LAHORE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY

"Shalimar – I Grid"

Internship Report

Submitted by: MUHAMMAD SULEMAN

Roll number: 0016-BSC.ENGG-21

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE UNIVERSITY, LAHOER.

 Table of Content
 Electricity in Pakistan:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
Electricity sector in Pakistan:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
Electricity generation:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Electricity consumption: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Distribution of electricity generation in Pakistan in 2023, by source: ....................................... 6
Switch-Yard: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
Single Line Diagram of 132KV/33KV Substation:-----------------------------------------------------------------7
Switchyard Equipment: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
 Current transformer (CT): ........................................................................................................ 8
 Voltage transformer:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
 Lightning arrester: ................................................................................................................. 13
 Isolators: ............................................................................................................................. 15
 Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) Circuit Breaker:---------------------------------------------------------------18
 Vacuum Circuit Breaker: ....................................................................................................... 22
 Busbar:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
 Capacitor Bank:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------27
 132Kv Relay control panel:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------29

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When working in LESCO (Lahore Electric Supply Company) or any electrical utility
company, it is crucial to follow these safety instructions:

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Always wear appropriate PPE,

including safety gloves, helmet, goggles, and insulated footwear to protect
against electrical hazards.
2. Lockout/Tag out: Before performing any maintenance or repair work, ensure
proper lockout/tag out procedures are followed to isolate electrical circuits and
prevent accidental energization.
3. Qualified Personnel: Only trained and qualified personnel should work on
electrical systems to minimize risks.
4. Electrical Inspection: Regularly inspect equipment, tools, and electrical
connections for damage or wear, and promptly replace or repair any issues.
5. No Overloading: Avoid overloading electrical circuits or equipment to prevent
overheating and potential fire hazards.
6. Electrical Clearance: Always maintain a safe distance from energized
equipment and power lines. Keep a clearance distance as specified by safety
regulations.
7. Proper Tools: Use insulated tools specifically designed for electrical work to
reduce the risk of electric shock.

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8. Fire Prevention: Have fire extinguishers readily available and ensure all
employees are trained in their proper use.
9. Emergency Response: Establish clear emergency response procedures and
ensure all employees are aware of them.
10. Stay Informed: Stay updated with safety guidelines and attend regular safety
training sessions.

Remember, electrical work can be dangerous, so always prioritize safety and

follow the company's safety policies and procedures. If you are unsure about
any task or safety protocol, seek guidance from a supervisor or safety
professional.

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 Electricity in Pakistan:
Pakistan has a total installed power generation capacity of 43,775 MW as of 30
June 2022 which includes 26,683 MW thermal, 10,635 MW hydroelectric, 1,838
MW wind, 630 MW solar, 369 MW bagasse and 3,620 MW nuclear.

Electricity sector in Pakistan:

Electricity in Pakistan is generated, transmitted, distributed, and retail supplied
by two vertically integrated public sector companies, Water and Power
Development Authority (WAPDA) responsible for the production of
hydroelectricity and supplied to the consumers by the power distribution
companies (DISCOS) under the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO).
Currently, there are 11 distribution companies and one National Transmission
and Dispatch Company (NTDC) all in the public sector (except Karachi), and the
Karachi Electric (K-Electric) for the city of Karachi and its surrounding areas.
There are around 42 independent power producers (IPPs) that contribute
significantly in electricity generation in Pakistan.
As of 2016, more than 80% of its population on average has access to electricity
Following 2022 dearth of imported LNG in Pakistan, the country indicated it
would quadruple its coal power plants, which use domestic coal.

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Electricity generation:
 Electricity – total installed capacity (FY2021–22): 41,557MW
 Electricity – installed capacity by source (FY2021–22):
 Natural gas: 32.3% of total
 Hydroelectric: 24.7% of total
 Furnace oil: 14.3% of total
 Coal: 12.8% of total
 Nuclear: 8.8% of total
 Wind: 4.8% of total
 Solar: 1.4% of total
 Bagasse: 0.9% of total

Electricity consumption:
 Electricity – total consumption: 89,361 GWh (2021–2022)
 Electricity – consumption by sector (2021–2022):
 Household – 47%
 Commercial – 7%
 Industrial – 28%

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  Agricultural – 9%
 Others – 8%

Distribution of electricity generation in Pakistan in

2023, by source:

Switch-Yard:
Switchyard is a switching station which is the main link between the generating
plant and the transmission system. It can be considered as the heart of the
power plant, the generated power will only be worthy if it can be transmitted
and received by the consumers. Switchyard is a junction which carries the
generated power to the destination, it plays a major part in the security of the
system, and it can control the reactive power devices which plays a major role
in power quality. It is mostly an assemblage of switches, power circuits,
breakers, and the auxiliary equipment which is used to collect power from the
generators at the power plant and then it will be distributed to the transmission
lines at a load point.

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Single Line Diagram of 132KV/33KV Substation:

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Switchyard makes available the generated power at the plant to the people. The
power generated at a power station is transmitted via a switchyard. When there
is sudden damage outside the plant switchyard can protect the plant. A
Switchyard consists of many equipment such as Current transformer (CT),
Voltage transformer (VT), Lightning arrester (LA), Power transformers, Isolators
support structure, Circuit breaker (CB), Wave traps, Earthing switch, Bus bar etc.

Switchyard Equipment:
A Switchyard consists of many equipment such as:
 Current transformer (CT)
 Voltage transformer (VT)
 Lightning arrester (LA)
 Power transformers
 Isolators support structure
 Circuit breaker (CB)
 Wave traps
 Earthing switch
 Bus bar

 Current transformer (CT):

A current transformer (CT) is a type of transformer that is used to reduce or
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multiply an alternating current (AC). It produces a current in its secondary which
is proportional to the current in its primary.

Current transformers, along with voltage or potential transformers, are

instrument transformers. Instrument transformers scale the large values of
voltage or current too small, standardized values that are easy to handle for
measuring instruments and protective relays. The instrument transformers
isolate measurement or protection circuits from the high voltage of the primary
system. A current transformer provides a secondary current that is accurately
proportional to the current flowing in its primary. The current transformer
presents a negligible load to the primary circuit.

Current transformers are the current-sensing units of the power system and are
used at generating stations, electrical substations, and in industrial and
commercial electric power distribution.

Function:
A current transformer has a primary winding, a core, and a secondary winding,
although some transformers, use an air core. While the physical principles are
the same, the details of a "current" transformer compared with a "voltage"
transformer will differ owing to different requirements of the application. A
current transformer is designed to maintain an accurate ratio between the
currents in its primary and secondary circuits over a defined range.

The alternating current in the primary produces an alternating magnetic field in

the core, which then induces an alternating current in the secondary. The
primary circuit is largely unaffected by the insertion of the CT. Accurate current
transformers need close coupling between the primary and secondary to ensure
that the secondary current is proportional to the primary current over a wide
current range. The current in the secondary is the current in the primary
(assuming a single turn primary) divided by the number of turns of the
secondary. In the illustration on the right, 'I' is the current in the primary, 'B' is
the magnetic field, 'N' is the number of turns on the secondary, and 'A' is an AC
ammeter.
Current transformers typically consist of a silicon steel ring core wound with
many turns of copper wire, as shown in the illustration to the right. The
conductor carrying the primary current is passed through the ring. The CT's
primary, therefore, consists of a single 'turn'. The primary 'winding' may be a
permanent part of the current transformer, i.e., a heavy copper bar to carry
current through the core. Window-type current transformers are also common,

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which can have circuit cables run through the middle of an opening in the core
to provide a single-turn primary winding. To assist accuracy, the primary
conductor should be centered in the aperture.
CTs are specified by their current ratio from primary to secondary. The rated
secondary current is normally standardized at 1 or 5 amperes. For example, a
4000:5 CT secondary winding will supply an output current of 5 amperes when
the primary winding current is 4000 amperes. This ratio can also be used to find
the impedance or voltage on one side of the transformer, given the appropriate
value at the other side. For the 4000:5 CT, the secondary impedance can be
found as ZS = NZP = 800ZP, and the secondary voltage can be found as VS = NVP
= 800VP. In some cases, the secondary impedance is referred to the primary
side, and is found as ZS′ = N2ZP. Referring the impedance is done simply by
multiplying initial secondary impedance value by the current ratio. The
secondary winding of a CT can have taps to provide a range of ratios, five taps
being common.

 Voltage transformer:

A 132kV transformer falls under the power or substation transformer

classification. To enumerate, a 132 kV transformer transmits electric energy
from the generating station to end consumers. In which case, the power is
transferred by changing its voltage level and keeping its frequency efficient.
An electrical substation is a secondary station in the electricity generation,
transmission, and distribution system where voltage is transformed from a high
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value to low or reverse using transformers. Electric power flows through several
substations between power stations and the consumer, and the voltage may be
changed in several steps.

The voltage generated in a power plant or substation is transmitted and fed to

several industrial units and residential areas. It has to be ensured that the
voltage generated is of optimum value, and also the voltage received after
transmitting over several lines has not suffered major losses. Hence, it is
essential to measure these voltages at various points.

The measurement of high-level voltages at power stations and load centers

cannot be done by conventional voltmeters. A potential transformer is an
instrument used for measuring high voltages in a transmission or distribution
system. It is a step-down transformer that converts an input voltage to a lower
output voltage which can then be measured by a voltmeter.

Construction of voltage transformers:

The construction of a voltage transformer is similar to that of a conventional

power transformer with primary and secondary windings. The voltage produced
at the load side is proportional to the number of turns in the secondary relative
to the primary. The voltage transformation is given by:

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 V1 / V2 = N1 / N2

V1: Voltage applied to the transformer primary winding

V2: Voltage produced at the secondary (load) of the transformer
N1: Number of turns in the primary
N2: Number of turns in the secondary
For example, a transformer with N1=1, N2=10, having a primary winding voltage
(V1) equal to 10, will have a secondary winding voltage equal to 1V.

A voltage transformer has a magnetic core (labeled F) similar to that of a

conventional power transformer but with a large-sized core of silicon
laminations. The magnetic core can be either shell-type or core-type.

The secondary side is wound adjacent to the core since it is easy to insulate a
low-voltage winding (labeled B). The primary, carrying high voltage (labeled A)
is wound over the secondary winding with paper tape or cotton insulation
(labeled C) in between.

The windings are immersed in an oil-filled tank (labeled D) providing better

insulation in high rating voltage transformers (above 7kV). The high voltage
terminals are brought out of the tank through oil-filled bushings (labeled E).

Voltage transformer working principle:

A potential transformer is typically used to measure high voltages. The primary

side of the potential transformer (labeled PT) is connected across the
transmission line whose voltage (132 kV) is to be measured. The transmission
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line is connected to a load ‘A’ that receives electrical power from the line. The
potential transformer is always connected in parallel across the line. The
secondary side of the potential transformer is connected to a standard low-
range voltmeter (labeled V). A current transformer is always connected in series
with the line whose current is to be measured. Read our article to see a thorough
comparison between voltage transformers and current transformers.

When voltage is applied to the primary winding, it induces a voltage on the

secondary windings. This voltage is lower than the voltage on the primary
winding and is proportional to the number of windings on the primary and
secondary sides.

 Lightning arrester:

A lightning arrester (alternative spelling lightning arrestor) (also called lightning

isolator) is a device, essentially an air gap between an electric wire and ground,
used on electric power transmission and telecommunication systems to protect
the insulation and conductors of the system from the damaging effects of
lightning. The typical lightning arrester has a high-voltage terminal and a ground
terminal. When a lightning surge (or switching surge, which is very similar)
travels along the power line to the arrester, the current from the surge is
diverted through the arrester, in most cases to earth.

In telegraphy and telephony, a lightning arrester is placed where wires enter a

structure, preventing damage to electronic instruments within and ensuring the
safety of individuals near them. Smaller versions of lightning arresters, also
called surge arresters, are devices that are connected between each conductor
in power and communications systems and the earth. These prevent the flow of
the normal power or signal currents to ground, but provide a path over which
high-voltage lightning current flows, bypassing the connected equipment. Their

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purpose is to limit the rise in voltage when a communications or power line is
struck by lightning or is near to a lightning strike.

If protection fails or is absent, lightning that strikes the electrical system

introduces thousands of kilovolts that may damage the transmission lines, and
can also cause severe damage to transformers and other electrical or electronic
devices. Lightning-produced extreme voltage spikes in incoming power lines can
damage electrical home appliances or even cause death.

Lightning arresters are used to protect electric fences. They consist of a spark
gap and sometimes a series inductor. Such type of equipment is also used for
protecting transmitters feeding a mast radiator. For such devices the series
inductance has usually just one winding.

Lightning arresters can form part of large electrical transformers and can
fragment during transformer ruptures. High-voltage transformer fire barriers
are required to defeat ballistics from small arms as well as projectiles from
transformer bushings and lightning arresters.

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  Isolators:

Isolators are also called disconnect switches which operate under no-load
conditions. They are not manufactured for any making or breaking current
capacity. They don’t have an arc quenching system within it. Its main use in the
electrical system is to disconnect a particular part after the current interruption
from that particular part. They ensure there is no current in the circuit until
everything is in order. They are placed on each side of the circuit breaker to
provide isolation. Generally, an automatic type is preferred.

Isolator-symbol

Isolator Switch

These switches are generally used for the repair or replacement of a circuit
breaker. It acts as a switch that disconnects the required part from the circuit
where the repair has to be done. It does not have any current ratings as
compared to CB as these are operated with current being made zero in the
circuit. These switches cannot be opened unless CB is open and CB cannot be
closed unless the isolator is closed.

Isolator

Electrical Isolator Working Principle

The working of an isolator is very simple and it can be operated in various ways
such as fully automatic, semi-automatic, or manually operated. Isolators are
sometimes used as switches that can be opened or closed based on the
requirement. But many times, isolators are used permanently in a fixed position
to keep isolation such as in electrical transmission lines, transformers, and grid
stations as shown in the figure below.
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This figure shows isolators being used as insulators in transmission lines to
isolate transmission towers from the conductor. And here isolators are
particularly useful in eliminating grounding loops, such as lowering the risk of
accidental paths for electric current to flow towards the ground.

Isolator switches, in particular, are used in power grids and substations to

efficiently isolate very high voltage apparatuses such as transformers and
circuit-breakers when they are due for maintenance. Commonly used isolators
are not intended to stop current during a fault to eliminate high voltage arcs,
which occur due to disturbance in electric conductors. In high-voltage power
systems, isolators are used in conjunction with circuit breakers to provide an
extra layer of safety.

A first circuit breaker is opened which disconnects the circuit then the isolator is
also opened. And for the reverse process, the first isolator is closed then the
circuit breaker is closed and the circuit is reconnected. The picture below shows
the isolators in a disconnected state within a power substation. It can be seen
that it is a physical and mechanical system. And it can be operated manually or
it can be actuated automatically.

Types of Electrical Isolators

There are various kinds of isolators available in the market. Choice of electrical
isolators depends upon the requirement and application and based on the
placement in the system. Isolators based on Application can be classified into
four types.
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 1. Single Break Isolator
2. Double Break Isolator
3. Pantograph Isolator
4. MCB Isolator

Depending upon the position in the power system, the Isolators can further be
categorized into the following three types according to their placement in the
power system.

Bus side isolator: It directly connects to the main bus

Transfer bus side isolator: It directly connects to the transfer bus.

Lineside isolator: It is generally located at the line side of the feeder

In a single break isolator, only one terminal connects and disconnects whereas
in a double break isolator both terminals at each side connect and disconnect
because the central terminal is moveable. In a pantograph type isolator, both
terminals at each side connect and disconnect only because of the forces of
stress or tension, and usually is no locking mechanism.

This type of pantograph isolator is widely used in electric trains to

obtain electricity from overhead transmission lines. Miniature circuit breaker
(MCB) as apparent from the name is designed for low power requirements such
as homes and offices. It is designed in small compact cases so that it can be used
in domestic scale wiring systems. Horizontal double break isolator in
substations use is abundant.

Isolators are generally used on both sides of the circuit breaker, this measure is
taken just to ensure extra safety and protection because in a power system

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incoming and outgoing lines can have multiple sources of power, and
disconnecting one side is sometimes not enough. So, the isolator on both sides
of the circuit breaker allows essential replacement and services requirements to
be performed safely.

Depending on their Position

Bus Side Isolator: These are connected to the main buses in the substation.
Whenever there is a need for repair or replacement of any bus, they are
operated.

Lineside Isolator: These are connected between the line and any feeder. A
feeder is a line that carries power from the Substation to the distribution system.

Transfer Bus Side Isolator: In an electrical system for reliability main or transfer
bus is used. In case the main bus side isolator is unavailable due to some
fault/maintenance transfer bus isolator is used. These are used in combination
with a circuit breaker.

Depending on Line Voltage

Low Voltage: These isolators are designed to withstand voltage up to 11KV

Medium Voltage: Isolators for voltages between 11KV to 66KV come under this
type.

High Voltage: Isolators for voltages between 66KV to 330KV come under this
category and they have a high withstanding capacity.

 Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) Circuit Breaker:

A circuit breaker in which SF6 under pressure gas is used to extinguish the arc is
called SF6 circuit breaker. SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride) gas has excellent dielectric,
arc quenching, chemical and other physical properties which have proved its
superiority over other arc quenching mediums such as oil or air. The SF6 circuit
breaker is mainly divided into three types

 Non-puffer piston circuit breaker

 Single- puffer piston circuit breaker.
 Double-puffer piston circuit breaker.

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The circuit breaker which used air and oil as an insulating medium, their arc
extinguishing force builds up was relatively slow after the movement of contact
separation. In the case of high voltage circuit breakers quick arc extinction
properties are used which require less time for quick recovery, voltage builds
up. SF6 circuit breakers have good properties in this regards compared to oil or
air circuit breakers. So in high voltage up to 760 kV, SF6 circuit breakers is used.

Properties of Sulphur hexafluoride Circuit Breaker

Sulphur hexafluoride possesses very good insulating and arc quenching
properties. These properties are

 It is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and non-inflammable gas.

 SF6 gas is extremely stable and inert, and its density is five times that of air.
 It has high thermal conductivity better than that of air and assists in better
cooling current carrying parts.
 SF6 gas is strongly electronegative, which means the free electrons are easily
removed from discharge by the formation of negative ions.
 It has a unique property of fast recombination after the source energizing
spark is removed. It is 100 times more effective as compared to arc
quenching medium.

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  Its dielectric strength is 2.5 times than that of air and 30% less than that of
the dielectric oil. At high pressure the dielectric strength of the gas
increases.
 Moisture is very harmful to SF6 circuit breaker. Due to a combination of
humidity and SF6 gas, hydrogen fluoride is formed (when the arc is
interrupted) which can attack the parts of the circuit breakers.

Construction of SF6 Circuit Breakers:

SF6 circuit breakers mainly consist of two parts, namely (a) the interrupter unit
and (b) the gas system.

Interrupter Unit – This unit consists of moving and fixed contacts comprising a
set of current-carrying parts and an arcing probe. It is connected to the SF6 gas
reservoir. This unit consists slide vents in the moving contacts which permit the
high-pressure gas into the main tank.

The closed circuit gas system is employed in SF6 circuit breakers. The SF6 gas is
costly, so it is reclaimed after each operation. This unit consists low and high-
pressure chambers with a low-pressure alarm along with warning switches.
When the pressure of the gas is very low due to which the dielectric strength of
gases decrease and an arc quenching ability of the breakers is endangered, then
this system gives the warning alarm.

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Working Principle of SF6 Circuit Breaker:
In the normal operating conditions, the contacts of the breaker are closed.
When the fault occurs in the system, the contacts are pulled apart, and an arc is
struck between them. The displacement of the moving contacts is synchronized
with the valve which enters the high-pressure SF6 gas in the arc interrupting
chamber at a pressure of about 16kg/cm^2.

The SF6 gas absorbs the free electrons in the arc path and forms ions which do
not act as a charge carrier. These ions increase the dielectric strength of the gas
and hence the arc is extinguished. This process reduces the pressure of the
SF6 gas up to 3kg/cm^2 thus; it is stored in the low-pressure reservoir. This low-
pressure gas is pulled back to the high-pressure reservoir for re-use.

Now a day puffer piston pressure is used for generating arc quenching pressure
during an opening operation by mean of a piston attached to the moving
contacts.

Advantage of SF6 circuit breaker:

SF6 circuit breakers have the following advantages over conventional breaker

1. SF6 gas has excellent insulating, arc extinguishing and many other properties
which are the greatest advantages of SF6 circuit breakers.
2. The gas is non-inflammable and chemically stable. Their decomposition
products are non-explosive and hence there is no risk of fire or explosion.
3. Electric clearance is very much reduced because of the high dielectric
strength of SF6.
4. Its performance is not affected due to variations in atmospheric condition.
5. It gives noiseless operation, and there is no over voltage problem because
the arc is extinguished at natural current zero.
6. There is no reduction in dielectric strength because no carbon particles are
formed during arcing.
7. It requires less maintenance and no costly compressed air system is
required.
8. SF6 performs various duties like clearing short-line faults, switching, opening
unloaded transmission lines, and transformer reactor, etc. without any
problem.

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Disadvantages of SF6 circuit breakers:

1. SF6 gas is suffocating to some extent. In the case of leakage in the breaker
tank, the SF6 gas being heavier than air and hence SF6 are settled in the
surroundings and lead to the suffocation of the operating personnel.
2. The entrance of moisture in the SF6 breaker tank is very harmful to the
breaker, and it causes several failures.
3. The internal parts need cleaning during periodic maintenance under clean
and dry environment.
4. The special facility requires for transportation and maintenance of quality
of gas.

 Vacuum Circuit Breaker:

The circuit breaker or CB that uses vacuum media mainly for arc quenching is
called a vacuum circuit breaker. The dielectric strength of the vacuum is much
better or has superior arc quenching properties as compared to other types of
medium. The vacuum amount usually ranges from 10-5 to 10-7 torr. Generally,
the vacuum is a force under atmospheric force wherever no gas is there. These
circuit breakers are suitable for medium voltage power distribution that ranges
from 22kV – 66 kV and are also used for protection and switching power
systems. These circuit breakers replace oil circuit breakers & SF6 circuit breakers
so these circuit breakers are necessary at incomers & interconnectors within a
network.

Arc quenching is a process used to extinguish or suppress electrical arcs that

occur in various electrical devices and systems. An electrical arc is a discharge of
current through the air or other insulating medium between two conductive
surfaces, typically occurring when there is a gap or breakdown in the insulation.

When an arc is initiated, it generates intense heat, light, and pressure. Arcs can
pose significant safety hazards, as they can cause damage to equipment, result
in electrical fires, and harm personnel. Arc quenching aims to interrupt or
extinguish the arc as quickly as possible to prevent these risk

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 Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Properties

The vacuum circuit breaker or VCB has two main phenomenal properties which
are discussed below.

 These two properties will make these circuit breakers very efficient, less
costly, less bulky, and much high service life with less maintenance.
 This circuit breaker has a superior dielectric medium as compared to other
insulating media. So the vacuum is better as compared to other media
apart from SF6 & air which are used at high pressure.
 Once an arc is opened by simply moving the contacts separately within a
vacuum, then an interruption will occur. So with the interruption of arc,
their dielectric strength will be increased up to thousands of times as
compared to other circuit breakers.

Construction of Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The construction of a vacuum circuit breaker is very simple as compared to other

CBs which is shown below. These breakers are very popular because of the
voltage ratings of up to 36 kV. In this circuit breaker, the covering part is made
with an insulating material like porcelain, glass fiber unbreakable plastic, or glass
but most of the time, glass material is used because it helps in observing from
the outer surface. If the glass material of this CB is blurred then it indicates
simply that the vacuum circuit breaker is dropping its vacuum.

The upper contact in the above diagram, the electrode is connected is

fixed/welded whereas the lower contact is sealed by a stainless metallic bellow
design like a moving object. The two metal end flanges support most of the CBs
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like outer insulating enclosure, fixed contact, metallic bellows & vapor
condensing shield. This circuit breaker contacts have faces in large disc-shape
that include spiral segments so that the arc current generates an axial magnetic
field. In this circuit breaker, the separation between the two contacts is about 1
cm which is sufficient for a current interruption within a vacuum.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker

Working:

The vacuum circuit breaker working principle is to separate the contact once any
fault occurs within the system & to extinguish the generated arc in the vacuum
throughout the operation. Once any fault takes place within the system, then
this vacuum circuit breaker simply releases its contact to separate the system as
quickly as possible.

In the operation of a circuit breaker, the arc can be generated due to the
ionization of metal vapors within the contacts. So this generated arc can be
stopped or extinguished as electrons, ions & metallic vapors which are reduced
within the contact surface to make a quick enhancement rate within the vacuum
dielectric strength.

The vacuum circuit breaker working mainly depends on the energy stored
mechanism within the closing spring. This spring can be prepared manually or
electrically & it is automatically charged after the CB operation. Lastly, the

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tripping can be done once high voltage within the system is detected thus the
contact breaking is done to separate the system.

 Busbar:

The bus bar's material composition and cross-sectional size determine the
maximum current it can safely carry. Busbars can have a cross-sectional area of
as little as 10 square millimeters (0.016 sq. in), but electrical substations may
use metal tubes 50 millimeters (2.0 in) in diameter (2,000 square millimeters
(3.1 sq. in)) or more as busbars. Aluminum smelters use very large busbars to
carry tens of thousands of amperes to the electrochemical cells that produce
aluminum from molten salts.

Busbars are produced in a variety of shapes, including flat strips, solid bars and
rods, and are typically composed of copper, brass or aluminum as solid or hollow
tubes. Some of these shapes allow heat to dissipate more efficiently due to their
high surface area to cross-sectional area ratio. The skin effect makes 50–60 Hz
AC busbars more than about 8 millimeters (0.31 in) thickness inefficient, so
hollow or flat shapes are prevalent in higher-current applications. A hollow
section also has higher stiffness than a solid rod of equivalent current-carrying
capacity, which allows a greater span between busbar supports in outdoor
electrical switchyards.

A busbar must be sufficiently rigid to support its own weight, and forces imposed
by mechanical vibration and possibly earthquakes, as well as accumulated
precipitation in outdoor exposures. In addition, thermal expansion from
temperature changes induced by ohmic heating and ambient temperature
variations, and magnetic forces induced by large currents, must be considered.
To address these concerns, flexible bus bars, typically a sandwich of thin
conductor layers, were developed. They require a structural frame or cabinet
for their installation.

A busbar may be either supported on insulators, or wrapped in insulation. They

are protected from accidental contact either by a metal earthed enclosure or by
elevation out of normal reach. Power neutral busbars may also be insulated
because it is not guaranteed that the potential between power neutral and
safety grounding is always zero. Earthing (safety grounding) busbars are typically
bare and bolted directly onto any metal chassis of their enclosure. They may be
enclosed in a metal housing, in the form of a bus duct or busway, segregated-
phase bus, or isolated-phase bus.

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Busbars may be connected to each other and to electrical apparatus by bolting,
clamping or welding. Joints between high-current bus sections often have
precisely machined matching surfaces that are silver-plated to reduce contact
resistance. At extra high voltages (more than 300 kV) in outdoor buses, corona
discharge around the connections becomes a source of radio-frequency
interference and power loss, so special connection fittings designed for these
voltages are used.

110 kV busbars in electrical substations

Flexible busbar

Rigid busbar

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  Capacitor Bank:

As the name implies, a capacitor bank is merely a grouping of several

capacitors of the same rating. Capacitor banks may be connected in series
or parallel, depending upon the desired rating. As with an individual
capacitor, banks of capacitors are used to store electrical energy and
condition the flow of that energy. Increasing the number of capacitors in a
bank will increase the capacity of energy that can be stored on a single
device.

Typical Applications:

Our modern world of electronics requires a lot of energy. To meet this

demand, energy must be stored electrically for easy access. Capacitors are
ideal for storing large electrical energy charges as well as conditioning the
flow of energy as needed.

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Here are some of the typical uses for capacitor banks:

• Shunt Capacitor:

A shunt is a mechanism that allows electric current to pass around another

point in the circuit by creating a low-resistance path. In electrical noise
bypass applications, capacitors are used to redirect high-frequency noise to
ground before it can propagate throughout the system, but especially to
the load. Shunt capacitor banks are used to improve the quality of the
electrical supply and thus improve the efficiency of the power systems.

• Power-Factor Correction:

In transformers and electric motors, capacitor banks are used to correct

power-factor lag or phase shift in alternating-current (AC) power supplies. The
power factor of an AC power system is a comparison of the power used by
the load, called the “real power,” divided by the power supplied to the load,
known as “apparent power.” In other words, the power factor is the ratio
of the useful work performed by a circuit compared to the maximum useful
work that could have been performed at the supplied voltage and
amperage.

In electric power distribution, capacitor banks are used for power-factor

correction. These banks are needed to counteract inductive loading from
devices like electric motors and transmission lines, thus making the load
appear to be mostly resistive. In essence, power-factor correction
capacitors increase the current-carrying capacity of the system. By adding
capacitive banks, you can add additional load to a system without alte ring
the apparent power. Banks can also be used in a direct-current (DC) power
supply to increase the ripple-current capacity of the power supply or to
increase the overall amount of stored energy.

• Store Energy:

Like individual capacitors, capacitive banks store electric energy when it is

connected to a charging circuit and release that energy when discharged.
Capacitors are commonly used in electronic devices to maintain power
supply while batteries are being changed. For modern consumer devices
like mobile phones, high-storage capacity is needed in a very small volume

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due to limited space. This poses a challenge since increased capacitance
typically means an increase the area of the plates, represented as “A”

As the equations reveals, another way to increase the capacitance is to

increase the dielectric strength. The “k” element is the relative permittivity
of the dielectric material between the plates. For free space, “k” equals
unity or one. For all other media, “k” is greater than one. Film and
electrolyte capacitors are typical examples of devices suited to these
applications.

132KV relay control panel:

A 132KV relay control panel is a critical part of an electrical substation. It
typically includes various components, such as:

1. Protective Relays: These devices are designed to detect abnormal

operating conditions, such as overcurrent, overvoltage, under frequency,
etc., and send signals to open circuit breakers to protect the power system
from damage.

2. Circuit Breakers: They are automatic switches that can interrupt the flow
of electricity in the event of a fault or abnormal condition.

3. Meters: Various meters are installed to measure voltage, current, power,

and other electrical parameters to monitor the performance of the power
system.

4. Control Devices: The control panel includes various switches, indicators,

and controls to manage and operate the substation equipment.

5. Communication Equipment: Some modern relay control panels have

communication modules to send data to a central control center for remote
monitoring and control.

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6. Alarms and Indicators: Visual and audible alarms help alert operators to
any abnormal conditions in the power system.

Keep in mind that the specific features and design of a 132KV relay control
panel can vary significantly based on the manufacturer, application, and
industry standards. To get precise and up-to-date information, I
recommend reaching out to specific manufacturers or consulting electrical
engineering professionals with expertise in substation design and control
systems.

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 132KV – GRID STATION
SHALIMAR-1 LESCO, LHR

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