AC substation detailed design guidelines: Best practice,

dos and don’ts

electrical-engineering-portal.com/ac-substation-detailed-design-guidelines

By Edvard Csanyi October 11, 2021

Substation Design Complexity

Substation design is a very complex process that involves many professional engineers in
many different areas. However, there are always few people who are leading the whole
design process both from the technical and economical aspects. This technical article covers
the selection of substation type (GIS or Air-insulated) and the detailed design of Air-insulated
Substation.

AC substation detailed design guidelines: Best practice, dos and don'ts

Many nations have their own safety rules and, because of their importance and legality as
considered at the beginning of this article. The three component parts of the substation are
defined as follows: Primary, Secondary, and Auxiliary System.

Let’s remind ourselves of these three basic substation systems:

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 1. Primary System: The primary system comprises all equipment that, in whole or in part,
is in service at the highest operating voltage of the system.
2. Secondary System: The secondary system comprises all equipment that is used for the
control (local and remote), protection, monitoring automation and measurement of the
primary system.
3. Auxiliary System: Auxiliary systems are those which are required to enable the primary
and secondary equipment to operate.

Table of Contents:

1. Selection Of Substation Type (GIS/AIS)

The selection of substation type is, in most cases, largely dependent upon economic factors.
As far as HV equipment is concerned an air-insulated substation costs less than an
equivalent in GIS, but, as GIS allows a much wider choice of site, the distance to the load
centre, site preparation costs and reduced maintenance costs may balance the difference.

In recent years reduction of the HV equipment price gap and increasing pollution and
environmental concerns have made GIS more attractive. As a consequence, air-insulated,
indoor, HV substations are not installed at voltages above 145 kV.

The main advantage of GIS substations is that they need only a fraction of the area
occupied by an air-insulated substation (remember however that incoming overhead lines
and power transformers have the same dimensions in all types of substations).
That makes them a good solution in cases of:

1. Urban areas: High land cost and unavailability of required area for an air-insulated
substation.
2. Mountainous zones: High site preparation costs.
3. Environmental concerns: GIS can be easily disguised and indoor (or, exceptionally,
underground) installed if necessary. It should he noted, however, that it is not always
possible for incoming feeders to be overhead lines.
4. Very high pollution levels: GIS phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground insulations are not
affected by pollution, but the metallic envelopes may suffer from corrosion problems in
harsh environments. in case of outdoor GIS substations.
5. Altitude above 1000 m: The internal GIS insulation is independent of atmospheric
pressure, so the need for special insulators is limited to the bushings.
6. Uprating, refurbishment or replacement of air-insulated substations in restricted areas.

The disadvantages of GIS substations are that the small area occupied can lead to
difficulties concerning maximum step and touch voltages, so earth conductors may
have to be extended beyond the substation limits (IEEE 80).

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 If possible, HV equipment in a GIS must be compatible, and extensions and
replacements for the next 20 or 30 years must be considered at the time the initial
order is placed. That’s what we call a good planning!

Suggested reading – Mastering GIS control circuits: AC/DC auxiliary circuits and circuit
breaker closing circuit

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2. Substation Layout
Although it is impossible to supply construction details for various types of layouts
corresponding to a given bus bar scheme, it is advisable to suggest a few general guidelines
with reference to the more usual design situations.

2.1. Primary Circuit

Layouts with conductors disposition with only two-level are preferred, e.g.: the upper for the
bus-bars system, the lower for the switchgear connections. See Figure 1 and notes on the
solutions employing rigid or flexible conductors.

Figure 1 – AC substation with flexible or rigid conductor

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 Figure 1 – AC substation with flexible or rigid conductor

Heavy components, such as circuit breakers and measuring transformers should be installed
in line and on the side of appropriate routes for mounting, dismounting and
maintenance. Usually, the maintenance should be carried out by means of equipped
vehicles. In this case, it is very important to fix the width of the route and its distance from the
bay taking into account the safety distances between the operator handling work tools and
the live parts.

See Figure 2.

Figure 2 – Safety distances in AC substation

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 Figure 2 – Safety distances in AC substation

In order to avoid long service interruptions due to clamps or conductors failures, it is

advisable that energy conductors or earth wires span do not overpass more than one
busbars system, See Figure 3.

Figure 3 – Overpass with two spans

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 Figure 3 – Overpass with two spans

A good solution is, when possible, the adoption of line-bays on both sides of the substation.
See Figure 4.

Figure 4 – Arrangements of circuit breakers (a) With circuit breakers at one side of the
substation; (b) With circuit breakers at both sides of the substation

Figure 4 – Arrangements of circuit breakers (a) With circuit breakers at one side of the substation; (b) With
circuit breakers at both sides of the substation

Line and transformer bays sequence should, if possible, be fixed minimising the possibility of
overloading busbars or connection conductors.

It is necessary to consider in the layout design, the possibility of extension of the

substation. This topic is more important in the case of substations with ring scheme
busbars. A particular design allows for an easy transformation from a ring scheme to a

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double busbar with a 1 ½ circuit-breaker scheme.

See Figure 5.

Figure 5 – Mesh arrangement

Figure 5 – Mesh arrangement

Lightning protection is necessary to protect a substation against direct lightning strokes. This
protection can be arranged in either overhead earth wires or lightning rods. It is easier to get
an efficient protection bay using earth wires.

Special attention has to be paid to the elimination of the risk of earth wire fall down on the
switchgear.

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2.2. Secondary Circuit

In order to minimise the electromagnetic interference between primary circuit and control
equipment and for economic reasons (especially when cables are employed), an alternative
is to decentralise the control, protection and automation apparatus.

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Following this way kiosks containing secondary equipment should be installed as near as
possible to the switching equipment. In hard climate conditions, (very cold/hot), this solution
may not be economic.
In Figure 6, a disposition example of secondary circuits concerning control and protection
systems is illustrated, taking into account the technology trends regarding energy
management systems.

Figure 6 – Mesh arrangement, Section a (see Figure 7)

Figure 6 – Mesh arrangement, Section a (see Figure 5)

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2.3. Criteria for the Choice between Rigid or Flexible Conductor

At present, the substation design with voltage level up to 500kV, rigid conductors is preferred
as it is more simple and economic. In this case, aluminium alloy tubes are employed. For
higher voltage levels, it can cause more difficulty to set up by tube bundle conductors with an
equivalent diameter suitable to contain the corona effect to an acceptable limit.

Of course, the choice of the best solution is influenced by the availability of materials that
change from country to country, and by different company experiences.

In the following paragraphs, the main advantages and disadvantages of both solutions are
listed.

2.3.1 Rigid conductors solution

Advantages
1. Simplicity, easy reading of operation configuration
2. Plant disposition with only two levels
3. Easy access to the transformers or to the switchyard for maintenance.
4. Easy use of pantograph or semi-pantograph disconnectors
5. Easy substation extension
6. Easy verification of electrodynamic forces effect

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 7. Short erection time
8. Lower grounding area for plant installation

Disadvantages
1. Uneasy temporary bypass of circuit-breakers on both sides of busbars.
2. Possibility of mechanical resonance between the tube structure and the wind gust
frequency. Can be prevented by suitable damping devices
3. The difficulty with the availability of tubes and the support material in some countries.

Figure 7 – Rigid busbars

Figure 7 – Rigid busbars

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2.3.2 Flexible conductors solution

Advantages

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 1. Use of the same material employed for overhead lines
2. Bundle Multiple conductors with appropriate diameter to reduce corona effect in ultra-
high voltage substations are easy fulfilled

Disadvantages
1. The complex layout also for simplex schemes
2. Difficult verification of withstanding to electrodynamic forces.
3. Busbars overpasses are to be provided
4. Considerable environmental impact consequent to three levels of conductors in the
substation
5. Considerable construction cost.
6. Difficulty in employing pantograph and semi pantograph disconnectors
7. Difficulty in substation extension.

Figure 8 – Flexible conductors

Figure 8 – Flexible conductors

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3. General Criteria and Rules

3.1 Safety Rules: Definitions

Step Voltage – The difference in surface potential experienced by a person bridging the
distance of a human step without contacting any other conductive part [IEEE 80].

Touch Voltage – The maximum potential difference between the accessible earth surface
and the dead part which can be touched by a hand of a person standing on the surface
[IEEE 81].

Safe Current – The current which can flow through the human body without threat to the life
and health of the exposed person [IEC 60479-1, -2]. Maximum step and touch voltages are
set to levels that will limit the current flowing through an exposed person to the safe current
level.

The proposed methods of service and repair work must be considered in the design of a
substation. In most countries, the minimum clearance between live parts and personnel is
standardised.

The following parameters are usually defined:

1. Minimum height of live parts above the accessible surface.

2. Minimum height of the lowest parts of insulators above the accessible surface.
3. Minimum horizontal distance between a live part and protective rails, fences, etc.
4. Minimum distance between a live part and a human body(or conductive tools) during
the work in the substation.

The main circuit, once isolated, must be considered a live part until it is earthed. It is
generally required to check for voltage on the conductor before applying the earthing device.
As it is not easy to test voltage by an independent device in EHV and UHV substations, a
remotely controlled earthing switch is used to earth the circuit after visually checking the
disconnectors in the open position.
It is also dangerous to handle a long rod with a portable earthing conductor in the vicinity of
live parts. Therefore earthing switches are preferable in substations above 145 kV. Portable
earthing devices are only used for additional earthing e.g. protection against induced voltage
on long busbars.

Suggested reading –

Go back to the Contents Table ↑

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3.2 Overvoltage and Insulation Levels

All equipment installed in a substation must be designed by taking the rated power frequency
voltage of the network into account. The temporary overvoltages at power frequency are
often caused by the sudden loss of load or earth faults, switching overvoltages and lightning
overvoltages.

In order to determine its capability it is subject to voltage tests as follows:

1. Lightning Impulse Withstand Voltage. (1.2/50)

2. Switching Impulse withstand voltage (250/2500)
3. Power frequency (50 or 60 Hz) (wet and/or dry).

Additionally, an oscillating voltage or chopped wave test may be required. The set of test
voltage values determines the insulating level. Standard insulating levels are defined in IEC
Standard 71 although the network parameters may dictate other values [IEC 60071-1, -2].
The necessary insulation level depends on the insulation co-ordination, i.e. on the properties
of different parts of the network (mainly lines), the protection used against overvoltages
(surge arresters ZnO are very effective), on altitude and also on the required reliability of the
substation (permissible probability of flashover) and may vary in different parts of the same
substation.

Suggested reading – Insulation coordination study for lightning overvoltages in 420 kV power
substation

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3.3 Current Rating and Overcurrents

The instantaneous load flow within a substation depends on the state of the entire electrical
network. Usually, a complete network analysis including the development of the network in
future is required to determine the nominal values of currents flowing in an individual
substation circuit.

It is theoretically possible for maximum current flow to occur with a relatively low total
production of electricity in the network. e.g. the supply to a pumped storage power station or
when utilising the by-pass facility within a substation.

While designing a substation it is necessary to consider the following two aspects of

the effect of current:

1. The thermal effect (including induced currents).

2. The mechanical effect on conductive items of plant and their support structures.

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Precise thermal modelling of equipment is very difficult as many factors influence the
resultant temperatures of conductive parts e.g. previous loading, ambient temperature,
wind speed, and solar conditions. Thermal design is therefore empirical and is proven by
type test covering nominal current rating and short-circuit current rating. Standard
procedures have been devised to predict the thermal behaviour of conductors, particularly
with respect to sag.
It may be possible to assign a short-term current rating in excess of the nominal but the
analysis leading to this must be to ensure that no “hot spots” (transformers, terminals,
busbar support points) are overlooked.

Methods of calculating short-circuit current values are given in IEC Standard 909 and the
effects of short circuit current can be evaluated in accordance with IEC Standard 865-1.

Further study – Practical guidance to calculation of prospective short-circuit currents on T&D

systems

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3.4 Electrical Clearances

It is not possible to test the whole HV installation by corresponding test voltages. Therefore
minimum clearances in the air between live parts or between live and dead parts in the
air are stated, to obtain the required insulation level in arrangements that have not been
tested. As the clearances are stated universally, they must assume the insulation in the worst
case of spark-gap with sufficient reliability.

Smaller clearances are permissible if the particular arrangement has been tested by the
prescribed insulation test (IEC 60071-1). The values of minimum distances to live parts in the
air also depend upon practical experience and therefore, some differences can be found
when comparing rules in different countries.

The specified electrical clearances must be maintained under all normal conditions.
Exceptionally reduced electrical clearances may be allowed. For example, in the case of
conductor movement caused by short-circuit current or by an extremely strong wind.

Suggested reading – The art of the switchyard design: Handpicked details you must consider
without fail

Go back to the Contents Table ↑

3.5 Mechanical Forces

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3.5.1 Equipment Weight

In addition to the normal weight of apparatus, conductors, structures etc, temporary loads
must be considered, especially the weight of frost and ice (depends on local climate) and
loads imposed by maintenance staff access. The strain during erection must also be
considered (lifting of structures, the asymmetric pull of conductor etc.).

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3.5.2 Wind loading

The wind pressure may substantially influence the strain exerted on structures and footings
and may also reduce the clearances between conductors (in the case of turbulent wind) or
between the conductors and grounded structures (consideration should be given to
insulators in V formation where problems occur).

Standard values for wind speed are recommended by IEC but local conditions must always
be considered. When calculating the wind loads on bundle conductors the screen effect from
the other subconductors may be taken into consideration.

The effect of wind on insulator strings should be taken into account. The wind loads can
be transmitted to the apparatus through either rigid or flexible connections.
Special care should be taken against the effects of aeolian vibration in rigid tubes. These
vibrations are due to Von Karman vortex shedding and can be managed (damped) using
either external dampers or in some cases by installing a flexible cable inside the tubes. The
flexible cable acts as an impact damper (efficient if the acceleration of the movement is
greater than the gravity).

Possible solution:

Figure 9 – Panels of layered, fibreglass-reinforced plastic. Upon impact, the layers

delaminate, slowing and absorbing a speeding wind impact.

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 Figure 9 – Ballistic walls

Suggested video – Ballistic walls

Watch Video At: https://youtu.be/NAcGqWt1zs8

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3.5.3 Earthquake

Earthquakes occur in different parts of the world. Substation planners should consider the
probability and the expected severity of a possible earthquake. Because the horizontal
acceleration is about 0,3-0,5g (the vertical acceleration is less than 50% of the horizontal)
and the frequency of the earthquake is 0,5-10 Hz, 275 – 500kV equipment that resonates in
this frequency band may be damaged.

Bus support insulators are particularly vulnerable.

Tubular aluminium conductors are also thought to resonate during earthquakes and, if
required, “dampers” or “slide supports” may be fitted. Equipment in the substation is liable
to suffer from damage where the ground conditions are not stable.

Therefore, particular attention should be paid to site preparation to ensure ‘solidity’

of the ground.

Figure 10 – Circuit breakers on isolated supports after the earthquake

Figure 10 – Circuit breakers on isolated supports after the earthquake

Figure 11 – Substation damage due to earthquake

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 Figure 11 – Substation damage due to earthquake

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3.5.4 Short-circuit

Generally, equipment is type tested in a short-circuit laboratory to determine its dynamic

behaviour with the exception of support insulators. Insulators are generally tested to meet
loads in static mode. The short-circuit strength of the busbars is usually only calculated, the

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calculation methods being verified by testing of typical busbar arrangements.

IEC865-1 can be used both for rigid and flexible connections, the background to the
calculation methods is detailed in CIGRE Brochure N105, published in 1996. Equations
presented in these publications do not take into account the flexibility of insulators and this
may result in over-specification of the required strength of insulators, especially where the
application is of non-ceramic insulators. Advanced methods can be used for specific
arrangements, to validate simple evaluations, or to limit short-circuit tests to the minimum
number of configurations.

They give access to much more comprehensive data than simple methods (for example
dynamic effects, supporting structure stress and strain, spacer compression, connection to
apparatus, insulator and supporting structure flexibility, etc.)

Calculated electromagnetic forces should never be used to determine direct loading on

supports. This is because of the dynamic interaction of a high frequency (50 and 100 Hz)
load with structures having a low resonant frequency (0.5 Hz for flexible structures and a few
Hz for rigid ones). That effect is taken into account in advanced methods and is
approximated in simple methods by reduction factors.
In the case of insulator supports, apparatus and transformer bushings, resonance may occur.
This occurs especially in substations designed for a voltage of around 150 kV, but other
installations may be affected, The use of damping devices may be considered.

Always consider the two-phase isolated fault condition for clearances and the two or three-
phase fault condition for maximum inter-phase stress. Where bundle conductors are used
the pinch effects must be considered. Aas a minimum, reduce sub-conductor distances and
avoid a ratio of sub-span length to bundle diameter in the range of 10 to 60.

Suggested course – Power System Analysis Course: Load Flow and Short Circuits

Go back to the Contents Table ↑

3.5.5 Combinations of forces

The probability of simultaneous occurrence of various mechanical forces will be

dependent upon local conditions. Calculations should normally include specified
combinations of :

Wind loads on conductors and equipment

Ice loads
Short circuit loads
Earthquake loads whenever necessary
Maintenance and/or erection loads

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 Weight of equipment and reaction forces
Static conductor tension

Additionally, mechanical loads due to low ambient temperatures and circuit-breaker

operations should be taken into account.

Figure 12 – Electrical workers remove the ice on a 35-kilovolt transmission tower on Qiyue
Mountain in Lichuan city of Central China’s Hubei province

Figure 12 – Electrical workers remove the ice on a 35-kilovolt transmission tower on Qiyue Mountain in
Lichuan city of Central China’s Hubei province

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3.6 Corona and Radio Interference

All devices must satisfy the specified level of radio noise. The limits of radio noise are
stated by national standards. International rules are IEC-CISPR Publication 1 and IEC-
CISPR Recommendation No 30.

Further study – Seven Bad Effects Of Corona On Transmission Lines

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Go back to the Contents Table ↑

3.7 Acoustic Noise

National regulations or standards generally give the permissible acoustic noise level. An
acoustic study for the planned substation should be carried out to determine the acoustic
conditions of the various items of equipment, chiefly the transformers and shunt reactors
and their cooling equipment and, if necessary, the circuit-breakers. Within the framework
of this study, the nature, distribution and number of sources of noise for the final installation
and at intermediate stages has also to be considered.

If the acoustic study shows that the natural attenuation of the sound level is not enough to
meet the permissible agreed noise criterion, three courses of action are possible:

1. Use of a low-noise transformer

2. Modifying the layout of equipment in the substation, for example by relocating the
transformers or cooling equipment.
3. Provision of one or more noise attenuation devices.

Suggested reading – Problems with audible substation noise and what you can do about it

Go back to the Contents Table ↑

3.8 Water Contamination

All noxious materials in the substation must be used and handled without leakage. The
vessels of power and instrument transformers, capacitors, coils etc. must be, where possible,
leakproof. In most countries, additional measures against detrimental materials are required.

Oil pits are designed to catch some proportion of the oil (or other liquid) and to prevent
oil from burning. If a central underground tank is used, it must be large enough to contain
the volume of the largest oil-filled equipment, any rainwater collected since the tank was last
emptied and the volume of water resulting from the operation of the water spray fire
protection system (where used).

When no oil leakage occurs, the rainwater may be drained off. Otherwise, decontamination is
necessary by such means as mechanical separation, filtering or chemical cleaning.

Suggested video – Substation Hardening for Future Storm Resilience

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Watch Video At: https://youtu.be/LTrTyrUhHVA

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3.9 Civil Design

The civil design includes supporting structures, foundations, facilities (internal roads, rails,
site surface…) fencing and buildings.

3.9.1 Supporting Structures

Supporting structures include terminal gantries and support structures for circuit-
breakers, disconnectors, instrument transformers and post insulators. Whereas
reinforced concrete may be used for HV substations, supporting structures of UHV
substations are commonly made from welded or bolted open profile steel lattice, or tubes.

In some cases, aluminium structures are used for their low weight, resistance to corrosion
and suitability for use in strong magnetic fields (in the vicinity of air-cored reactors) but it
should be noted that the buried portion must be made of steel in order to avoid
electrochemical corrosion.
Calculation of loads is usually covered by national standards and regulations which specify
safety factors and load combinations.

Suggested reading – Substation and switchyard support structures for electrical equipment

Go back to the Contents Table ↑

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3.9.2 Foundations

Calculation methods are given by national or company standards. Foundation dimensioning

is carried out according to the loads on the structures and additional forces such as the
dynamic stresses imposed by circuit-breaker operation.

Depending upon the type of soil and the loads, foundation types can be:

1. Poured concrete with or without steel reinforcement

2. Prefabricated reinforced concrete
3. Concrete slab (mostly used in indoor substations or for GIS)
4. Drilled (suitable in hard soil)
5. Auger bored piles

Steel stubs or anchor bolts, to which the structures are attached, are usually cast into the
foundation, a template often being used to locate such fixings prior to the concrete being
poured.

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3.9.3 Transformer Civil Works

Civil works for transformers or oil-filled reactors have four main purposes:

1. To support the transformer during service and enable it to be moved in and out of its
service position (rails may be needed depending upon transformer type).
2. To retain any leakage of transformer oil. Additionally, by filling the oil containment area
with gravel covered by an upper layer of broken stones or by connecting it to an
underground tank, extinguishing of oil fires can be assisted.
3. To reduce the risk of fire propagation (firewalls and fire stops in trenches are
recommended).
4. Where necessary, to reduce the propagation of acoustic noise.

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3.9.4 Site Facilities

Facilities for maintenance and operational needs must be taken into account in substation
design. Where access by crane or trucks has to be provided for installation, maintenance or
replacement operations, roads or tracks have to be constructed. The surface of the site will
also influence access.

Usually, stone chippings or grass are used to reduce dust levels. Stone chippings are
also effective in limiting ‘touch’ and ‘step’ voltages!

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Figure 13 – Stone chippings in substation are effective in limiting ‘touch’ and ‘step’ voltages

Figure 13 – Stone chippings in substation are effective in limiting ‘touch’ and ‘step’ voltages

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3.9.5 Substation Fencing

External fencing reduces the possibility of entry to the site by unauthorised persons. Special
measures are usually defined in national standards. Special attention should be paid to
‘touch’ voltages where metallic fencing is used. Internal fencing is used mostly for
defining areas where access is restricted, rails or wire fencing can be used for this purpose.

Fences, buildings, transformer civil works and supporting structures can influence the
aesthetic impact of the substation on the environment.

Figure 14 – Substation fence that reduces the possibility of entry to the site by unauthorised
persons

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 Figure 14 – Utility substation fencing

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3.9.6 Substation Buildings

The design of buildings has to conform, where relevant, to national and utility standards.
Their main role is to contain and give shelter to protection relays, SCADA equipment,
auxiliary equipment, battery systems, fire protection pumps etc.

For economic reasons (reduction of the length of cable runs, reducing auxiliary supply
voltage, minimising first investment) several dispersed buildings rather than one central
building can be built in a substation. Whether a substation is manned or unmanned will
determine the extent of the facilities required locally for the operators.

Normally a substation building is provided with a septic tank. Access to the substation and
the maintenance practices of the utility will determine whether or not to install a building
suitable for transformer detanking.

Suggested reading – Civil engineering in installation of substation buildings and switchboard

rooms

Civil engineering in installation of substation buildings and switchboard rooms

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Go back to the Contents Table ↑

3.10 Fire Protection

The use of fire protection systems and/or measures is mainly based on :

1. Minimising the hazard for the operators and the public and protecting the environment.
2. Limiting the damage to power transformers and to adjacent apparatus, equipment and
buildings.
3. Minimising the loss of customer’s service.

Water spray protection is generally preferred for outdoor installations, predominantly to

protect the power transformers, CO2 for indoor installations. Halon is now being phased out
of use in many countries because of its environmental impact. Smoke detectors (indoor),
bimetal detectors and quartzoid bulbs with a detecting pipe system pressurised with
compressed air at 0.25 – 0.8 MPa are the most common fire detecting elements.

To prevent the inadvertent operation of the fire protection system, the use of two detection
systems is recommended. For starting the fire fighting system of power transformers the
use of transformer protection relays is also common. To minimise the risk of fire damage,
passive protection measures should also be taken to prevent the propagation of fire or to
limit damage, e.g. fire barriers between or around transformers, fire-resistant material etc.
Provision may be made to aid the extinguishing of burning oil under the transformer,
such as :

1. A 200 – 300 mm layer of broken stones on the grid above the oil-containing pit.
2. A stone-filled pit.
3. A steel or concrete chamber connected to the oil retaining area by pipe(s), e.g. 5 m
long by 200 mm diameter.

Fire protection of cables in indoor and outdoor HV substations is usually only by passive
measures to reduce the fire propagation – fire stops (concrete, steel, mineral wool, sand,
silicone) and/or fire-resistant painting. In installing fire barriers care must be taken to ensure
that hot spots are not introduced.

Power and control cables should be installed along separate routes e.g. separate cable
racks or separate trenches.

Suggested reading – What happens when a transformer fire occurs in a substation?

What happens when a transformer fire occurs in a substation

Go back to the Contents Table ↑

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3.11 Substation Security

To control entry to a substation by unauthorised persons, the site should be equipped with
security measures. These measures serve two purposes: protection of public and
personnel safety and protection of assets against loss and/or damage. Substations are
a high voltage environment that can present potential safety hazards to untrained and/or
unaware people.

Furthermore, the theft of copper grounding wires from perimeter fencing or from inside a
substation could affect the integrity of the substation grounding system, thus potentially
compromising the safety of the intruder as well as the substation staff.

Damage or loss of substation operating equipment could also result in loss of supply to
customers and material/property losses.
Substation security measures may include:

Fences (in some cases with electrified wires),

Walls,
Entrance/equipment locks,
Photoelectric motion-sensing equipment,
Video surveillance systems,
Computer security systems,
Lightning or landscaping.

For each substation, an assessment should be made to determine which measure and/or
combination of measures are most appropriate.

Figure 15 – Fence on Walney Substation, UK

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 Figure 15 – Fence on Walney Substation, UK (photo credit: CLD Fencing Systems)

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3.12 Earthing for Personnel Safety

An earthing system, engineered for personnel safety, ensures that a person is not exposed
to a dangerous electric voltage gradient, when in the vicinity of facilities that are
connected to the earth. A personnel safety earthing system controls the effects of the
temporary earthing path, established by a person exposed to a voltage gradient in, or in the
vicinity of the substation.

During earth fault conditions, the flow of current to earth will produce voltage gradients
within and around a substation. During an earth fault, the maximum voltage gradients
along the earth surface may endanger a person in the area.
Moreover, hazardous voltages may develop between metal structures or equipment frames
that are connected to the earth, and nearby surfaces on which a person may stand.

The following circumstances can contribute to hazardous voltage gradients and risk
to personnel:

1. Relatively high earth fault current

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 2. High soil resistivity
3. Distribution of earth fault currents such that a significant ground-return current flows.
4. Presence of an individual at such a point, time, and position that the body is bridging
two points with a voltage difference
5. Insufficient contact resistance to limit the current through the body to a safe value
under the above circumstances
6. A fault duration such that the duration of the flow of current through the human body is
for sufficient time to cause harm

The effects of an electric current passing through the vital parts of a human body depend on
the duration, magnitude, and frequency of this current. The most dangerous
consequence of such exposure is a heart condition known as ventricular fibrillation, resulting
in the immediate arrest of blood circulation. The magnitude and duration of the current
conducted through a human body at 50 or 60 Hz should be less than the value that can
cause ventricular fibrillation of the heart.
The safety earthing system should be engineered to limit the magnitude of the human body
current by limiting the step voltage and the touch voltage during earth faults. High-speed
clearing of earth faults reduces the probability of exposure to electric shock and reduces
the duration of current flow through the body, which limits the severity of the bodily injury.

The allowable earth fault current value may therefore be based on the clearing time
of primary protective devices or that of the backup protection.

Suggested book – Handbook for application of neutral earthing resistors (NERs) at the
substation

Handbook for application of neutral earthing resistors (NERs) at the substation

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3.13 Direct Lightning Stroke Shielding

A substation should be protected against direct strikes by lightning, where there is a

significant probability that lightning discharges will occur. Please note that there is no
known method of providing 100% shielding short of enclosing the equipment in a solid
metallic enclosure.

The following are characteristics of the lightning phenomena that make it difficult to engineer
direct stroke protection:

The unpredictable, probabilistic nature of lightning

The lack of data due to the infrequency of lightning strokes in substations
The complexity and economics involved in analysing a system in detail

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 The uncertainty, complexity, and cost of performing a detailed analysis of a shielding
system have historically resulted in simple rules of thumb being utilised in the
design of lower voltage facilities.

Suggested video – Lightning storm approaching a substation

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Source: General Guidelines For The Design Of Outdoor AC Substations by CIgre Working
Group 23.03

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