Electrical Power Substation Engineering and Layout
May 15, 2018 by Electrical4U
Electrical Substation
Now days the electrical power demand is increasing very rapidly. For fulfilling
these huge power demands the modern time requires creation of bigger and
bigger power generating stations. These power generating stations may be
hydro-electric, thermal or atomic. Depending upon the availability of
resources these stations are constructed different places. These places may not
be nearer to load centers where the actual consumption of power takes place.
So it is necessary to transmit these huge power blocks from generating station
to their load centers. Long and high voltage transmission networks are needed
for this purpose. Power is generated comparatively in low voltage level. It is
economical to transmit power at high voltage level. Distribution of electrical
power is done at lower voltage levels as specified by consumers. For
maintaining these voltage levels and for providing greater stability a number
of transformation and switching stations have to be created in between
generating station and consumer ends. These transformation and switching
stations are generally known as electrical substations. Depending upon the
purposes, the substations may be classified as-
Step Up Substation
Step up substations are associated with generating stations. Generation of
power is limited to low voltage levels due to limitations of the rotating
alternators. These generating voltages must be stepped up for economical
transmission of power over long distance. So there must be a step up
substation associated with generating station.
Step Down Substation
The stepped up voltages must be stepped down at load centers, to different
voltage levels for different purposes. Depending upon these purposes the step
down substation are further categorized in different sub categories.
Primary Step Down Substation
The primary step down sub stations are created nearer to load center along
the primary transmission lines. Here primary transmission voltages are stepped
down to different suitable voltages for secondary transmission purpose.
Secondary Step Down Substation
Along the secondary transmission lines, at load center, the secondary
transmission voltages are further stepped down for primary distribution
purpose. The stepping down of secondary transmission voltages to primary
distribution levels are done at secondary step down substation.
Distribution Substation
Distribution substation are situated where the primary distribution voltages
are stepped down to supply voltages for feeding the actual consumers
through a distribution network.
Bulk Supply or Industrial Substation
Bulk supply or industrial substation are generally a distribution substation
but they are dedicated for one consumer only. An industrial consumer of
large or medium supply group may be designated as bulk supply consumer.
Individual step down substation is dedicated to these consumers.
Mining Substation
The mining substation are very special type of substation and they need
special design construction because of extra precautions for safety needed in
the operation of electric supply.
Mobile Substation
The mobile substations are also very special purpose substation temporarily
required for construction purpose. For big construction purpose this
substation fulfills the temporary power requirement during construction
work.
Depending upon the constructional feature categories of substation may be
divided into following manner-
Outdoor Type Substation
Outdoor type substation are constructed in open air. Nearly all 132KV,
220KV, 400KV substation are outdoor type substation. Although now days
special GIS (Gas insulated substation) are constructed for extra high voltage
system which are generally situated under roof.
Indoor Substation
The substations are constructed under roof is called indoor type substation.
Generally 11 KV and sometime 33 KV substation are of this type.
Underground Substation
The substation are situated at underground is called underground substation.
In congested places where place for constructing distribution substation is
difficult to find out, one can go for underground substation scheme.
Pole Mounted Substation
Pole mounted substation are mainly distribution substation constructed on
two pole, four pole and sometime six or more poles structures. In these type
of substation fuse protected distribution transformer are mounted on poles along
with electrical isolator switches.
