Electrical Substation Overview
What is a substation? What it does and/or where it’s located? In this brief article, we shall discuss electrical substations, various types, functions, and some vital components used in substations. Furthermore, an insightful and informative document at the end of the post is for your quick reference (Courtesy of WECC).
They are critical components of the power transmission and distribution network, playing a vital role in ensuring the reliable and efficient delivery of electricity from power generation facilities to end users. In the context of all utilities, these components are crucial for maintaining grid stability, reliability, and compliance with industry standards.
Types of Substations and their Functions
Electrical power stations act as critical hubs in the power system, transforming voltage levels and regulating power flow. Their fundamental function include voltage transformation, protection and control of the power network, and switching operations to isolate faults or reroute power.
Transmission Substations: These are located between the power generation plant and the distribution system. Transmission substation steps up the voltage for efficient long-distance transmission.
Distribution Substations: They are very common in our neighborhoods. Distribution power stations play a crucial role in the power system. Specifically, they reduce the high transmission voltage to a lower level, which is then suitable for local distribution to homes and businesses.
Collector Substations: These are typically used in renewable energy projects (such as wind or solar farms). The substation collects power from multiple generating units or power conversion systems (PCS). First, the system steps up the voltage before transmitting it to the grid. For example, a PCS may draw power from inverters operating at 660V and transform this low voltage to 34,500V using a medium voltage transformer. Next, the medium voltage side of the PCS connects to the collector substation, where the voltage undergoes further transformation for integration into the utility grid. Consequently, a collector substation functions as a generation substation.
Key Components of Power Stations
Circuit Breakers and Switches: These components are essential to controlling the flow of electricity. They are used primarily for interrupting circuits to protect the system from faults by isolating faulty sections. Circuit breakers come in different forms and shapes. Read few lines about high voltage circuit breakers here.
Busbars: Used to carry large amount of power in a station. Busbars connect incoming and outgoing transmission lines to transformers and other equipment.
Relays and Control Systems: Monitor electrical conditions and initiate protective actions, ensuring the safety and reliability of the network. Check out protection relay calculations here.
Importance of Electrical Grid Stations
Electrical substations are pivotal in maintaining the stability of this vast network by:
Facilitating Voltage Control: Ensuring voltage levels are maintained across the transmission and distribution system to prevent blackouts or equipment damage.
Supporting Renewable Integration: Allow the integration of variable renewable energy sources (like solar and wind) into the grid by ensuring voltage stability and managing power flow efficiently.
Enhancing Reliability: Proper maintenance and operation of these grid interconnecting points are essential for preventing outages and ensuring continuous power supply.
Take a look at the video below by “Practical Engineering”. To learn more about practical engineering and broad topics in field, check out more on their channel.
Summary
In summary, over time, substations have evolved significantly, and with recent advancements, they have become increasingly smart and efficient [1]. Additionally, you can explore further details on the evolution of substations from conventional to smart systems in this paper [2]. They are essential to the reliability and efficiency of the power grid. Various established bodies ensure their proper functioning to maintain grid stability, support renewable energy integration, and uphold compliance with industry standards.
Click on the download PDF button below to learn more about the subject.
- Title: Substation Overview
- Format: PDF
- File Size: 7.21 MB
- Number of Pages: 152
- Source: Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
References
- Waleed, A., Virk, U. S., Riaz, M. T., Mehmood, S. B., Ahmad, S., Javed, M. R., & Raza, A. (2019). Effectiveness and comparison of digital substations over conventional substations. Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal, 4(4), 431-439.
- Santos, G. R., Zancul, E., Manassero, G., & Spinola, M. (2024). From conventional to smart substations: A classification model. Electric Power Systems Research, 226, 109887.
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