Introduction to Substation Design

TADP 542

Introduction

Transmission & Distribution Program Instructor: Mike Nissley

Module 1 Outline

z Presentation 1: General System Overview

z Presentation 2: Definitions

z Presentation 3: Components

z Presentation 4: Components (cont.)

z Presentation 5: Utilization of Substation

Equipment and Glossary
General System Overview

z Generation Systems
– Fuels & Philosophy

z Transmission Systems
– Voltages & Fundamentals

z Distribution Components
– Fundamentals & Utilization
Generation Types

z Thermal Generation:
Burns fuel to create heat which either boils
water for steam (to spin a turbine), or burns to
directly spin a generator.

z Nonthermal Generation:
Fuel mechanically powers a turbine to generate
electricity.
Thermal Generation

z Nuclear, coal, diesel, natural

gas, landfill gas, and biomass
are considered thermal fuel
resources.

z Thermal resources
characterized by fuel
consumption and associated
generation of heat and waste
by-products.
Natural Gas Fired Plant
Thermal Power Plant
Nonthermal Generation

z Hydro, wind, solar, and

wave energy are considered
nonthermal fuel sources.
z Nonthermal fuels are
characterized by the fact
that the fuel that enters the
generator system leaves it
unaltered -using mechanical
methods to generate
electricity.
Hoover Dam
Box Canyon Dam
Renewable Fuels

z Renewable fuels are not easily classified,

with many states developing their own
definition. For example, some states
consider landfill gas as renewable because it
uses a by-product of a waste stream to
generate electricity even though the waste
stream itself is not renewable in the natural
sense.
Stateline Wind Farm
Generation Size & Role

z Plants can range in size from 0.25 MW’s to

over 2000 MW’s.
z Size determined by individual utility needs
and operational efficiencies gained by
appropriately sizing the plant.
z Base Load plants provide constant power
output to meet minimum needs.
z Peaking Plants vary power output to follow
load.
Transmission System

z Used to transport large quantities of electricity

efficiently over long distances.

z Operates at very high voltages (as high as

750 kV) to reduce line losses associated with
current flow.
– As current increases the energy dissipated as
heat due to conductor line resistance increases.
Transmission Rule of Thumb
z Calculating transmission voltage
efficiency:
– Generally; 10 MW of electricity can
be transported 10 Miles for every 10
kV.

– Example: A 115 kV line could

efficiently move 115 MW of energy
approximately 115 miles.
AC vs DC

z Transmission lines typically operate with AC

due to its low operating costs. However, there
are situations where DC may be a better
solution.

z DC lines have lower line losses and therefore

are most efficient at distances in excess of
500 miles (verify).
Transmission Costs

z Higher voltage lines are more expensive per

mile.
– Typical 115-kV line on wood poles approximately
$250,000/mile.
– Typical 345-kV line on lattice steel in excess of
$1,000,000/mile
A Substation with a View
Distribution Voltages

z Primary voltages can range from 2 - 50 kV

z Typical voltage classes are 15 kV (12.47 kV,
13.2 kV, or 13.8 kV) and 25 kV. The different
values have a lot of history behind them.
z Secondary voltages are 120/240 V for
residential, and 120/208 V or 480 V for
commercial.
Distribution Construction

z Can be overhead or underground.

z Includes components for transformation of

voltage, regulation of voltage, protection from
overvoltage excursions, and isolation of
faults.
Distribution Customer Classes

z Residential – single or multi-family housing

regardless of size.

z Small Commercial – less than 50 kW and

single phase.

z Large Commercial – larger than 50 kW and

possibly three-phase

z Industrial – Usually in excess of 3000 kW

z Irrigation – Can be divided by size

Load Types

z Heating/Cooling/Refrigeration – typically
simple motor loads

z Lighting/Cooking – Typically resistive load

z Manufacturing/Irrigation – can be simple

motors or variable frequency drives (non-
linear)

z Each load type has different electrical

characteristics
Project Scope

z Who is the customer?

– Organizations receiving electrical service from a
Substation

z What is the scope of a project?

– Function, location, etc.

z Purpose of a Project Scope:

– Communication