuits, the destination of the lines, and the rated nominal power of the transformers.
Typically, in the whole region, climate and altitude are almost the same, but
technical and environmental factors vary depending on the site location.
The first step is to locate the range of possible sites, which are as level as possible,
with enough available area, at reasonable cost; with acceptable access for heavy
transport, within the general required location; and without any major restrictions on
line corridors, where the substation can be erected with minimum environmental
impact.
It is often advantageous to locate sites near to existing line corridors or even at
crossing points. Sometimes such places simply do not exist, and the choice will be
confined to places that have only some of the above characteristics.
Once the possible sites have been located, an analysis is then made for all the
technical and environmental aspects of each one, including costs, potential environ-
mental impacts, and the preventive or corrective measures that can be taken to avoid
or reduce them. It is also necessary to assess the likely social acceptance of the
project.
This analysis then provides the criteria for deciding on the most suitable substa-
tion site, bearing in mind the degree of feasibility and the project cost of each
alternative. If no suitable site is found, the process may be reinitiated within another
general area.
Further information about site location is given in CIGRE technical brochure
#161.

10.2 Site Layout

In the choice of a site layout for a substation, the number of outgoing lines or feeders
of different voltage levels, the number of main transformers, the required busbar
configurations, and the possibility of future extension as well as compensating
equipment options need to be considered carefully, not only for the original instal-
lation period but also for the needs of the future. It should be noted that the lifetime
of the substation may extend beyond 50 years.
It is very important to allow sufficient space for future extension. Sophisticated
network planning may be needed to estimate the necessary reserve space to
accommodate the ultimate substation layout. If no better design approach exists,
then allowing 100% reserve of outgoing feeders may be used as an estimate. The
space required depends essentially on the present and future function of the
substation.
146 K. Kawakita

Extension work such as building of new bays, reconstruction of existing bays, or

extension of the set of busbars may be difficult and expensive if there has been no
previous planning or allowance for them.
Regularly substations are established with the minimum equipment and then
completed over future years. There is little point in providing the whole installation
from the beginning as some equipment may be unused possibly for many years
requiring maintenance just like the other substation items to keep it in good
condition.
In some cases when building a reduced installation initially, a different configu-
ration may be provided to be ultimately expanded into the final arrangement, e.g.,
ring bus to 1½ circuit breaker scheme, mesh to double bus, etc. Sometimes it is best
to provide a partially equipped piece of equipment that can be fully equipped in the
future, e.g., dummy disconnector acting initially as a busbar support without moving
blades or mechanism.
To allow for load growth, power transformers can have fans fitted later if
required, etc.
It is important to define the number and the size of the main transformers required
at the final stage of development. The initial peak demand on a power transformer is
dependent upon a number of factors such as the network configuration, standby
philosophy, and rate of load growth. It is possible to optimize cash flow by installing
a transformer suitable for foreseeable load over an initial period with the intention of
replacing it with a larger unit if this becomes necessary. Company standardization
policies also feed into this decision (see also ▶ Chap. 9).
The outgoing line corridors should be planned so that there are a minimum
number of crossings between different circuits.
More information about site layout is given in CIGRE technical brochure #161.

10.3 Conceptual Design

The conceptual design establishes the key parameters for the substation, and so
careful attention must be paid at this design stage to ensure that the design
addresses the key concerns of all stakeholders. The conceptual design should
reflect the general business development guidelines and maintenance strategies
of the network operator and should be deduced project-wise from a long-term
orientated company template.
From another viewpoint, conceptual engineering should lay down all the basic
specifications that have a major influence on network cost, network reliability,
and societal acceptance. On the other hand, conceptual engineering should also
offer the opportunity to stimulate competition among the potential service pro-
viders and should offer the network owner the flexibility to either carry out the
detail engineering in-house or to outsource it, depending on the availability of
resources.
10 Introduction to Air-Insulated Substations 147

The following are general conceptual design points to be considered.

• Basic elements
• Functions of the network
• Types of substation
• Structure of a substation
• Parameters determined by the network
• Main equipment parameters
• Fault clearing time with respect to system requirements
• Planning of a substation
• General location
• Extent of the substation
• Busbar configurations
• Fault current levels
• Neutral point earthing
• Control in general
• Protection in general
• Maintenance requirements
• Typical switching arrangements
• Service continuity
• Choice of switching arrangements

More information about conceptual design is given in Part A and in CIGRE

technical brochure #161.

10.4 Project Management Plan

A project management plan should be prepared at the beginning of a project in order

to optimize the execution of the substation project.
One of the most important aspects is achieving balanced critical path manage-
ment with the following key points included in the project planning:

• Project work flow

• Project time schedule
• Project engineering interface

During the normal execution of a substation project, these three points may not
always be planned or performed in series since the work is done by many concerned
people and restrictions of social requirements or regulation may apply. In the course
of the project, there could be many natural gaps between planned activities and
actual work sequence. A good project management plan must account for such gaps
and for out-of-sequence activities. The challenge in project execution is to
148 K. Kawakita

consistently find a suitable way to minimize the gaps in activities and move the
project forward smoothly.
Project management requires clear understanding, imagining, and evaluation of
any influences that may arise due to out-of-sequence events for the above three key
points. In such instances, the success of the project depends on the ability to take
leadership and realign the project team efforts to the most effective path. When it is
difficult to determine the effective path, the priority of events should always be
considered in the order of flow/time/engineering.
More information about project management planning is given in CIGRE tech-
nical brochure 439. Although this brochure deals with turnkey projects, the basic
concept is applicable to all types of substation projects.