SUBSTATION

Ritesh Patel  

Department of Electrical Engineering 
G. H. Patel College of Engineering and 
Technology – V V Nagar (Gujarat)
Email : r2patel@yahoo.com

Definition
• The assembly of apparatus used to change
some characteristics (e.g. voltage, a.c. to d.c.,
f
frequency, power factor
f etc.)) off electric
l i supply
l
is called a SUB‐STATION.

Ritesh Patel EE Dept. GCET 

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Introduction
• A station in the power transmission system at which
electric power is transformed to a conveniently used
form.
• The station may consist of transformers, switches,
circuit breakers and other auxiliary equipment.
• Its main function is to receive energy transmitted at high
voltage from the generating station, by either step‐up or
step‐down
p the voltage
g to a value appropriate pp p for local
use and provide facilities for switching.
• Substations have some additional functions. Its provide
points where safety devices may be installed to
disconnect circuits or equipment in the event of
Ritesh Patel EE Dept. GCET 
trouble.

Introduction

• Sub‐stations are important part of power

system.
• The continuity of supply depends to a
considerable extent upon the successful
operation of sub‐station operation of sub‐
stations. It is, therefore, essential to exercise
utmost care while designing and building sub‐
sub
station.

Ritesh Patel EE Dept. GCET 

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Classification of Substations
According to service requirement

According to constr ction

According to construction

• According to service requirement

– Transformer sub‐stations
– Switching sub‐stations
– Power factor correction sub‐station
sub station
– Frequency changer sub‐stations
– Converting sub‐station
– Industrial sub‐station
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Classification of Substations
i) Transformer sub‐stations:
• Those sub‐station which change the voltage levels of
electric supply are called TRANSFORMER SUB SUB‐
STATION.
• These sub‐stations receive power at some voltage
and deliver it at some other voltage.
• Transformer is the main component in this sub‐
station Most of the sub‐station in the power system
station.
is of this type.

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Classification of Substations
ii) Switching sub‐stations:
• These sub‐stations do not change the voltage level
i.e. incomingg and outgoing
g g lines have same voltage.
g
However, they simply perform the switching
operation of power lines.
iii) Power factor correction sub‐station:
• Those sub‐stations which improve the power factor
of the system
y are called POWER FACTOR
CORRECTION SUB‐STATION.
• Such sub‐stations are generally located at the
receiving end of the transmission lines. These sub‐
stations generally use synchronous condensers as the
power factor improvement equipment.

iv) Frequency changer sub‐stations:

• Those sub‐stations which change the supply frequency
are known as FREQUENCY CHANGER SUB‐STATION.
• Such a frequency change may be required for industrial
utilization.
v) Converting sub‐station:
• Those sub‐stations which change a.c. power into d.c.
power are called CONVERTING SUB‐STATIONS.
• These sub‐stations receive a.c. power and convert it
into d.c. power with suitable apparatus (e.g. ignitron)
to supply for such purposes as traction, electroplating,
electric welding etc.
vi) Industrial sub‐station:
• Those sub‐stations which supply power to individual
industry are known as INDUSTRIAL SUB‐STATIONS.

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Classification of Substations

• According to constructional features

I d
–Indoor sub‐stations
b t ti
–Outdoor sub‐stations
–Underground sub‐stations
Pole mounted sub‐stations
–Pole‐mounted sub stations

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Classification of Substations
i) Indoor sub‐stations:
• For voltages up to 11kV, the equipment of the sub‐
station is installed indoor because of economic
considerations.
d
• However, when the atmosphere is contaminated with
impurities, these sub‐stations can be erected for voltage
up to 66 kV.
ii) Outdoor sub‐stations:
• For
F voltages
lt b
beyondd 66 kV,
kV equipment
i t is
i invariably
i i bl
installed outdoor.
• It is because for such voltages, the clearances between
conductors and the space required for switches, circuit
breakers and other equipment becomes so great that is
not economical to install the equipment indoor.

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Classification of Substations
iii) Underground sub‐stations:
• In thickly populated areas, the space available for
equipment and building is limited and the cost of land is
high.
• Under such situation, the sub‐station is created
underground.
iv) Pole‐mounted sub‐stations:
• This is an outdoor sub‐stations with equipment installed
over head on H‐pole or 4‐pole structure.
• It is the cheapest form of sub‐stations for voltages not
exceeding 11 kV (33 kV in some cases).
• Electric power distributed in almost all localities through
such sub‐stations. Ritesh Patel EE Dept. GCET 

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Pole mounted Substation
• It is a distribution sub‐station placed overhead on a
pole. It is the cheapest form of sub‐station as it does
not involve any building work.
• The transformer and other equipment are mounted
on H‐type pole (or 4‐pole structure).
• The 11 kV line is connected to the transformer (11kV
/400 V) through isolator and fuses.
• The lightning arresters are installed on the H.T.
H T side
to protect the sub‐station from lightning strokes.
• The transformer steps down the voltage to 400V, 3‐
phase, 4‐wire supply. The voltage between any two
lines is 400V whereas the voltage between any line
and neutral is 230 V.

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Pole mounted Substation
• The oil circuit breaker (O.C.B.) installed on the L.T.
side automatically isolates the transformer from the
consumers in the event of any fault.
• The pole‐mounted sub‐stations are generally used
for transformer capacity upto 200 kVA.
• The following points may be noted about pole‐
mounted sub‐stations :
(i) There should be periodical check
check‐up
up of the dielectric
strength of oil in the transformer and O.C.B.
(ii) In case of repair of transformer or O.C.B., both
isolator and O.C.B. should be shut off.

Transformer Substations

• Step‐up Substation
• Primary grid Substation
• Secondary Substation
• Distribution Substation

Ritesh Patel EE Dept. GCET 

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Comparison: Outdoor and indoor SS
Sr.No PARTICULAR OUTDOOR SUB- INDOOR SUB-
STATIONS STATIONS
1. Space required More Less

2. Time required for Less More

erection
3. Future extension Easy Difficult

4. Fault location Easier because the Difficult because the

equipment is in full equipment is
view
ie enclosed
5. Capital cost Low High
6. Operation Difficult Easier
7. Possibility of fault Less because greater More
escalation clearances can be
provided
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Functions of Substation
1. The main functions of sub‐station are to receive
energy transmitted at high voltage from the
generating station, reduce to a value appropriate
for local distribution and provide facilities for
switching.
2. Change in voltage from one level to other
3. Regulate voltage to compensate for system voltage
changes
4. Connect communication systems to circuits
5 Eliminate
5. Eli i t electrical
l t i l surges and d lightning
li ht i f
from
system
6. Make interconnection between various electrical
equipments
7. Control reactive kilovolt‐amperes supplied to and
flow of reactive kilovolt amperes in the circuit.

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Main Equipments of Substation
1. Bus‐bar.
2. Isolator.
3. Insulator.
4. Circuit breaker.
5. Load interrupter switches.
6. Fuses.
7. Power transformer.
8. Lighting Arrester
9. Current transformer and potential transformer.
10.Protective relays
11.Control cable
12.PLCC (Power Line Carrier Communication)
13. Indicating and metering Instruments

Substation Equipments

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Substation Equipments

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Substation Equipments

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Bus‐bars
• It is a conducting bar that carries heavy
currents to supply several electric circuits
• Bus
B b
bars are typically
t i ll either
ith flat
fl t strips
ti or
hollow tubes as these shapes allow heat to
dissipate more efficiently due to their high
surface area to cross‐sectional area ratio
• A bus bar mayy either be supported pp on
insulators, or else insulation may completely
surround it.

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Bus‐bars

Busbars
(long heavy
tube type)

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Bus‐bars
FUNCTION
• It connects a number of lines operating at same voltage
• It interconnects the incoming and outing transmission
lines and transformers at an electrical substation.
• Bus‐bars also interconnect the generator and the main
transformers in a power plan
• In an industrial plant such as an aluminium smelter, large
bus‐bars supply several tens of thousands of amperes to
the electrolytic process
BUS‐BAR ARRANGEMENTS
• Single bus bar arrangement
• Single bus bar system with sectionalisation
• Double bus bar arrangement

Isolating Switches
• Isolating Switches are normally switched only when
not on load but they may also interrupt the no load
current of small Transformers as well as disconnect
short pieces of overhead lines or cables.
• An isolator is essentially a knife switch and is
designed to open a circuit under no load. In other
words, isolator switches are operated only when the
lines in which they are connected carry no current.
• FUNCTION: In sub‐stations, it is often desired to
disconnect a part of the system for general
maintenance and repairs. This is accomplished by
an isolating switch or isolator.
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Insulators
MATERIALS : Porcelain Fibre glass
• TYPES : Pin type, Suspension type, Post insulator
FUNCTION
• Insulators are porcelain or fibre glass insulators that
serve to isolate the bus bar switches
• To prevent leakage current from flowing through the
structure or to ground
• They
Th support the h conductors
d andd confine
fi the
h current
to the conductors
• Post insulator is used for bus bars.

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Power Transformers
• Function :A power transformer is used in a
sub‐station to step‐up or step‐down the
voltage
voltage.
• Except at the power station, all the
subsequent sub‐stations use step‐down
transformers to gradually reduce the voltage
of electric supply and finally deliver it at
utilization
ili i voltage.
l
• The modern practice is to use 3‐phase
transformers in sub‐stations ; although 3
single phase bank of transformers can also be
used. Ritesh Patel EE Dept. GCET 

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Power Transformers
• The use of 3‐phase transformer (instead of 3 single
phase bank of transformers) permits two
advantages.
– Only one 3‐phase load‐tap changing mechanism
can be used. I
– Its installation is much simpler than the three
single phase transformers.
• The power transformer is generally installed upon
l
lengthsh off railsil fixed
fi d on concrete slabs
l b having
h i
foundations 1 to 1∙5 m deep.
• For ratings up to 10 MVA, naturally cooled, oil
immersed transformers are used. For higher ratings,
the transformers are generally forced air cooled.
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Power Transformers

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Power Transformers

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Power Transformers

500 MVA Single‐phase autotransformers (1500 MVA Total) 115‐765kV

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Instrument Transformers
USE
• The lines in a substation operate at very high voltage
and carry thousands of ampere of current the
measuring instruments and protective devices are
designed to operate at about 110v and 5 amp. So it is
necessary to step up or step down voltage and
current according to requirement. This is done by
instrument transformer
TYPES
• CURRENT TRANSFORMER(C.T)
• VOLTAGE TRNSFORMER(P.T)
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Current Transformers
• Current transformer are used with ammeters, watt
meters, power‐factor meters, watt‐hour meters,
compensators, protective and regulating relays and the
trip
i coilil off circuit
i i breakers.
b k Th current transformer
The f i
is
connected directly in series with the line.
• The primary of this transformer consists of one or more
turns of thick wire connected in series with the line.
• The secondary consists of a large no of fine wire and
provides for the measuring instrument and relays of a
current which is a constant fraction of the current in the
line.
• Construction : Current Transformers comprise air
insulated cores mounted inside a cylindrical enclosure.
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Current Transformers
• Current Transformers can be installed on either on
both sides of the circuit‐breakers or at the ends of
outgoing circuits
FUNCTIONS
• It step down current to a known ratio for
measurement and control purpose.

Current Transformers

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Potential Transformers
• Potential transformers are used with volt‐meters,
wattmeters, watt‐hour meters, power‐factor meters,
frequency meters, synchroscope and synchronizing
apparatus protective and regulating relays and the no‐
apparatus, no
voltage and over‐voltage trip coils of automatic circuit
breakers.
• The active portion consists of a rectangular core, upon
which the secondary windings and high voltage winding
are placed.
• Provision is made for up to two secondary windings for
measurement and an additional open delta winding for
earth fault detection.
FUNCTION
• It step down voltage to a known ratio for measurement
and control purpose

Potential Transformers

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Circuit Breaker
• Circuit breaker is equipment which can open or
close a circuit under normal as well as fault
condition.
• It is so designed that it can be operated manually
under normal conditions and automatically under
fault conditions is used to interrupt circuits while
current is flowing through them.
• The makingg and breakingg of contacts in a Oil type
yp
circuit breaker are done under oil, this oil serves to
quench the arc when the circuit is opened.

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Circuit Breaker
• Recently developed circuit breakers have no oil, but
put out the arc by a blast of compressed air; Another
type encloses the contacts in a vacuum or gas
(sulphur hexafluoride SF6).
• The operation of the breaker is very rapid when
opening. As with the transformer, the high voltage
connections are made through bushings.
• Circuit breakers of this type are usually arranged for
remote electrical
l i l controll from
f a suitably
i bl located
l d
switchboard.
FUNCTION
• Making and breaking of circuit (Switching operation)
under normal as well as fault condition.
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Circuit Breaker

Operating
Mechanism
Panel
Circuit Breakers
( Connected in a typical 3-
phase circuit )

Position
Indicator

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Lighting Arrester OR Surge Arrester
• LA used to provide the necessary path to ground for
such surges, yet prevent any power current from
following the surge.
• It is installed on different equipments such as power
poles, and towers, Power transformers, circuit
breakers, bus structures in substation
FUNCTION
• For preventing surge voltages due to lightening or
other events

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Lighting Arrester OR Surge Arrester

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Earthing Switch
• Earthing Switch, also known as ground disconnect, which used
to connects the equipment to a grid of electrical conductors
buried in the earth on the station property.
• It is intended to protect people working on the grounded
equipment.
• It does this by completing a circuit path, thereby reducing the
voltage difference between the equipment and its
surroundings.
• For safety reasons, it is important that ground disconnects and
allll associated
i t d connections
ti h
have goodd contact
t t and d low
l
resistance.
• It is also important that the protective ground not be
accidentally remove, that is why all the earthing switches,
disconnect switches and circuit breakers are all interlocked to
each other and proper/correct sequencing must be followed.

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Metering and indicating instruments
• There are several meters and indicators eg.
ammeters, voltmeters, energymeteres etc.
• They can be indicating or recording.
• Indicating meters shows the value on a dial.
• Recording store the information electronically

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Batteries
USES
• It is used in substation control house as a backup 
power to control system
power to  control system

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Protective relays
USE
• A protective relay is a complex
electromechanical
l t h i l apparatus,
t oftenft withith more
than one coil, designed to calculate operating
conditions on an electrical circuit and trip
circuit breakers when a fault is detected.

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Pot Heads
USE
• A type of insulator with a bell or pot shape
used
d to
t connectt underground
d d cables
bl to
t over
head cables

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Miscellaneous equipment
• Fuses
• carrier‐current equipment (PLCC)
• sub‐station auxiliary supplies

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Karamsad 220 kV Substation

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Substation

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Layout of 66/11 kV substation

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QUESTIONS ???

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