SUBSTATIONSubstation is a very important part of electric power system. It involves the transmission and distribution of generated electricity.

NeedIn order to reduce transmission losses we step up the generated voltage to the order of 33kV/66kV/132kV/400kV etc For domestic purpose we require voltage level of only 220V so we step down the voltage level by installing various substations. Substation 132/66/33kVSingle Line DiagramIt is a well-drawn network of the distribution and transmission of electricity of a substation. Different Electric components in a substation1) Lightening arrestor-

It is a device used on electric power systems above 1000V to protect other equipments and insulation on the system from the damaging effect of switching and lightening surges. It is also termed as surge arrestor and has a high voltage terminal and ground terminal. Functiona) It provides low impedance path for the surge current to the ground. b) It limits the voltage produced by lightening. c) It protects equipment electrically in parallel with it. 2) Wave trap-

It can be said as a tuned capacitor. When a Transmission line, also used for carrier communication, reaches a substation, the line is taken through the wave trap which prevents the carrier signal further to substation, but easily permits the power flow. It is a parallel tuned

inductorcapacitor tank circuit made to be resonate at the desired communication frequency. Functiona) It is helpful for utilising the same transmission line for the purpose of communication and transmission. b) At communication frequencies the tank circuit provides high impedance and does not allow passing through them and onto the substation busbars. 3) Capacitor voltage transformer( CVT)

It is used in power system to step down extra high voltage signals and to provide a low voltage signal for measurement purpose or to operate a protective relay. Basic componentsa) Capacitor divider- Across it the transmission line signal is split. b) Inductive element or series compensating reactor- It is used to tune the device to line frequency. c) Transformer- It is used to isolate and further step down the voltage for metering and protection purpose. FunctionIt generally steps down voltage to the level of 110V. A) Low voltage output from CVT can be used fora) Metering application/Instrumentation. b) Protection schemes. c) To act as a low voltage and a low power supply. B) It can also be used in communication systems. CVTs in combination with wave traps are used for filtering high frequency

communication signals from power supply. This forms the carrier communication network throughout the transmission network. C) CVTs are preferred when we deal with high voltage levels. 4) Isolator with an earth switch-

It is an off load device. It is used when we have to work on the line. Earth switch is there so that it earth down all the residual voltage of transformers etc. Functiona) It is helpful for maintenance of a line is required. 5) Current transformer(CTR)These are called as instrument transformers. When a current in a circuit is too high to directly apply to measuring instruments, a current transformer produces a reduced current in the circuit, which can be conveniently connected to measuring and recording instruments. FunctionIt generally steps down current level to 1A. a) Metering applicationFor current measurement it is required. b) It is used in monitoring operation in the power grid. c) It is used in protection system. CTR is typically described by its current ratio e.g.- 150-75/1-1-0.577 in this rating we have first two terms 150-75 indicates the tapings of CTR, second term 1-1-0.577 indicates the cores of CTR like- 1 for metering core, second 1 for over current protection and 0.577 for differential protection. Safety precautionSecondary of CTR must not be disconnected from its load while current is flowing in the primary, as the secondary will attempt to continue driving the current across the effective infinite impedance. This will produce a high voltage across the open secondary, which may cause arcing. Thus, generally secondary of CTR is short circuited.

6) Circuit BreakerIt can be said as automatically operated switch to protect line from faults. It is an on load operating device used to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit. FunctionIts basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow. TypesCircuit breaker is distinguished on the basis of its insulating medium. a) Air Blast Circuit Breaker (ABCB). b) Gas Circuit Breaker (GCB). c) Medium Oil Circuit Breaker (MOCB). d) Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker (BOCB). e) Vacuum Circuit Breaker (VCB). 7) TransformerIt is a device that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another through the medium of magnetic field without a change in the frequency. It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction thus can only work on ac system. It allows transfer of energy in either direction from one voltage level to another. Functiona) It is required for changing ac voltage level. b) It is helpful in isolating two electrical circuits electrically. 8) Potential transformerIt is also known as instrument transformer. It is required for stepping down the voltage level to a low value so that it can be used for metering application etc. FunctionIt generally steps down the voltage level to 110V which is required fora) Metering application. b) Protection system.

CONTROL PANEL AND AUTOMATIONControl Panel is used fora) Indication purpose. b) Metering. c) Protection schemes.

There are two auxiliary mechanically coupled contacts of the protecting devices used in substation i.e. circuit breakers, isolators, protective relays, which are required to meet the above applications control panel1) Normally Open (NO) contacts. 2) Normally Closed (NC) contacts. When the relay coil is not energised then NO and NC contacts remain same. But when it gets energised NO contacts changes to NC and NC changes to NO contacts. Different connection in control panel1) Indication CircuitIt is used for indicating the status of different equipment of substation.

Semaphore indicator is used for the indication purpose. Coil of semiphore when gets energised by NO or NC contacts gives indication accordingly. Two bulbs are connected with NO and NC contacts in order to give the status of the equipment. 2) Trip and closed circuit of circuit breakerCircuit Breaker can be controlled from substation (Local switch) and control room (Remote switch). Trip normal closed (TNC) selector switch act as local and remote switch-

a) Switch positioned at N It indicates line is working properly.

b) Switch positioned at T it indicates that line is cut down due to tripping of circuit breaker coil. c) Switch positioned at C- It indicates that circuit breaker is in closed state.

3) Protection SystemIn order to have the automatic tripping or the indication whenever there is fault in a line or faulty condition for working of various protective devices we require the circuit to made asAll the NO contacts of protection relays are connected in parallel and one terminal is subjected to 220V (+) dc and other is connected to the NC contact of Master trip relay in series with its coil. Then this whole setup is further connected with NO contacts of trip coil of CB etc. NC contact of master trip relay is used because we want only momentarily supply to a specific relay. a) Trip Alarm Circuit-

When there is any faulty condition and we want tripping of a coil in order to cut the line this circuit is used.

b) Non Trip Alarm CircuitIn some conditions we do not need tripping of a coil but need some indications e.g.- When pressure of insulating medium of Circuit Breaker gets down from particular value. For this purpose there is no need to connect the trip coils NO contacts.