Determine the substation size and total footprint required (with equipment), including transmission right of way (ROW).Conduct planning meetings for the new power substation.The basic steps a utility may perform in planning and implementing a new substation are: Another reason for adding a new substation is to replace an outdated, aging substation that is obsolete and has reached its end-of-life. When a utility prepares to add a new power substation to their electric grid, it's usually because the electric load growth in their area has increased by consumers – new growth in businesses, industries, residential, etc.
Distribution substations operate mainly at voltage levels 33kV and below. The most common voltage levels are: 765kV, 500kV, 345kV, 230kV, 161kV, 115kV, 69kV, 46kV, 33kV, 25kV, 12kV, and 4kV.Īlthough there are many factors to consider when designing a substation, the main items and basics steps used during the design process will be discussed here for distribution substations. Substations can also operate at many different voltage levels. Substations may also be owned by manufacturing, industrial, or large commercial customers instead of being owned by the power utility, if the distribution substation is a direct supply from the transmission entity to the customer. Substations can be designed and constructed for outdoor use, known as air insulated substations (AIS) or for indoor/underground use, known as gas-insulated substations (GIS). Other items and equipment involved in designing substations which are less expensive than power transformers are: circuit breakers, potential/current transformers, electric bus, steel structures, foundations, control house, protection & controls (P&C), relaying/IEDs, SCADA, control cables, fencing, grounding, real estate, etc. A power utilities’ greatest expense in substations is the power transformer. Power Substations are filled with large and very expensive equipment. A switching station is comprised of various switches and breakers that are used to help control the power flow. Within a switching station, the voltage coming in the station equals the voltage going out. AIS SubstationĪ switching station is different from a substation since it does not have a power transformer and does not transform the voltage supply. Transmission substations take the incoming higher voltage from transmission lines and step them down to a lower voltage for distribution systems, which is in preparation for end user customers. Generating substations step up the voltage from the generator’s lower voltage to a higher voltage which is more economical for transmitting electric power over longer distances with less power losses caused by the impedance of transmission lines.
A substation is a station that includes a power transformer for either stepping up or stepping down the supply voltage depending on whether it is a generating substation or transmission/distribution substation. Substations are power stations that include power transformers, potential or voltage transformers, current transformers, electrical bus, breakers, switches, and so on.
(See A Basic Explanation Summary of How the Electric Power Grid Works) This is a basic summary and explanation of engineering & design processes used during designing power substations - by Matt Cole, 3 Phase Associates Power Substationsįor the most part, electric power substations are viewed as the most integral part of a power utilities’ electric system, with electric systems being comprised of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
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