What is what in outdoor HV substation?

How to identify
elements by shape and function?
https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-what-in-outdoor-hv-substation

Switchgear bays
It’s not always an easy task to explain what is what in high voltage substations. Shapes
of the major elements are mostly similar through substations, but there are also
combinations of two and more elements with integrated functions.

What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and

function? (photo credit: Geoff Collins via Flickr)

This technical article explains the basic elements and their shapes/functions you can
see in outdoor high voltage substations.

Each operating facility inside a substation fulfils an important function, varying in

shape and size depending on its location and purpose. They ensure that the total
installation can be operated securely and reliably.

The combination of the devices surrounding a circuit breaker – disconnectors and

earthing switches and combined instrument transformers that form a functional unit
with the circuit breaker – is called the switchgear bay.
At the centre of each switchgear bay is the circuit breaker, which can interrupt the
current both in normal operating conditions and in case of disturbances. The
switchgear bay is connected to the other operating facilities via disconnectors with an
integrated earthing switch.

The combined instrument transformer reports information on the current and voltage
to the protection and control systems.

According to the function, a distinction is made between:

Line switchgear bay – this connects the high voltage power line with the busbars.

Transformer switchgear bay – this switchgear bay connects the transformer with the
busbars. Noteworthy is that the transformer is connected directly and not by means of
a disconnector.

Coupler bay – this switchgear bay forms a flexible connection with the busbars.

How is an underground cable connected? When power is supplied to the substation

via a high-voltage underground cable instead of an overhead line, the overhead line
portal is replaced by the cable portal. In addition, specific facilities also need to be
installed to operate the cable.

These are compensation reactors which regulate the reactive power needed by the
cable, as well as surge arresters.
Substation elements

High voltage substation elements (click to expand layout)

Following the layout above, let’s see the shapes and functions of ten major
components you can see in most HV substations. Note that listed elements may have a
little bit different look depending on technology and manufacturer.

1. Power transformer
2. Disconnectors
3. Earthing switches
4. Current and potential transformers
5. Circuit breakers
6. Surge arrester
7. Busbars
8. Lightning conductor mast
9. Portal
10. Relay and operating buildings
1. Power transformer

The maximum voltage used to transport electric current in the European transmission
system is 380,000 volts (380 kV) in order to keep the losses as low as possible.

But how are these 380,000 volts brought down to the voltage used in households?
Transformers take care of this change in voltage. The large jump from high voltage
(380,000 volts) to household voltage (230 volts) can, however, not be made in a single
bound.

The grids using these different voltage levels are all connected by substations.

The closer these substations are to the final consumer, the lower the voltage and the
smaller their size. The transformation to the standard voltage used to connect
residential buildings to the grid takes place in the immediate vicinity.

Transformers that adjust voltage levels from 380 kV to 110 kV – meaning from the
voltage level of the transmission system to the distribution system – are about as large
as a personal garage. Both on the outside and the inside, they are mainly constructed
in metal.
Transformer at substation Oberschöna (Saxony) – photo credit: 50hertz

A transformer has a primary and a secondary side. On the primary side, the power on
the high voltage side ows through a large coil. This coil is wrapped around a large iron
core. The magnetic field that is created inside the transformer induces a current in the
coil on the secondary side. As the proportions of the coils are different, the voltage is
lowered to 110 kV.

Inside the transformer, oil is used as insulation and a means to dissipate heat. The oil
is cooled in large heat exchangers next to the transformer, so that the latter can be
properly cooled in each operational state.

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2. Disconnectors

Disconnectors can be found almost everywhere in a substation. Depending on the

location, these are feeder or busbar disconnectors. Their purpose is to open the
electrical circuit and to completely isolate certain system components from the rest
of the installation.

They do not connect or disconnect the current. Within your own home, opening a
disconnector can be as simple as unplugging a switched-off appliance or device.
 High voltage
disconnector

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3. Earthing switches

An earthing switch provides a safe and reliable ground connection for a deactivated
and therefore voltage-free system component. It prevents the danger occurred
through the charge processes.
In combination with the disconnectors, they create a safe working environment inside
the substation.

High voltage earthing switch

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4. Current and potential transformers

For the secure operation of a substation, it is necessary to know of the state of the grid
system at all times. The data needed to determine this state are supplied by current
and potential transformers.

Additionally, these data are processed by the protection and control systems, so that
they can respond automatically in case of disturbances.
 Current and potential
transformers

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5. Circuit breakers

The circuit breaker is the high-voltage equivalent of a light switch and a miniature
circuit breaker. It activates and de-activates lines and system components, irrespective
of whether there is a normal load current or a disturbance.
Aside from the transformer, this is the most important high-voltage device of the
substation.

HV circuit breaker

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6. Surge arrester

Surge arresters can often be found at the end of an overhead line or a cable. They limit
over-voltages or surges, which are brief voltages that are significantly higher than the
normal voltage and can be caused, for example, by a lightning stroke.

By limiting the voltage to a normal level, the devices in the substation can be protected
without interrupting the supply.

HV surge arrester

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7. Busbars

The busbar is the backbone of the substation. Tubes connect the different switchgear
bays and take care of power transmission within the substation. In order to increase
the fail-safe performance and more flexibly control the transmission of electricity,
there are usually multiple busbars.

These can be connected in many different ways.

 HV busbars in
substation

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8. Lightning conductor mast

The lightning conductor mast is not part of the operating facilities of the substation.
Nevertheless, it is an essential component. Given the often open area and the many
tall metal devices, lightning strokes are not unlikely in a substation. In order to protect
the devices and ensure the electricity supply, substations are equipped with several
high lightning conductor masts.
Like a lightning rod on a house, it serves to conduct the lightning stroke to the earth
in a controlled manner without exposing personnel and operating facilities to danger.

Protection against lightning strokes: The voltage of a lightning stroke can amount to
100 million volts and has to be safely conducted to earth to avoid damage to the
substation.

HV lightning conductor

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9. Portal

Aside from operating facilities and lightning conductor masts, there is another
noticeable construction within the substation – the portal.

Overhead lines, busbars and transformer connections cannot be suspended in thin air,
but have to be supported in a mechanically stable manner. This purpose is fulfilled by
the portals, which in case of a line or transformer portal look like a large frame in
which the lines are insulated and suspended.

Busbar portals, however, act as supports on which the tubular busbars are mounted
and insulated.
 HV portal in substation

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10. Relay and operating buildings

Inside the substation there are also relay and operating buildings. Relay buildings
mainly include protection and control components. In order to limit the distance to the
controlled devices, there can be multiple relay buildings in-side a single substation.
The operating building contains the other components of the control system,
communications system and the storage, break and restrooms.

Relay and operating

building