Chapter: 1

INTRODUCTION
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution
system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of
several other important functions. Electric power may flow through several substations
between generating plant and consumer, and its voltage may change in several steps.
A substation that has a step-up transformer increases the voltage while decreasing
the current, while a step-down transformer decreases the voltage while increasing the current
for domestic and commercial distribution.
Substations generally have switching, protection and control equipment, and
transformers. In a large substation, circuit breakers are used to interrupt any short circuits or
overload currents that may occur on the network. Smaller distribution stations may use
reclosing circuit breakers or fuses for protection of distribution circuits. Substations
themselves do not usually have generators, although a power plant may have a substation
nearby. Other devices such as capacitors and voltage regulators may also be located at a
substation.
Substations may be on the surface in fenced enclosures, underground, or located in
special-purpose buildings. High-rise buildings may have several indoor substations. Indoor
substations are usually found in urban areas to reduce the noise from the transformers, for
reasons of appearance, or to protect switchgear from extreme climate or pollution conditions.

1.1 PURPOSE OF SUBSTATION

Following are the main purposes which can be obtained from the substations:
1.

Switching

In grid station there is number of lines coming from different generating stations and
going up to different feeders, therefore switching is necessary in grid station. Switching
means connecting or disconnecting two or more transmission line to which two or more
sources of power are connected.
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2.

Transformation

High voltage received from grid station or generating station is stepped down to low
voltage by keeping the same power.
3.

Regulation of voltage

When load changes the transmission lines suffer inherent voltage variations at receiving
end of the grid station. At the grid station regulating transformer and synchronous condenser
can do regulation of voltage or power factor improvement.
4.

Control

In the grid station a control board is provided, it monitors the operation of the equipment
in all parts of the grid station. Indicating and metering instrument are mounted on this board
associated with the main element of the grid station. The devices by which the circuit breaker
and isolator position is indicated, audible and visible warnings signal devices and emergency
alarm signaling devices are also located on the board.
5.

Protection

Protection devices having the ability to detect the fault and disconnect the faulty
apparatus from rest of power system are at the grid. The various stages are involved in the
process of the design.

1.2 FUNCTIONS OF SUBSTATION

The substations apart from the distribution of the electricity have many other functions as
follows:
1.

Step up and step down of the voltage for transmission and

distribution:
As for the same power transmitted at a higher voltage the current is lower, it

results in lower transmission losses, hence there is the need of stepping up and
stepping down the voltage.
2.

Switching and isolating the circuits for maintenance:

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Switching is also an important function of substations. Closing and opening of

feeder circuits in accordance with load variations, needs to be done for the safety of
the generating plants.
3.

Load shedding:
When the power demand is more than the supply, load shedding is done

through substations on distribution circuits to maintain balance.

4.

Correction of power factors:

The power factor has to be kept at the correct value when reactive loads are

there, to protect the generating plant and increase efficiency.

5.

Safety devices like circuit breakers and fuses:

Safety devices are provided for protecting the machineries on the distribution

circuit as well as in the substation against high short circuit currents.

6.

Bus bars for splitting the power for distribution:

Thick bars of copper to which various distribution circuits are connected by

nuts and bolts are known as bus bars.

1.3 ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF SUBSTATION

Essential features of substation as follows:
1 - Outdoor Switchyard having any one of the above.
2 - Bus-Bar schemes.
3 - High voltage Switchgear. Medium voltage Switchgear, Low voltage
Switchgear and control room.
4 - Office building.
5 - Roads and rail track for transporting equipment.
6 - Incoming line towers and outgoing line towers/cables.
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7 - Store.
8 - Maintenance workshop (if required).
9 - Auxiliary power supply Low voltage AC.
10 - Battery room and low voltage DC. Supply system.
11 - Fire fighting system.
12 - Cooling water system; drinking water system, etc.
13 - Station Earthing system.
14 - Lighting protection system, overhead shielding.
15 - Drainage system.
16 - Substation lighting system etc.
17 - Fence and gates, Security system etc.

1.4 CLASSIFICATION OF SUBSTATIONS

1.4.1 According to Voltage Level:
According to voltage level, substations are classified as:

Transmission substation

Distribution substation

Switching substation

Transmission Substation:
A transmission substation connects two or more transmission lines. The simplest case
is where all transmission lines have the same voltage. In such cases, the substation contains
high-voltage switches that allow lines to be connected or isolated for fault clearance or
maintenance.
A transmission station may have transformers to convert between two transmission
voltages, voltage control/power factor correction devices such as capacitors, reactors or static
VAR compensators and equipment such as phase shifting transformers to control power flow
between two adjacent power systems.

Distribution Substation:
A distribution substation transfers power from the transmission system to the
distribution system of an area. It is uneconomical to directly connect electricity consumers to
the main transmission network, unless they use large amounts of power, so the distribution
station reduces voltage to a value suitable for local distribution.
The input for a distribution substation is typically at least two transmission or subtransmission lines. Input voltage may be, for example, 115 kV, or whatever is common in the
area. The output is a number of feeders. Distribution voltages are typically medium voltage,
between 2.4 and 33 kV depending on the size of the area served and the practices of the local
utility. The feeders run along streets overhead (or underground, in some cases) and power the
distribution transformers at or near the customer premises.
In addition to transforming voltage, distribution substations also isolate faults in
either the transmission or distribution systems. Distribution substations are typically the
points of voltage regulation, although on long distribution circuits (of several
miles/kilometers), voltage regulation equipment may also be installed along the line.

Switching Substation:
A switching substation is a substation which does not contain transformers and
operates only at a single voltage level. Switching substations are sometimes used as collector
and distribution stations. Sometimes they are used for switching the current to back-up lines
or for parallelizing circuits in case of failure.

1.4.2 According to Constructional Features:

According to constructional features, substations are classified as:
1.

Outdoor Substation.

2.

Indoor Substation.

3.

Underground substation.

4.

Pole-mounted substation.

Outdoor Sub-Station:
For voltages beyond 66KV, equipment is invariably installed outdoor. It is because
for such voltages, the clearances between conductor and the space required for switches, C.B.
and other equipment becomes so great that it is not economical to install the equipment
indoor.

Indoor Substation:
For voltage up-to 11KV, the equipment of the substation is installed indoor because
of economic consideration. However, when the atmosphere is contaminated with impurities,
these sub-stations can be erected for voltage up-to 66KV.

Underground Substation:
In thickly populated areas, the space available for equipment and building is limited
and the cost of the land is high. Under such situations, the substation is built underground.
The design of underground substation requires more careful consideration.
1.

The size of the substation should be as small as possible.

2.

There should be reasonable access for both equipment & staff.

3.

There should be provision for emergency lighting and protection against fire.

4.

There should be good ventilation.

Pole-mounted Substation:
This is an outdoor substation with equipment installed overhead on H-pole or 4-pole
structure. It is the cheapest from of substation for voltages not exceeding 11KV (or 33KV in
some cases). Electric power is almost distributed in localities through such substations. The
11KV line is connected to the transformer (11KV/440V) through isolators and fuses. The
lightning arresters are installed on the H.T side to protect the sub-station from lightning
strokes. The transformer steps down the voltage to 400 V (3 phase, 4 wire supply). The
voltage between any two lines is 400 V & between line & neutral is 230V. The oil circuit
breaker installed on the L.T side automatically isolates the mounted substation.