10.

01

ELECTRICAL SUB-STATION & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Engineer A. K. M. Arif Hossain
Additional Chief Engineer (Electrical)
WHAT IS SUB-STATION: A sub-station may be defined as “assembly of apparatus which
transfers the characteristics of electrical energy form one form to another, say for example from
alternating current to direct current or from one voltage to another”. Every electrical circuit needs
a switching device and protective device. They are together called switchgear. These are
generally located in the sub-station.

WHY SUB-STATION NEEDED: For economical transfer electrical energy, or to meet various
demand of the load, we require sub-station.

SUB-STATION COMPONENTS:
 Incoming circuit: Lightning arrestor, overhead earth wire, isolator, fuses, earthing switch etc,
incoming lines (underground & overhead).
 High voltage switchgear panel: Bus-bars, isolators, LBS, circuit breaker, C.T, P.T. metering
system, indicating instruments, various protective relays etc.
 Transformer
 Low voltage switchgear panel: Bus-bars, isolator, fuses, magnetic contactors, Air-break
switch, various types of No-fuse breaker, Metering system, Indicating instruments, various
protective relays etc. and PFI capacitors.
 Battery bank and charging system.
 Outgoing lines (underground & overhead): To another switchgear and protective devices
suitable for the loads taking electricity.
 Emergency power supply system
 Others (depending on the type of sub-station)

CLASSIFICATION OF SUB-STATION: The substation may be classified according to service.

Mounting, function, type of apparatus as illustrated below.
➔➢ Classification of substation according to 1. Service. 2. Function. 3. Type of
apparatus. 4. Control. 5. Mounting. 6. Insulation.
1. Service: (a) Static (AC to AC) (b) Converting (AC to DC)
2. Function: (a) Step-up. (b) Grid. (c) Distribution. (d) Industrial. (e) Power factor
correction. (f) Frequency changer. (g) Direct current for light and power.
3. Type of apparatus: (a) Transformer. (b) Converting. (c) Rectifier. (d) Motor generator. (e)
Frequency changer.
4. Control: (a) Manual. (b) Automatic. (c) Supervisory.
5. Mounting: (a) Indoor: 11 KV, 33 KV & 66KV (b) Pole mounted. (c) Outdoor: 33KV &
above
6. Insulation: (a) Air. (b) SF6 gas.
Most of the substations mentioned in illustration are self explanatory, for big industrial consumers,
who need bulk power, it is always advisable to install and individual substation. Such substation is
called as industrial substations.

ADVANTAGE OF OUTDOOR SUBSTATION AS COMPARED TO INDOOR SUB-STATION:

Outdoor sub-station is located in outdoors. Out door substation has the following advantages:
1. The constructional work needed is much smaller as compared to indoor substations.
2. Less quantity of building material is needed.
3. Installation coast of switchgear etc. is low.
4. Adequate space between two adjoining equipments can be provided which will reduce the
possibility of fault.
5. Erection can be completed in a much lesser time.
6. Whole of the equipment can be viewed, which makes fault location easier.
7. The extension of the scheme is easier, whenever needed.
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshigndi - 1611
 10.02
DISADVANTAGE OF OUTDOOR SUB-STATION:
1. More space is needed for arranging the equipment.
2. The dirt and dust deposits over the contact switches etc. thus, the maintenance cost
increases.
3. The switching operation becomes difficult during rainy season as the changes of leakage
increases.
In conventional outdoor installation (rated 33 KV and above) the various substation equipment
like circuit breakers, CTs, PTs, Isolators etc. are installed under open sky. Necessary clearances
are provided between phases, phase and ground. The equipment for such outdoor switchgear
manufactured separately and erected at site as per the switchyard layout.
For low voltages (below 1000V) and medium high voltages (below 33KV) the clearances required
between phases, between phases and ground are relatively small. Hence all the components
(busbars, circuit breakers, fuses, CTs, PTs, Isolators, Meters, Instruments, Relays etc.) can be
provided in / on factory assembled metal enclosed units.

BASIC REQUIREMENT IN SUB-STATION: In a sub-station, following facilities should be

adopted, as stated.
01. Display a single line diagram of main electrical connections showing lightning arresters,
isolators, earthing switch, CTs, PTs, circuit breakers, Transformer, busbar arrangement
etc.
02. Display the layout of the switchgear keeping in view capacity of substation, method of
control, number of feeders, reliability, safety, flexibility, simplicity, space needed and cost.
03. The individual circuit should be so designed that there is a minimum amount of risk
involved in its failure.
04. The layout should be such that it should be possible to isolate any section during fault
without affecting the service to the healthy section.
05. It should be possible to have an easy and safe access for maintenance and inspection for
different equipments.
06. In order to avoid serious troubles from spreading one unit to the other, partitions or
barriers should be provided between units.
07. Reactors may be used to limit the short circuit current, so that rupturing capacity of the
circuit breaker becomes adequate.
08. In order to avoid very large capacity circuit breakers, the circuit per circuit should be
limited to about 2000 A.
09. An arrangement should be made for fire extinguishing.
10. The earth conductor should be of sufficient cross sectional area to carry the fault current
in service condition.
11. A proper and very efficient automatic electrical protective gear should be used.
12. Power cables should be separated from control cables.
13. In order to avoid fire hazard, fire proof switch room and cable room should be provided.
14. An adequate arrangement should be made for oil handling.
15. Procedure of emergency action in case of electrical shock, should be displayed.

ELECTRICAL TEST EQUIPMENT FOR MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING: While

approaching for an electrical troubleshooting and maintenance work, we should have proper test
equipment. These includes:-

 Neon tester.  Test lamp  Avo meter.

 Clip-on-meter.  Megger.  Thermometer.
 Earth tester.  Relay tester.  Oil testing set.
 Cable fault locator.  Oscilloscope  Function generator.
 Wheatstone bridge / RLC meter.  Phase sequence indicator etc.

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshigndi - 1611
 10.03

Distribution system:
Typical AC Power Supply scheme:
G.S 11 kv
The large network of conductors
between the power station and the
consumers can be broadly divided into two 11 /132 kv
parts:
Transmission system and
A. Distribution system. primary transmission
Each part can be further sub divided into
two :
A. Primary transmission and
B. Secondary transmission 132 /33 kv
And
A. Primary distribution and
B. Secondary distribution.
R. S Receiving
Figure shows the layout of a typical a. c.
Station
power supply scheme by a single line
diagram.
I. Generating station:
In figure GS represents the generating
station where electric power is produced Secondary
Trans mission
by 3φ alternators operating in parallel. The
usual generation voltage is
11kv.Sometimes 3.3kv&6.6kv are used for 33 / 11 kv
industrial power generation. For economy
in the transmission of electric power, the
generation voltage is stepped up to 132 kv
at the generating station with the help of
3φ transformer. S. S Sub-station
II. Primary transmission:
The electric power at 132 kv is transmitted
by 3φ 3-wire overhead system to the
outskirts of the city. This forms the primary
transmission. Primary distribution
III. Secondary transmission
11kv / 440v
IV. Primary distribution
V. Secondary distribution. Secondary distribution

CONSUMERS

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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshigndi - 1611
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshigndi - 1611
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshigndi - 1611
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Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department, TICI, Polash, Narshigndi - 1611