EE35T - Substation Design and Layout

The First Step in designing a Substation is to design an Earthing and Bonding System.
Earthing and Bonding
The function of an earthing and bonding system is to provide an earthing system connection to which transformer
neutrals or earthing impedances may be connected in order to pass the maimum fault current! The earthing system
also ensures that no thermal or mechanical damage occurs on the e"uipment within the substation# thereby resulting
in safety to operation and maintenance personnel! The earthing system also guarantees e"ipotential bonding such
that there are no dangerous potential gradients developed in the substation!
$n designing the substation# three voltage have to be considered!
%! Touch Voltage& This is the difference in potential between the surface potential and the potential at an earthed
e"uipment whilst a man is standing and touching the earthed structure!
'! Step Voltage& This is the potential difference developed when a man bridges a distance of %m with his feet
while not touching any other earthed e"uipment!
3! Mesh Voltage& This is the maimum touch voltage that is developed in the mesh of the earthing grid!

Substation Earthing (alculation )ethodology
(alculations for earth impedances and touch and step potentials are based on site measurements of ground
resistivity and system fault levels! * grid layout with particular conductors is then analysed to determine the
effective substation earthing resistance# from which the earthing voltage is calculated!
$n practice# it is normal to ta+e the highest fault level for substation earth grid calculation purposes! *dditionally# it
is necessary to ensure a sufficient margin such that epansion of the system is catered for!
To determine the earth resistivity# probe tests are carried out on the site! These tests are best performed in dry
weather such that conservative resistivity readings are obtained!
Earthing Materials
%! Conductors& Bare copper conductor is usually used for the substation earthing grid! The copper bars themselves
usually have a cross-sectional area of ,5 s"uare millimetres# and they are laid at a shallow depth
of -!'5--!5m# in 3-.m s"uares! $n addition to the buried potential earth grid# a separate above
ground
earthing ring is usually provided# to which all metallic substation plant is bonded!
'! Connections& (onnections to the grid and other earthing /oints should not be soldered because the heat generated
during fault conditions could cause a soldered /oint to fail! 0oints are usually bolted# and in this
case# the
face of the /oints should be tinned!
3! Earthing Rods& The earthing grid must be supplemented by earthing rods to assist in the dissipation of earth
fault
currents and further reduce the overall substation earthing resistance! These rods are usually made
of
solid copper# or copper clad steel!
1! Switchyard Fence
Earthing& The switchyard fence earthing practices are possible and are used by different utilities! These
are&
2i3 Etend the substation earth grid -!5m-%!5m beyond the fence perimeter! The fence is then
bonded to the grid at regular intervals!
2ii3 4lace the fence beyond the perimeter of the switchyard earthing grid and bond the fence to
its
own earthing rod system! This earthing rod system is not coupled to the main substation
earthing
grid!

Layout of Substation
The layout of the substation is very important since there should be a Security of Supply! $n an ideal substation all
circuits and e"uipment would be duplicated such that following a fault# or during maintenance# a connection
remains available! 4ractically this is not feasible since the cost of implementing such a design is very high! )ethods
have been adopted to achieve a compromise between complete security of supply and capital investment! There are
four categories of substation that give varying securities of supply&
(ategory %& 5o outage is necessary within the substation for either maintenance or fault conditions!
(ategory '& Short outage is necessary to transfer the load to an alternative circuit for maintenance or fault
conditions!
(ategory 3& Loss of a circuit or section of the substation due to fault or maintenance!
(ategory 1& Loss of the entire substation due to fault or maintenance!
Different Layouts for Substations
Single Busbar
The general schematic for such a substation is shown in the figure below!
6ith this design# there is an ease of operation of the substation! This design also places minimum reliance on
signalling for satisfactory operation of protection! *dditionally there is the facility to support the economical
operation of future feeder bays!
Such a substation has the following characteristics!
Each circuit is protected by its own circuit brea+er and hence plant outage does not necessarily result in loss
of supply!
* fault on the feeder or transformer circuit brea+er causes loss of the transformer and feeder circuit# one of
which may be restored after isolating the faulty circuit brea+er!
* fault on the bus section circuit brea+er causes complete shutdown of the substation! *ll circuits may be
restored after isolating the faulty circuit brea+er!
* busbar fault causes loss of one transformer and one feeder! )aintenance of one busbar section or isolator
will cause the temporary outage of two circuits!
)aintenance of a feeder or transformer circuit brea+er involves loss of the circuit!
$ntroduction of bypass isolators between busbar and circuit isolator allows circuit brea+er maintenance
facilities without loss of that circuit!
Mesh Substation
The general layout for a full mesh substation is shown in the schematic below!
The characteristics of such a substation are as follows!
7peration of two circuit brea+ers is re"uired to connect or disconnect a circuit# and disconnection involves
opening of a mesh!
(ircuit brea+ers may be maintained without loss of supply or protection# and no additional bypass facilities
are re"uired!
Busbar faults will only cause the loss of one circuit brea+er! Brea+er faults will involve the loss of a
maimum of two circuits!
generally# not more than twice as many outgoing circuits as infeeds are used in order to rationalise circuit
e"uipment load capabilities and ratings!
One and a hal Circuit Brea!er layout
The layout of a % %8' circuit brea+er substation is shown in the schematic below!
The reason that such a layout is +nown as a % %8' circuit brea+er is due to the fact that in the design# there are ,
circuit brea+ers that are used to protect the 9 feeders! Thus# % %8' circuit brea+ers protect % feeder! Some
characteristics of this design are&
There is the additional cost of the circuit brea+ers together with the comple arrangement!
$t is possible to operate any one pair of circuits# or groups of pairs of circuits!
There is a very high security against the loss of supply!
4rinciple of Substation Layouts
Substation layout consists essentially in arranging a number of switchgear components in an ordered pattern
governed by their function and rules of spatial separation!
Spatial Separation

Earth (learance& this is the clearance between live parts and earthed structures# walls# screens and ground!
4hase (learance& this is the clearance between live parts of different phases!
$solating Distance& this is the clearance between the terminals of an isolator and the connections thereto!
Section (learance& this is the clearance between live parts and the terminals of a wor+ section! The limits of
this wor+ section# or maintenance :one# may be the ground or a platform from which the man wor+s!
Separation o maintenance "ones
Two methods are available for separating e"uipment in a maintenance :one that has been isolated and made dead!
%! The provision of a section clearance
'! ;se of an intervening earthed barrier
The choice between the two methods depends on the voltage and whether hori:ontal or vertical clearances are
involved!
* section clearance is composed of a the reach of a man# ta+en as < feet# plus an earth clearance!
=or the voltage at which the earth clearance is < feet# the space re"uired will be the same whether a section
clearance or an earthed barrier is used!
#E$CE%
Separation by earthed barrier > Earth (learance ? 5-mm for barrier ? Earth (learance
Separation by section clearance > '!11m ? Earth clearance
=or vertical clearances it is necessary to ta+e into account the space occupied by the e"uipment and the need
for an access platform at higher voltages!
The height of the platform is ta+en as %!3.m below the highest point of wor+!
Establishing Maintenance &ones
Some maintenance :ones are easily defined and the need for them is self evident as is the case of a circuit brea+er!
There should be a means of isolation on each side of the circuit brea+er# and to separate it from ad/acent live parts#
when isolated# either by section clearances or earth barriers!

Electrical Separations
Together with maintenance :oning# the separation# by isolating distance and phase clearances# of the
substation components and of the conductors interconnecting them constitute the main basis of substation
layouts!
There are at least three such electrical separations per phase that are needed in a circuit&
%! Between the terminals of the busbar isolator and their connections!
'! Between the terminals of the circuit brea+er and their connections!
3! Between the terminals of the feeder isolator and their connections!

(omponents of a Substation
The substation components will only be considered to the etent where they influence substation layout!
Circuit Brea!ers
There are two forms of open circuit brea+ers&
%! Dead Tan+ - circuit brea+er compartment is at earth potential!
'! Live Tan+ - circuit brea+er compartment is at line potential!
The form of circuit brea+er influences the way in which the circuit brea+er is accommodated! This may be one of
four ways!
'round Mounting and (linth Mounting& the main advantages of this type of mounting are its simplicity#
ease of erection# ease of maintenance and elimination of support structures! *n added advantage is that in
indoor substations# there is the reduction in the height of the building! * disadvantage however is that to
prevent danger to personnel# the circuit brea+er has to be surrounded by an earthed barrier# which increases
the area re"uired!
Retractable Circuit Brea!ers& these have the advantage of being space saving due to the fact that isolators
can be accommodated in the same area of clearance that has to be allowed between the retractable circuit
brea+er and the live fied contacts! *nother advantage is that there is the ease and safety of maintenance!
*dditionally such a mounting is economical since at least two insulators per phase are still needed to
support the fied circuit brea+er plug contacts!
Suspended Circuit Brea!ers& at higher voltages tension insulators are cheaper than post or pedestal
insulators! 6ith this type of mounting the live tan+ circuit brea+er is suspended by tension insulators from
overhead structures# and held in a stable position by similar insulators tensioned to the ground! There is the
claimed advantage of reduced costs and simplified foundations# and the structures used to suspend the
circuit brea+ers may be used for other purposes!
Current Transormers
(T@s may be accommodated in one of si manners&
7ver (ircuit Brea+er bushings or in pedestals!
$n separate post type housings!
7ver moving bushings of some types of insulators!
7ver power transformers of reactor bushings!
7ver wall or roof bushings!
7ver cables!
$n all ecept the second of the list# the (T@s occupy incidental space and do not affect the si:e of the layout! The
(T@s become more remote from the circuit brea+er in the order listed above! *ccommodation of (T@s over isolator
bushings# or bushings through walls or roofs# is usually confined to indoor substations!

)solators
These are essentially off load devices although they are capable of dealing with small charging currents of busbars
and connections! The design of isolators is closely related to the design of substations! $solator design is considered
in the following aspects&
Space =actor
$nsulation Security
Standardisation
Ease of )aintenance
(ost
Some types of isolators include&
Aori:ontal $solation types
Bertical $solation types
)oving Bushing types
Conductor Systems
*n ideal conductor should fulfil the following re"uirements&
Should be capable of carrying the specified load currents and short time currents!
Should be able to withstand forces on it due to its situation! These forces comprise self weight# and weight
of other conductors and e"uipment# short circuit forces and atmospheric forces such as wind and ice loading!
Should be corona free at rated voltage!
Should have the minimum number of /oints!
Should need the minimum number of supporting insulators!
Should be economical!
The most suitable material for the conductor system is copper or aluminium! Steel may be used but has limitations
of poor conductivity and high susceptibility to corrosion!
$n an effort to ma+e the conductor ideal# three different types have been utili:ed# and these include&
=lat surfaced (onductors
Stranded (onductors
Tubular (onductors
)nsulation
$nsulation security has been rated very highly among the aims of good substation design! Etensive research is done
on improving flashover characteristics as well as combating pollution! $ncreased creepage length# resistance
gla:ing# insulation greasing and line washing have been used with varying degrees of success!

(ower Transormers
EAB power transformers are usually oil immersed with all three phases in one tan+! *uto transformers can offer
advantage of smaller physical si:e and reduced losses! The different classes of power transformers are&
o!n!& 7il immersed# natural cooling
o!b!& 7il immersed# air blast cooling
o!f!n!& 7il immersed# oil circulation forced
o!f!b!& 7il immersed# oil circulation forced# air blast cooling
4ower transformers are usually the largest single item in a substation! =or economy of service roads# transformers
are located on one side of a substation# and the connection to switchgear is by bare conductors! Because of the large
"uantity of oil# it is essential to ta+e precaution against the spread of fire! Aence# the transformer is usually located
around a sump used to collect the ecess oil!
Transformers that are located and a cell should be enclosed in a blast proof room!

O*erhead +ine Terminations
Two methods are used to terminate overhead lines at a substation!
Tensioning conductors to substation structures or buildings
Tensioning conductors to ground winches!
The choice is influenced by the height of towers and the proimity to the substation!
The following clearances should be observed&


VO+T,'E +EVE+ M)$)M-M 'RO-$. C+E,R,$CE
less than 99+B 9!%m
99+B - %%-+B 9!1m
%%-+B - %95+B 9!.m
greater than %95+B .!-m