Supply & Distribution to

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DISTRIBUTION BOARD
DISTRIBUTION BOARD
 SUB-STATION
• The assembly of apparatus used to change some characteristic
(e.g. voltage, a.c. to d.c., frequency, power factor etc.) of
electric supply is called a sub-station.
• The continuity of supply depends to a considerable extent
upon the successful operation of sub-stations.
• It should be located at a proper site.
• As far as possible, it should be located at the centre
of gravity of load.
• It should provide safe and reliable arrangement.
• It should be easily operated and maintained.
• It should involve minimum capital cost.
 Classification of Sub-Stations
• According to
(1) Service requirement
(a) Transformer sub-stations :- Changing voltage levels
(b) Switching sub-stations :- Switching power lines
(c) Power factor correction sub-stations
(d) Frequency changer sub-stations
(e) Converting sub-stations :- AC to DC
(f) Industrial sub-stations :- For supplying industries
(2) Constructional features
(i) Indoor sub-station
(ii) Outdoor sub-station
(iii) Underground sub-station
(iv) Pole-mounted sub-station

Indoor sub-stations
 For voltages upto 11 kV, the equipment of the sub-
station is installed indoor because of economic
considerations.
 If the atmosphere is contaminated with impurities, these
sub-stations can be erected for voltages upto 66 kV.
Outdoor sub-stations

 For voltages beyond 66 kV, equipment is invariably

installed out- door.
 It is because for such voltages, the clearances
between conductors and the space required for
switches, circuit breakers and other equipment makes
it uneconomical to install the equipment indoor.
Underground sub-stations
 It is created in thickly populated areas, the space
available for equipment and building is limited and
the cost of land is high.
Underground Sub-Station
Pole-mounted sub-stations
 This is an outdoor sub-station with equipment installed over-
head on H-pole or 4-pole structure.
 Cheapest form of sub-station for voltages not exceeding 11kV
(or 33 kV in some cases).
 The Base channel 100mm x 50mm size on which the
transformer is to be mounted is erected at a height of 2.44 m
from the ground.
 The three lightning arrestors at the top of the structure is
earthed to prevent the lightning strokes from hitting the
transformer.
 The operating handle of Gang operating (G.O) switch is
located at a height of 1.25m from the ground.
 This is used to isolate the 11kV supply whenever necessary
Pole-Mounted Sub-Station
 The transformer and other equipment are
mounted on H-type pole (or 4-pole structure).
 The 11 kV line is connected to the transformer
(11kV / 400 V) through gang isolator and
fuses.
 The lightning arresters are installed on the
H.T. side to protect the sub-station from
lightning strokes.
 The transformer steps down the voltage to
400V, 3-phase, 4-wire supply.
 The voltage between any two lines is 400V
whereas the voltage between any line and
neutral is 230 V.
 The oil circuit breaker (O.C.B.) installed on
the L.T. side automatically isolates the
transformer from the consumers in the event of
any fault.
 Used for transformer capacity upto 200 kVA
Comparison
Transformer Sub-Stations
 Equipments in a Transformer Sub-Station
1. Bus-bars - When a number of lines operating at the same
voltage have to be directly connected electrically, bus-bars
are used as the common electrical component.
 Bus-bars are copper or aluminium bars (generally of
rectangular x-section) and operate at constant voltage.

2. Insulators - They support the conductors (or bus-bars) and

confine the current to the conductors.
 The most commonly used material for the manufacture of
insulators is porcelain.
3. Isolating switches – Used to disconnect a part
of the system for general maintenance and
repairs.
 This is accomplished by an isolating switch or
isolator.
 An isolator is essentially a knife switch and is
designed to open a circuit under no load.
ISOLATOR

•Disconnector or Isolator switch is

used to make sure that an electrical
circuit can be completely de-energised
for service or maintenance.

• Isolator is an off-load device.

• Types of Isolators are

1. Central rotating, horizontal swing
2. Centre-Break
3. Vertical swing
4. Pantograph type
 4. Circuit breaker. -A circuit breaker is an equipment which
can open or close a circuit under normal as well as fault
conditions.
 It is so designed that it can be operated manually (or by
remote control) under normal conditions and automatically
under fault conditions.
5. Power Transformers - A power transformer is used in a sub-
station to step-up or step-down the voltage.

6. Instrument transformers- The lines in sub-stations operate at

high voltages and carry current of thousands of amperes.
 The measuring instruments and protective devices are
designed for low voltages (generally 110 V) and currents
(about 5 A)
 Current transformer (C.T.)
 A current transformer in essentially a step-up transformer
which steps down the current to a known ratio.

 The primary of this transformer consists of one or more turns

of thick wire connected in series with the line.

 The secondary consists of a large number of turns of fine wire

and provides for the measuring instruments and relays a
current which is a constant fraction of the current in the line.
 If a current transformer rated at 100/5 A is connected in the
line to measure current. If the current in the line is 100 A, then
current in the secondary will be 5A.
Voltage transformer- It is essentially a step down
transformer and steps down the voltage to a known
ratio.
 The primary of this transformer consists of a large
number of turns of fine wire connected across the
line.
 The secondary winding consists of a few turns and
provides for measuring instruments and relays a
voltage which is a known fraction of the line voltage.
 Suppose a potential transformer rated at 66kV/110V
is connected to a power line.
 If line voltage is 66kV, then voltage across the
secondary will be 110 V.
 Transformers
• Most important equipment in power transmission and
distribution network.
• Transformers are the most efficient of electrical machines,
(95% efficiency is most common and it increases to 98% for
higher capacity ratings).
• Factors deciding the selection of transformers are
(a) Maximum demand
(b) Future expansion
(c) Spare capacity
(d) Statutory requirements
(e) Site conditions
Standard Rated Output in kVA
For 11/0.4 kV transformers the standard ratings are :
50,63,80,100,160,200,250,315,400,500,630,800,1000,1250,
1600 and 2000kVA
Cooling in Transformers
Method of cooling employed for a transformer is indicated on the
name plate in the form of four capital letters:
The first two letters :- denotes the type of coolant and the
manner of circulation of coolant for the windings.
The last two letters :- denotes the coolant and the manner of
circulation of the coolant for cooling outside of the
transformer
 Cooling Medium
Sl No Coolant Name Letter Symbol
1 Mineral Oil O
2 Clophen L
3 Gas G
4 Water W
5 Air A

Sl No Coolant Circulation Letter Symbol

1 Natural N
2 Forced circulation F

ONAN – Oil immersed Self-cooled (Oil Natural Air Natural)

ONAF - Oil immersed Forced air cooled (Oil Natural Air Forced)
 Dry type Transformers
• Suitable for locations where conventional oil
filled transformers present a safety hazard.
1. Oil refineries
2. Chemical plants
3. Marine applications
4. Metro railways
5. High- rise buildings
 Advantages
 No frisk of fire
 Lighter in weight
 Less floor area
 No toxicity
 Efficient noiseless operation
 Reduced installation cost
 Maintenance free
 Cooling Methods Of
Transformer
No transformer is truly an 'ideal transformer'
and hence each will incur some losses, most
of which get converted into heat. If this heat is
not dissipated properly, the excess
temperature in transformer may cause serious
problems like insulation failure.
 Transformers can be divided in two types

1. Dry type transformers

2. Oil immersed transformers
 For dry type
transformers
Air Natural Or Self Air Cooled Transformer
This method of transformer cooling is
generally used in small transformers (upto 3 MVA).
In this method the transformer is allowed to cool by
natural air flow surrounding it.
Air Blast
For transformers rated more than 3 MVA, cooling
by forced air.
In this method, air is forced on the core and
windings with the help of fans or blowers.

The air supply must be filtered to prevent the

accumulation of dust particles in ventilation ducts.
 Used for transformers upto 15 MVA.
 Cooling Methods For Oil
Immersed Transformers
1) Oil Natural Air Natural (ONAN)
In this method, the heat generated in the core and
winding is transferred to the oil.
According to the principle of convection, the heated
oil flows in the upward direction and then in the radiator.
The vacant place is filled up by cooled oil from the
radiator.
The heat from the oil will dissipate in the atmosphere
due to the natural air flow around the transformer.
In this way, the oil in transformer keeps circulating
due to natural convection and dissipating heat in atmosphere
due to natural conduction.
This method can be used for transformers upto about
30 MVA.
Oil Natural Air Natural
(ONAN)
 2) Oil Natural Air Forced
(ONAF)
 The heat dissipation can be improved further by
applying forced air on the dissipating surface.
 Forced air provides faster heat dissipation than natural
air flow.
 In this method, fans are mounted near the radiator and
may be provided with an automatic starting
arrangement, which turns on when temperature
increases beyond certain value.
 This transformer cooling method is generally used
for large transformers upto about 60 MVA.
 Oil Natural Air Forced (ONAF)
3) Oil Forced Air Forced (OFAF)
 In this method, oil is circulated with the help of a
pump.
 The oil circulation is forced through the heat
exchangers.
 Then compressed air is forced to flow on the heat
exchanger with the help of fans.
 The heat exchangers may be mounted separately from
the transformer tank and connected through pipes at top
and bottom as shown in the figure.
 This type of cooling is provided for higher rating
transformers at substations or power stations.
Oil Forced Air Forced (OFAF)
 4) Oil Forced Water Forced
 This
(OFWF)
method is similar to OFAF method, but here
forced water flow is used to dissipate heat from the heat
exchangers.
 The oil is forced to flow through the heat exchanger
with the help of a pump, where the heat is dissipated in
the water which is also forced to flow.
 The heated water is taken away to cool in separate
coolers.
 This type of cooling is used in very large transformers

having rating of several hundreds MVA.

Oil Forced Water Forced (OFWF)