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I. Principle of Substation Design Conditions:

A Substation compromises a numbers of similar circuits connected to respective bus sections.
Stresses on Substation Equipments
Clearances (Insulating Distances)
Maintenance Zones
Developing Substation Layouts
1. Stresses on Substation Equipments:

1.1: Voltage stresses between phase & earth, phase & phase, conducting parts at different
potentials:

The voltage stress is experienced by the internal and external insulation of the equipment.
Electrical Equipments is subjected to following kinds of voltages.
Continuous normal power frequency voltage
Temporary power frequency overvoltage due to voltage regulation, Ferranti effect,
temporary power frequency overvoltage etc.
Lightning Impulse voltage waves (Surges)
Switching Impulse voltage waves (Surges)
The capability of the equipment insulation is confirmed by conducting the relevant power
frequency and impulse voltage withstand tests.
Withstand Capability of the equipment insulation are correlated with the protective
characteristics of the nearest surge arresters. Such a correlation is called insulation co-
ordination.
1.2: Electro-Dynamic Forces under Short-circuit condition:
The currents carrying parallel conductors placed near each other experience mechanical force F
given by the equation:
F =2.4 |
2
x

L
r
1
-2
kg
i
2
s
=peak value of current, kA
L=length of Busbar between two insulator
r=distance between neighbouring Busbar

1.3: Thermal Stress During Short-circuit:

Each Electrical Equipment has short time current rating. This rating refers to the ability of the
equipment to carry specified short circuit for specified duration of time e.g. 30 kA for 1 sec.
The equation is: T =C (
I
A
, )
2
) (1 + u0) 1
+2

T=Temperature rise per sec. during short-circuit condition (centigrade)

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C=0.54 for copper, 1.17 for aluminium
I=R.M.S. value of short circuit current
A=Cross-sectional Area, mm^2
o = Temp. Coefficient of resistivity at 20 degree centigrade
0 =Temp.at the instant of short circuit

1.4: Thermal Stress during Temperature rise during normal load current:

Normal current rating of equipment is expressed in terms of R.M.S. value of current which the
equipment can carry continuously, with the temp. rise tests. Conductors exposed to sun light
attend a temperature of about 60 degree centigrade during summer. The safe limit of aluminium
is 150 and for copper 200.

1.5: Mechanical Oscillations:

During normal power frequency current flow, the conducting parts and associated insulating &
mechanical parts experience mechanical oscillations of 100 Hz.
1.6: Mechanical Forces:
The major causes for mechanical forces on substation equipment include the following
Wind Forces
Ice Loading
Earth-quake forces (vibrations)
Electro Dynamic Forces During the short-circuits
1.7: Environment Stresses:

The equipment in a substation is exposed to various Environment Stresses , like:
Alternate temp. variation
Extreme temp.
Dust, saline vapour, chemical vapour
Wind ice storms, earth-quake
Lightning, floods, human sabotages etc.










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2. Clearances (Insulating distances):
It denotes the distance between two conducting points along a stretched string.

Figure 1: Clearances

Certain minimum clearance should be provided to prevent flashovers during transient over-
voltages under worst atmospheric and pollution conditions. The various standards recommend
the minimum clearance distances in the air for outdoor installations and indoor for enclosed
installations. These recommendations serve as a guide for equipment designers and substation.

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Figure 2: Internal & External Clearances of a CB pole

Phase to Earth Clearance:
It is the clearance between line conducting part and neighbouring earthed parts.

Phase to Phase Clearance:
It is the clearance between live parts of difference phases.

Isolating Clearance:
It is the minimum distance along a stretched string between the terminals of an apex/opex
isolators
.
Maintenance Zero:
In substation, space should be available for maintenance personnel to work from ground
level and from raised platforms for the purpose of maintenance and repairs.such
maintenance zone called Work section in BSI specification 162 : 1961.

Selection Clearance:
It is the clearance between live parts and the limiting curve of the work section. The work
section has a limiting contour in the form of 3-D plane. The distance between the live
parts & this contour is called selection clearance.

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Ground Clearance:
It is the clearance between the uppermost earthed part associated with the equipment and the
ground level.



Figure 3: Example of Clearances
FORMULA:
U
5
% =k 5 d
.

k=gap factor, characterized by shape of electrodes
d=air clearance, m
u
50
% =50% Floso:cr :oltogc,kIp


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Table 1: Phase to Ground Air Clearances Dependent on the Rated (a) Lightning
(b) Switching Impulse withstand Voltage
Rate switching
Impulse Withstand
Voltage (KV)
Air Clearances (m) Rated Lightning
Impulse with
stand Voltage
(KV)
Air Clearances (m)
K=1.30 K=1.10 K=1.30 K=1.10
650 1.15 1.51 750 1.35 1.43
750 1.45 1.92 850 1.55 1.64
850 1.79 2.37 950 1.73 1.83
950 2.16 2.85 1050 1.92 2.02
1050 2.55 3.36 1175 2.14 2.26
1175 3.07 4.06 1300 2.47 2.51
1300 3.64 4.80 1425 2.60 2.75
1425 4.24 5.60 1550 2.83 2.99
1550 4.87 6.44 1800 3.28 3.47
1950 3.56 3.76
2100 3.83 4.05
2400 4.38 4.63

Table 2: Reference values of Insulation Levels
Normal System
Voltage U
s
R.M.S
Highest Voltage of
Equipment U
s
R.M.S
Rated Switching
Impulse Withstand
Voltage KV peak
Rated Lightning
Impulse Withstand
Voltage KV peak
132 145 650
220 245 650 750
750 850
950
275 300 850
750 950
850 1050
1050
400 420 950 1175
1050 1300
1175 1300
1425
1550
765 800 1300 1550
800 1425 1800
1550 1900
2100
2400


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Table 3: Values of Gap factor K
Configurations Gap factor K
Rod-Plane 1.00
Rod-Structure (Under) 1.05
Conductor-Plane 1.15
Conductor-Window 1.20
Conductor-Structure (Under) 1.30
Rod-Rod (Height 3 m) 1.30
Conductor-Structure (Over) 1.30
Conductor-Rope 1.40
Conductor-Cross Arm 1.55
Conductor-Rod (3 m) Under 1.65
Conductor-Rod (6 m) Under 1.90
Conductor-Rod (Over) 1.90

Table 4: Minimum Clearances for Open-Outdoor Bus-bars
Rated Voltage KV
(R.M.S)
Minimum clearances to Earth
mm
Minimum clearances
between Phases mm
6.6 140 178
11 178 229
15 216 267
22 279 330
33 381 431
66 685 786
110 1068 1219
132 1270 1473
220 2082 2368
400 3065 5750


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Table 5: Correlation between Insulation Levels & minimum Phase to Ground
Clearances
Insulation Levels Minimum Phase to
Ground Air Clearances
meters
Rated Switching
Impulse Withstand
Voltage KV
P

Rated Lightning Impulse
Withstand Voltage KV
P

K= 1.30 K= 1.10
650 750 1.35 1.57
650 850 1.55 1.64
750 850 1.55 1.92
750 950 1.73 1.92
850 950 1.79 2.37
850 1050 1.92 2.37
950 1050 2.16 2.85
950 1175 2.16 2.85
1050 1175 2.55 3.36
1050 1300 2.55 3.36
1050 1425 3.07 4.06
1175 1300 3.07 4.06
1175 1425 3.07 4.06
1175 1530 3.07 4.06
1300 1435 3.64 4.80
1300 1800 3.64 4.80
1425 1550 4.24 5.60
1425 1800 4.24 5.60
1425 2100 4.24 5.60
1550 1800 4.87 6.44
1550 1950 4.87 6.44
1550 2400 4.87 6.44

3. Maintenance Zones:
The maintenance zone has to be isolated from the neighboring live equipment, than earthed and
enough section clearances should be provided for maintenance work. Some maintenance zones
in which frequency maintenance is required are provided with isolators, and earthing switches
and CB at each end. In order maintenance zones, in which frequent maintenance is not
envisaged, only isolators are provided at each end. Temporary earths are used.

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Maintenance zones in single Busbar substation
1. CB maintenance zone
2. Busbar maintenance zone including Busbar insulator
3. Feeder circuit maintenance zone including feeder insulator
Maintenance zones in Duplicate Busbar system
I. CB zone
II. 2 Busbar isolator zones, each involving shut-down of one Busbar at a time
III. A CB isolator & corresponding circuit connection zone
IV. A Feeder zone covering feeder isolator and line site equipment
4. Substation Layouts:
The term layout denotes the physical arrangement of various components in the substation
relative to one another. Substation layout has significant influence on the operation,
maintenance, cost and protection of the Substation and these aspects are considered while
designing the Substation layout.
The following desirable aspects of Substation layout are:
Switching requirements for normal operation
Switching requirements during abnormal operation, such as short circuit and overloads
Degree of flexibility in operation, simplicity
Freedom from total shutdown and permissible period of shutdown
Maintenance requirements, space for approaching various equipments for maintenance,
roads, for transportation of main equipment and maintenance equipment
Safety for personnel
Protective zones, main protection, back up protection
Bypass facilities
Technical requirements such as ratings, clearances, earthing lightning protection, noise,
radio interference, etc.
Provision for extensions, space requirements
Economic considerations, availability, foreign exchange involvement, cost of the
equipment
Requirements of network monitoring power line carrier communication, data collection,
data transmission, etc.
Compatibility with ambient conditions
Environmental aspects, audible noise, RI, TI, etc.
Long service life, quality, reliability, aesthetics

The Substation design involves the following details steps:
1. Design of busbar, connectors
2. Design of Station earthing system
3. Design of Structures
4. Design of insulators
5. Design of Overhead shielding
6. Civil Design of Buildings, roads, railways track etc.
7. Design of Auxiliaries