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Substation role in the power system

An electrical substation is a part of an electricity generation, transmission and distribution system where voltage is transformed from high to low or in reverse using transformers. It also serves as a point of connection between various power system elements such as transmission lines, transformers, generators and loads.

The 21st Century Substation Design
The 21st Century Substation Design (on photo: 132/11kV substation by SIEMENS)

To allow for flexibility in connecting the elements, circuit breakers are used as high power switches.

Electric power may flow through several substations between generating plant and consumer, and may be changed in voltage in several steps.

There are different kinds of substation such as Transmission substation, distribution substation, collector substation, switching substation and some other types of substation.

The general functions of a substation may include:

  1. Voltage transformation
  2. Connection point for transmission lines
  3. Switchyard for network configuration
  4. Monitoring point for control center
  5. Protection of power lines and apparatus
  6. Communication with other substations and regional control center

General criteria for substation design

For the substation development to reach its technical and economical potentials, the focus has moved now to studying how substations may enable more intelligence in the network, which is labeled the “smart grid” development.

Different criteria for the 21st century substation design
Figure 1 – Different criteria for the 21st century substation design

It has been concluded that the 21st century substation design should meet the following improved criteria: reliability, security, interoperability, re-configurability, controllability, maintainability, flexibility, reduced cost and environmental impact. An estimate of the importance of the different criteria is shown in Figure 1.

The four major criteria commonly emphasized by substation designers are: reliability, cost, operational flexibility and environment impact.

Title:The 21st Century Substation Design – PSerc, Power Systems Engineering Research Center
Format:PDF
Size:3.76 MB
Pages:105
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The 21st Century Substation Design
The 21st Century Substation Design

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4 Comments


  1. Musse Mohamud Ahmed
    Jan 05, 2018

    Excellent Files, Thank you very much.


  2. Engineer Torikul Islam
    Jan 19, 2016

    I am a Electrical and Electronic Engineer. Thanks a lot and also be grateful to you it is a up to date and need able information. thanks again.


  3. SIVARAJA
    Jan 23, 2014

    very useful information and up to date, people like us engineers who is involve in electrical work…tq


  4. Shabana Nayab
    Jan 20, 2014

    I love the information on this website. very helpful and knowledgeable.

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