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Different Bus-Bar Schemes in Electrical Substations
Different Bus-Bar Schemes in Electrical Substations
Different Bus-Bar Schemes in Electrical Substations
In Simple words, a bus-bar is a common connection point or a node for multiple incoming and outgoing circuits such as
power lines or feeders.
Hence we use bus bars, where these connections can be done spaciously and conveniently.
Advantages
It is very economical, because of its least capital cost among all bus Bar systems.
Disadvantages
In this type, maintenance activity of any bay or equipment such as a transformer is not possible without service
interruption of the particular bay or equipment.
In case of fault on bus or bus outage for maintenance, all the bays connected to the bus get interrupted.
Advantages
Since there are two sections, separated by a circuit breaker, the fault on one section does not interrupt the other section of
the bus. Circuit breaker isolates faulty section from the healthy one.
Maintenance of the bus section can be done individually, without affecting other section. Hence power supply continuity is
maintained.
Disadvantages
The cost of circuit breaker and isolators is added to the capital cost.
In case of fault on the main bus, all bays connected to the bus get interrupted.
Advantages
Circuit breaker maintenance of any bay can be done without interrupting the power supply.
Disadvantages
The only disadvantage is that it adds up the cost of the auxiliary bus, TBC breaker, and isolators.
Now let’s see, how to shift load of transformer 1 from bus one to bus two. First close bus 2 side isolators, close bus 2 side
circuit breaker, now open bus 1 side circuit breaker and isolators. Hence load of transformer 1 is shifted from bus 1 to bus
two effortlessly. To shift load back to bus 1, the exact reverse procedure is followed. Close bus 1 side isolator and breaker,
then open bus 2 side breaker and isolators.
Now consider fault conditions. In case of fault on bus 1, the complete load can be shifted on bus 2.
And in case of fault on bus 2, the complete load can be shifted on bus 1. Hence there is a minimal interruption in case of
bus faults.
Advantages
This system is the most flexible and causes the least interruption.
Disadvantages
Capital cost is very high as two breakers are required for each bay.
Advantages
Due to the bus sectionalizer flexibility and reliability of the system increases.
Disadvantages
This additional bus sectionalizer increases the cost and maintenance of the system.
And to shift load only on bus 2 open breaker and isolators at bus 1 side.
Also transformer 1 and transformer 2 can be loaded independently on bus 1 and bus 2 respectively, by opening tie-breaker
and isolators. Hence maintenance of any breaker can be done without interruption.
This is an improvised version of a double-breaker bus system. In the previous double breaker bus system, each bay has
two breakers, which means four breakers for two bays. Whereas in this system, two bays have a common tie-breaker,
which means two bays have a total of three breakers instead of four. Hence called a one and half breaker system.
Now consider fault conditions, in case of fault on bus 1, the complete load gets shifted on bus 2.
And in case of fault on bus 2, the complete load gets shifted on bus 1, without any interruption.
Advantages
As seen, there is no interruption at all in case of fault or failure of any one of the buses.
Disadvantages
Capital cost is high since additional tie-breaker and associated isolators are required.
Now transfer bus can be used as the main bus, and the main bus as the transfer bus by closing bypass isolators and
opening respective bus isolators. Please note that shut down is required to shift the complete load on another bus, to use
as the main bus. TBC operation is the same as we discussed in the main and transfer bus system.
Fault on a bus interrupts complete connected load, same as in main and transfer bus system.
Advantages
Generally, main bus equipment is in constant service, whereas transfer bus equipment is taken in service only during
maintenance of main bus equipment. But due to this arrangement, the role of the main and transfer bus can be
interchanged, and we can use the equipment alternatively. This increases the lifespan of all the equipment altogether.
Disadvantages
Advantages
In this system double feed is provided to each bay. In case of failure of any one of the feeds, other feeds continue to
supply the feeder, hence no interruption. So maintenance of any breaker can be done without any interruption.
Also in case of fault on a bus, only associated breakers get tripped, hence fault does not interrupt complete load. Thus
fault is localized.
Disadvantages
If any one of the breakers is under outage, which makes it open. During this time, if any other breaker trips, it may affect
one or more than one bays, depending upon the location of a tripped breaker.
Also, the load may imbalance in case any one of the breakers is opened.
Advantages
In case of fault on a bus, both side circuit breakers open. And the fault is localized. Hence complete load is not affected.
Disadvantages
This type of system provides a limited switching facility since two circuit breakers jointly control two circuits at node
points.
Bus bar schemes should be suitable for any upcoming future modifications at that particular substation.