UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PERLIS

PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING

Academic Session 2015/2016 (Semester 2)

INTRODUCTION
of
SUBSTATION

Prepared by

MOHAMAD AZWAN BIN ABD AZIZ (131290940)

Programme

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

(INDUSTRIAL POWER) (RY-31)

PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Introduction
A substation is an important part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system.
Substations transform voltage from high to low, low to high, or perform any of several other important
functions. Between the generating station and consumer, electric power may flow through several
substations at different voltage levels.
The substations are where the voltages are increased to high values by using step up transformers,
and after the transmission, they are again stepped down for distribution. In addition changing the voltages
the substations have a variety of protective devices like circuit breakers and fuses to protect the distribution
networks. These are designed in such a way that various distribution circuits can be isolated for repairs and
load shedding.

Kolopis, Penampang, Sabah Main Intake substation (PMU)

Function of a substation
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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

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 is the
need of stepping up and stepping down the voltage.
2. Switching and isolating the circuits for maintenance: Switching is also an important function of
substations. Closing down a feeder circuit when the load demands are high needs to be done for the
safety of the generating plants. Switching high voltages is a dangerous work, and special circuit
breakers like air circuit breakers and oil circuit breakers for quenching the arcs have to be used.
3. Load shedding: When the power demand is more than the supply, the substations do load shedding
on distribution circuits to maintain balance.
4. Correction of power factors circuits: 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: These safety devices are provided for protecting the
machineries on the distribution circuit as well as in the substation against high short circuit currents.
6. It contains bus bars for splitting the power for distribution: Thick bars of copper to which various
distributing circuits are connected by nuts and bolts are known as bus bars.

Types of substation
Types of substation can be classified into many classification, such as classification based on voltage
level, classification based on outdoor or indoor, classification based on configuration and classification on
application.
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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Classification based on configuration will be discuss in this paper. Basically, there are two types of
substation. Air insulated outdoor substation (AIS) and SF6 Gas insulated substation (GIS). The selection of
types of a substation is depends on such factors as voltage level, load capacity, environmental
considerations, site space limitations, and transmission-line right-of-way requirements.
Air insulated outdoor substation (AIS) is basically an outdoor substation that used the atmospheric
air as insulator. The atmospheric air insulation used in a conventional, air-insulated substation (AIS) requires
meters of air insulation.

Picture show an Air insulated outdoor substation (AIS)

A gas-insulated substation (GIS) usually is an indoor substation that use a dielectric gas, Sulfur
hexaflouride, SF6, at moderate pressure for phase-tophase and phase-to-ground insulation. The high voltage
conductors, circuit breaker interrupters, switches, current transformers, and voltage transformers are in SF6
gas inside grounded metal enclosures. GIS can therefore be smaller than AIS by up to a factor of 10. A GIS
is mostly used where space is expensive or small. In a GIS the active parts are protected from the
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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

deterioration from exposure to atmospheric air, moisture and contamination. In conclusion, GIS needed a
really small place compared to AIS.
\

Picture shows a Gas insulated substation (GIS)

PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Component of substation
The component of substation is according to its types. Generally, a substation will contain line
termination structures, switchgear, power transformers, surge protection, controls, grounding (earthing)
system, and metering. Power factor correction capacitors and voltage regulators may also be located at a
substation.
Line termination structure
Line termination structure also known as dead-end tower function to limit the cascading tower
failures that might occur after a conductor failure in a long transmission line.

Picture shows dead end tower in a substation

Switchgear
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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to
control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow
work to be done and to clear faults downstream.

Picture shows a Siemens 8DN8 GIS Switchgear

Picture shows a Siemens SIMOVER AIS switchgear

PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Picture shows a Siemens 8DN8 GIS Switchgear parts

Picture shows Siemens SIMOVER AIS switchgear parts

Power Transformer
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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Power Transformer is a static electrical machine used for transforming power from one circuit to
another circuit without changing it frequency. The transformers are generally used to step down or step up
the voltage levels of a system for transmission and generation purpose. These transformers are classified into
different types based on their design, utilization purpose and installation methods.

Picture of a step down power transformer

Surge protection
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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Surge protection or also known as surge arresters discharge the over voltage surges to earth and
protect the equipment insulation from switching surges and lightning surges. Surge arresters are generally
connected between phase conductor and ground. In a Substation surge arrester is located at the starting of
the substation as seen from incoming transmission lines and is the first equipment of the substation. Surge
arresters are also provided near the transformer terminals phase to ground. Two type of surge arresters are
available. That is Gapped Arresters and Gapless Zinc Oxide arresters.

Picture shows a surge arrester

Picture shows the surge arrester or lighting arrester in the substation

Controls

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PLT309 SUBSTATION ENGINEERING; INTRODUCTION

Semester 2 2015/2016

Control Cables are for protection, control and measurement .They are of low voltage and PVC
insulated. Control Cables are Multi core and Shielded.

Picture shows control cable in a substation

Grounding (Earthding) system
Earth Switch is used to discharge the voltage on the circuit to the earth for safety. Earth switch is
mounted on the frame of the isolators. Earth Switch is located for each incomer transmission line and each
side of the busbar section.

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