Major Components in Electrical

Substations and their Workings

Substation
The power system is a constituent of power generation, transmission and distribution
systems. For all the power system operations, substations are required for their
course of action. Substations are congregation of electrical equipment through which
consumers get supply of electrical power from generating stations. By varying the
voltage levels or frequency or any other aspects, the required electrical quantity can
be altered in substations to provide quality power to consumers.
Based on the application of substations, they are classified into different types:
Generation substation, Indoor substation, Outdoor substation, Pole mounted
substation, Switching substation, Transmission substation, Converter substation and
Distribution substation. In rare cases like wind farm power generation system,
multiple hydroelectric and thermal power plants one can observe the collector
substation which is used for transferring power from multiple turbines into one
transmission unit.
The substation is an assembly of the following major electrical equipments:

Electrical Power transformers

Instrument transformers

Conductors& Insulators

Isolators

Bus bars

Lightning arresters

Circuit breakers

Relays

Capacitor banks and miscellaneous equipment

Electrical Power Transformer

Electrical Power transformer

A static electrical machine used for transforming power from one circuit to another
circuit without changing frequency is termed as Power transformer. 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, installation methods, and so on.

Instrument Transformers:

Instrument transformers
The current and voltage
Instrument transformers.

transformers

are

together

called

as

the

Current Transformer
Current transformer is used for the measurement of the alternating current by taking samples
of the higher currents of the system. These reduced samples are in accurate proportions with the
actual high currents of the system. These are used for installation and maintenance of the
current relays in substations for protection purpose which are normally have low-current ratings
for their operation.

Potential Transformer

Potential transformer is quite similar to the current transformer, but it is used for
taking samples of high voltages of a system for providing low-voltage to the relays of
protection system and also to the low-rating meters for voltage measurement. From
this low-voltage measurement, the actual systems high voltage can be calculated
without measuring high voltages directly to avoid the cost of the measurement
system.

Conductors

Conductors
The material or object that obeys the electrical property conductance (mostly made
of metals such as aluminum and copper) and that allows the flow of electric charge is
called conductor. Conductors permit free movement of the flow of electrons through
them. These are used for the transmission of power or electrical energy from one
place (generating station) to another place (consumer point where power is
consumed by the loads) through substations. Conductors are of different types and
mostly aluminum conductors are preferred in practical power systems.

Insulators

Insulators

The metal which does not allow free movement of electrons or electric charge is
called as an insulator. Hence, insulators resist electricity with their high resisting
property. There are different types of insulators such as suspension type, strain type,
stray type, shackle, pin type and so on. A few types of insulators are shown in the
above figure. Insulators are used for insulation purpose while erecting electric poles
with conductors to avoid short circuit and for other insulation requirements.

Isolators

Isolators
Isolator is a manually operated mechanical switch that isolates the faulty section or
the section of a conductor or a part of a circuit of substation meant for repair from a
healthy section in order to avoid occurrence of more severe faults. Hence, it is also
called as a disconnector or disconnecting switch. There are different types of
isolators used for different applications such as single-break isolator, double-break
isolator, bus isolator, line isolator, etc.

Bus Bars

Bus bars
The conductor carrying current and having multiple numbers of incoming and
outgoing line connections can be called as bus bar, which is commonly used in
substations. These are classified into different types like single bus, double bus and
ring bus.

Lightening Arresters

Lightening Arresters
The substation equipments such as conductors, transformers, etc., are always
erected outdoor. Whenever light surges occur then, a high-voltage pass through
these electrical components causing damage to them (either temporary or
permanent damage based on the amount of voltage surge). Therefore, to avoid this
difficulty, lightening arresters are placed to pass the entire lightening surges to earth.
There are other arresters which are used to ground the switching surges called as
surge arresters.

Circuit Breakers

Circuit Breakers
For the protection of substation and its components from the over currents or over
load due to short circuit or any other fault the faulty section is disconnected from the
healthy section either manually or automatically. If once the fault is rectified, then
again the original circuit can be rebuilt by manually or automatically. Different types
of circuit breakers are designed based on different criteria and usage. But in general
mostly used circuit breakers are Oil circuit breaker, Air circuit breaker, SF6 circuit
breaker, Vacuum Circuit Breaker, and so on.

Relays

Relays
Relays are used for disconnecting the circuits by manual or automatic operation.
Relay consists of the coil which is excited or energized and such that making the
contacts of relay closed activates the relay to break or make the circuit connection.
There are different types of relays such as over current relays, definite time over
current relays, voltage relays, auxiliary relays, reclosing relays, solid state relays,

directional relays,inverse time over current relays, microcontroller relays, etc. The
above figure shows some basic relays and their operation.

Capacitor banks
A Capacitor bank is a set of many identical capacitors connected in series or parallel
within a enclosure and is used for the power factor correction and basic protection of
substation.These capacitor banks are acts as a source of reactive power, and thus,
the phase difference between voltage and current can be reduced by the capacitor
banks. They will increase the ripple current capacity of the supply. It avoids
undesirable characteristics in the power system. It is the most economical method
for maintaining power factor and of correction of the power lag problems.

Capacitor banks
Emerging trends in technological development have created advancement in the
substation installation and maintenance. For example, SCADA, supervisory control
and data acquisition technique made it possible to control a substation automatically
from a remote location. For more data regarding miscellaneous components and
technologies in substations, post your queries in the comments section below.

Substation Components
Electric Substations are the part of the power system and used for transferring power from
generating points to load centers. Some of the important components of substation are

BUSBARS:
Various incoming and outgoing circuits are connected to busbars. Busbars receive power
from incoming circuits and deliver power to outgoing circuits.

Bus Bars

SURGE ARRESTORS OR LIGHTNING ARRESTER:

Surge Arresters or Lightning 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 1) Gapped Arresters 2)
Gapless Zinc Oxide arresters.

Lightning Arrester or Surge Arreseter

ISOLATORS OR DISCONNECTING SWITCHES:

Isolators are provided for isolation from live parts for the purpose of maintenance. Isolators
are located at either side of the circuit breaker. Isolators are operated under no load. Isolator
does not have any rating for current breaking or current making. Isolators are interlocked
with circuit breakers
Types of Isolators are
1.

Central rotating, horizontal swing

2.

Centre-Break

3.

Vertical swing

4.

Pantograph type

Isolators

EARTH SWITCH:
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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CURRENT TRANSFORMER:
Current transformers are used for Stepping down current for measurement, protection and
control. Current transformers are of two types
1.

Protective CT

2.

Measuring CT

Current Transformer

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER:
Voltage transformers are used to step down the voltage for measurement, protection and
control. Voltage transformers are of two types.
1.

Electro magnetic type

2.

Capacitive VT located on the feeder side of the Circuit Breaker.

Voltage Transformer

CIRCUIT BREAKER:
Circuit Breaker is used for Switching during normal and abnormal operating conditions. It is
used to interrupt the short circuit currents. It is used to interrupt short circuit currents. Circuit
Breaker operations include.
1.

Closing

2.

Opening

3.

Auto reclosing

Circuit Breaker is located near every switching point and also located at the both ends of
every protection zone.

SF6 Circuit Breaker

POWER TRANSFORMERS:
Power Transformers are used to step up or step down a.c. voltages and to transfer
electrical power from one voltage level to another. Tap changers are used for voltage control.

Power Transformer

SHUNT REACTORS:
Shunt Reactors are used for long EHV transmission lines to control voltage during low load
period. Shunt reactors is also used to compensate shunt capacitance of transmission line
during low load periods. Usually Shunt reactors are unswitched.

Shunt Reactors Bank

SHUNT CAPACITANCE:
Shunt capacitors are used for compensating reactive power of lagging power factor. Shunt
Capacitors are used for improving the power factor. It is also used for voltage control during
heavy lagging power factor loads. Shunt Capacitors are located at the receiving stations and
distribution substations. Shunt Capacitors are switched in during heavy loads and switched
off during low loads.

Shunt Capacitor Bank

SERIES CAPACITOR:
Series Capacitors are used for some long EHV a.c lines to improve power transferability.
Capacitors are located at the sending end / receiving end of the lines. Series Capacitors are
provided with by pass circuit breaker and protective spark gaps.

Series Capacitors

SERIES REACTORS
Series reactors are used to limit short circuit current and to limit current surges associated
with fluctuating loads. Series reactors are located at the strategic locations such that the fault
levels are reduced.

Series Reactors

LIGHTNING PROTECTION:
Lightning protection is used to protect substation equipment from direct lightning strokes.
Lightning Masts are located at the outdoor yard. Overhead Shielding wires are used to cover
entire outdoor yard.

Lightning Masts

ISOLATED PHASE BUS SYSTEM:

Isolated Phase Bus System provides connection between Generator and the main
Transformer. It carries very high currents.

Isolated Phase Bus Duct

NEUTRAL GROUNDING EQUIPMENT:

Neutral Grounding Equipment are Resistors and reactors. They are used to limit the short
circuit current during ground fault. They are connected between neutral point and ground.

For Studying more on Power System Earthing Click Here

neutral Grounding resistor

LINE TRAP:
Line Trap consists of Inductive coil usually connected in the outdoor yard incoming line. Line
traps are usually mounted above Capacitor Voltage Transformer (CVT) or on separate
structure.

Wave Trap or Line Trap

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INSULATORS:
Used for Insulation purpose. Different types of insulators are porcelain, Glass, Epoxy.

Porcelain Insulators

POWER CABLES:
Power Cables are used to carry the power. They are single core and three core. Types of
power cables are PVC insulated, XLPE insulated.

XLPE insulated Power Cable

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

XLPE insulated Control Cables

STATION EARTHING SYSTEM:

Station Earthing System includes Earth Mat and Earth electrodes placed below ground level.
These Earth Mat and Earth electrode is connected to the equipment structures, neutral
points for the purpose of Equipment earthing and neutral point earthing.
Function earthing system is to provide low resistance earthing for
1.

Discharging currents from the surge arresters, overhead shielding, earthing switches

2.

For equipment body earthing

3.

For safe touch potential and step potential in substation.

Earthing Mat

METERING, CONTROL AND RELAY PANELS:

To house various measuring Instruments, control Instruments, Protective relays. They are
located in air-conditioned building. Control Cables are laid between Switchyard equipment
and these panels.

See all 19 photos

Metering and Control Panel