What Is in Outdoor HV Substation

1/11/2018 What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function?
| EEP
Power Substation / Transmission and Distribution
What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape

and function?
Switchgear bays
It’s not always an easy task to explain what is what in high voltage substations. Shapes of the major elements are mostly
similar through substations, but there are also combinations of two and more elements with integrated functions.
What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function? (photo credit: Geoff
Collins via Flickr)
This technical article explains the basic elements and their shapes/functions you can see in outdoor high voltage
substations.
Each operating facility inside a substation fulfils an important function, varying in shape and size depending on its location
and purpose. They ensure that the total installation can be operated securely and reliably.
The combination of the devices surrounding a circuit breaker – disconnectors and

earthing switches and combined instrument transformers that form a functional unit
with the circuit breaker – is called the switchgear bay.
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1/11/2018 What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function? | EEP
At the centre of each switchgear bay is the circuit breaker, which can interrupt the current both in normal operating
conditions and in case of disturbances. The switchgear bay is connected to the other operating facilities via disconnectors
with an integrated earthing switch.
The combined instrument transformer reports information on the current and voltage to the protection and control
systems.
According to the function, a distinction is made between:
Line switchgear bay – this connects the high voltage power line with the busbars.
Transformer switchgear bay – this switchgear bay connects the transformer with the busbars. Noteworthy is that the
transformer is connected directly and not by means of a disconnector.
Coupler bay – this switchgear bay forms a flexible connection with the busbars.
How is an underground cable connected? When power is supplied to the substation via a high-voltage underground
cable instead of an overhead line, the overhead line portal is replaced by the cable portal. In addition, specific facilities
also need to be installed to operate the cable.
These are compensation reactors which regulate the reactive power needed by the cable, as well as surge arresters.
Substation elements
High voltage substation elements (click to expand layout)
Following the layout above, let’s see the shapes and functions of ten major components you can see in most HV
substations. Note that listed elements may have a little bit different look depending on technology and manufacturer.
1. Power transformer
2. Disconnectors
3. Earthing switches
4. Current and potential transformers
5. Circuit breakers
6. Surge arrester
7. Busbars
8. Lightning conductor mast
9. Portal
10. Relay and operating buildings
1. Power transformer
The maximum voltage used to transport electric current in the European transmission system is 380,000 volts (380 kV)
in order to keep the losses as low as possible.
But how are these 380,000 volts brought down to the voltage used in households? Transformers take care of this change
in voltage. The large jump from high voltage (380,000 volts) to household voltage (230 volts) can, however, not be made
in a single bound.
The grids using these different voltage levels are all connected by substations.
The closer these substations are to the final consumer, the lower the voltage and the smaller their size. The
transformation to the standard voltage used to connect residential buildings to the grid takes place in the
immediate vicinity.
Transformers that adjust voltage levels from 380 kV to 110 kV – meaning from the voltage level of the transmission
system to the distribution system – are about as large as a personal garage. Both on the outside and the inside, they are
mainly constructed in metal.
Transformer at substation Oberschöna (Saxony) – photo credit: 50hertz
A transformer has a primary and a secondary side. On the primary side, the power on the high voltage side ows through
a large coil. This coil is wrapped around a large iron core. The magnetic field that is created inside the transformer
induces a current in the coil on the secondary side. As the proportions of the coils are different, the voltage is lowered to
110 kV.
Inside the transformer, oil is used as insulation and a means to dissipate heat.
The oil is cooled in large heat exchangers next to the transformer, so that the latter
can be properly cooled in each operational state.
Go back to contents ↑
2. Disconnectors
Disconnectors can be found almost everywhere in a substation. Depending on the location, these are feeder or busbar
disconnectors. Their purpose is to open the electrical circuit and to completely isolate certain system components
from the rest of the installation.
They do not connect or disconnect the current. Within your own home, opening a disconnector can be as simple as
unplugging a switched-off appliance or device.
High voltage disconnector
3. Earthing switches
An earthing switch provides a safe and reliable ground connection for a deactivated and therefore voltage-free system
component. It prevents the danger occurred through the charge processes.
In combination with the disconnectors, they create a safe working environment inside the substation.
High voltage earthing switch
4. Current and potential transformers
For the secure operation of a substation, it is necessary to know of the state of the grid system at all times. The data
needed to determine this state are supplied by current and potential transformers.
Additionally, these data are processed by the protection and control systems, so that they can respond automatically in
case of disturbances.
Current and potential transformers
5. Circuit breakers
The circuit breaker is the high-voltage equivalent of a light switch and a miniature circuit breaker. It activates and de-
activates lines and system components, irrespective of whether there is a normal load current or a disturbance.
Aside from the transformer, this is the most important high-voltage device of the substation.
HV circuit breaker
6. Surge arrester
Surge arresters can often be found at the end of an overhead line or a cable. They limit over-voltages or surges, which
are brief voltages that are significantly higher than the normal voltage and can be caused, for example, by a lightning
stroke.
By limiting the voltage to a normal level, the devices in the substation can be protected without interrupting the supply.
HV surge arrester
7. Busbars
The busbar is the backbone of the substation. Tubes connect the different switchgear bays and take care of power
transmission within the substation. In order to increase the fail-safe performance and more flexibly control the
transmission of electricity, there are usually multiple busbars.
These can be connected in many different ways.
HV busbars in substation
8. Lightning conductor mast
The lightning conductor mast is not part of the operating facilities of the substation. Nevertheless, it is an essential
component. Given the often open area and the many tall metal devices, lightning strokes are not unlikely in a substation.
In order to protect the devices and ensure the electricity supply, substations are equipped with several high lightning
conductor masts.
Like a lightning rod on a house, it serves to conduct the lightning stroke to the earth in a controlled manner without
exposing personnel and operating facilities to danger.
Protection against lightning strokes: The voltage of a lightning stroke can amount
to 100 million volts and has to be safely conducted to earth to avoid damage to the
substation.
HV lightning conductor
9. Portal
Aside from operating facilities and lightning conductor masts, there is another noticeable construction within the
substation – the portal.
Overhead lines, busbars and transformer connections cannot be suspended in thin air, but have to be
supported in a mechanically stable manner. This purpose is fulfilled by the portals, which in case of a line or
transformer portal look like a large frame in which the lines are insulated and suspended.
Busbar portals, however, act as supports on which the tubular busbars are mounted and insulated.
HV portal in substation
10. Relay and operating buildings
Inside the substation there are also relay and operating buildings. Relay buildings mainly include protection and control
components. In order to limit the distance to the controlled devices, there can be multiple relay buildings in-side a single
substation.
The operating building contains the other components of the control system, communications system and the
storage, break and restrooms.
Relay and operating building
HV Substations around the world… 125kv, 66kv, 33kv
High Voltage Substations around the world... 125kv, 66kv, 33kv
Reference // How substations work by 50Hertz Transmission GmbH
About Author
Edvard Csanyi
Edvard -
Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high
power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry fascilities. Professional in
AutoCAD programming. Present on Google+

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1/11/2018 What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function?

Power Substation / Transmission and Distribution

What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape

The combination of the devices surrounding a circuit breaker – disconnectors and

According to the function, a distinction is made between:

High voltage substation elements (click to expand layout)

Transformer at substation Oberschöna (Saxony) – photo credit: 50hertz

High voltage disconnector

High voltage earthing switch

4. Current and potential transformers

Current and potential transformers

These can be connected in many different ways.

8. Lightning conductor mast

10. Relay and operating buildings

Relay and operating building

HV Substations around the world… 125kv, 66kv, 33kv

High Voltage Substations around the world... 125kv, 66kv, 33kv

Reference // How substations work by 50Hertz Transmission GmbH

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