TYPES OF BUS BAR

SYSTEM

BUS BAR SYSTEM

An electrical bus bur can be defined as conductor or group of conductor, which collects
electrical power from the incoming feeder and distributes them to outgoing feeder.

There is five important type of bus bar system

They are,

• Single bus bar system

• Single bus sectionalised system
• Main & transfer bus bar system
• Sectionalised Double breaker bus system
• One & half breaker bus system

Each bus bar has its own advantage and disadvantage.

The selection of bus is highly depends upon the cost of the project.

Let’s discuss each bus bar system for its own advantage & disadvantage.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

SINGLE BUS BAR SYSTEM

• The bus bar arrangement is quite simple and easy

• This type of bus bar arrangement has only one main bus.
• There will be one or two incomers.
• There can n number of outgoings, as shown in the image

• The transformers are connected to the main bus through CB.

• The isolators are used to isolate the transformer from the bus during maintenance.

ADVANTAGES:

• Low cost.
• Less maintenance.
• Operation is simple and easy.

DISADVANTAGES:

• If any fault occurs in this, the whole distribution of power is interrupted and the feeder
will be disconnected.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

• It is less flexible and used in only small substations, switchboards, and small power
stations where the continuous distribution of power is not needed.

SINGLE BUS SECTIONALISED SYSTEM

• This bus bar system is used in large stations where several units are installed using a
bus sectionalized.
• In this type, the circuit breaker and isolators are shown below.

• The isolator in the system used to separate the faulty section to protect the system
from the shutdown.
• There is no increase in cost even though an additional circuit breaker is used.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

ADVANTAGES

• Easy to remove the fault section, without any loss in the supply continuity
• Individual sections on the bus can be repaired without disturbing the overall section
on the bus bar.
• The current limiting reactor helps to reduce the faults in the sections of the bus.

DISADVANTAGES

• Usage of additional isolators and circuit breakers in the system increases the cost.

MAIN AND TRANSFER BUS ARRANGEMENT

• This type of bus bar is designed by combining the auxiliary type and the main bus bar
by using a bus coupler to connect the circuit breaker and isolated switches.

• In case of overloading, the load is transferred from one to another bus bar by using a
bus coupler.

• In this case, the potentials of the two bus bars should be the same to transfer the load
and the main bar should be opened and should be kept closer to transfer the load.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

ADVANTAGES

• It gives the highest flexibility and reliability because there no loss of continuity due to
the faults.

• Even though the load is transferred from one bus to another, there would be no change
in the supply continuity of the system.

DISADVANTAGES

• The cost of the system and maintenance is more due to the additional circuit breakers
and two buses.

• So, these types of bus bar systems are used in substations

SECTIONALIZED DOUBLE BREAKER BUS SYSTEM

• In this type, an auxiliary type is also used along with the sectionalized main bus bar
system.

• Any of the sections in the main type can be removed for repair and maintenance and
can be connected to any of the auxiliary bus bars in the system.

• There is no need to sectionalize the auxiliary type because of its highest cost.

ONE AND A HALF BREAKER ARRANGEMENT

• This type of system uses 3 circuit breakers for 2 circuits.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

• That means each circuit in this will use one and half circuit breaker.

• This type of arrangement is mainly employed in large stations like power handling
circuits.

ADVANTAGES

• Protects the system against loss of power supply.

• Can be used to operate relays.

• Easy to add additional circuits to the system.

DISADVANTAGES

• Complex circuit due to the relay system.

• High maintenance cost.

Ring Main Arrangement

• This type of system is arranged in ring form by connecting the endpoint of the main
bus bar in the system back to the starting point.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

ADVANTAGES

• Due to the ring arrangement, two paths are available for the supply. So, the
working of the system will not be affected due to the faults.
• Faults of a particular section in the whole system can be repaired without
affecting the entire working of the systems.
• Easy to maintain the circuit breaker without any interruption in the supply.

DISADVANTAGES

• The system would be overloaded if any of the circuit breakers are opened.

• Adding the new circuit may create some complications.

MESH ARRANGEMENT

• This type of bus bar is controlled by 4 circuit breakers, which are installed in the
mesh.

• From the node point, the circuit is tapped.

• The mesh formed by the buses gets opened due to the occurrence of faults in any of
the sections.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295

 TYPES OF BUS BAR
SYSTEM

• It is mainly used in the substations where it requires a large no. of circuits.

• It also provides security against faults.

• There is a lack of facility in switching.

PREPARED BY HARISH R-295