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Home / Technical Articles / The consumer power substation with metering on medium voltage side

Nominal voltage 1kV – 35kV

A consumer power substation with metering on medium voltage side is an electrical installation connected to a utility supply system at a nominal voltage usually between 1kV – 35kV, which for example may supply a single MV/LV transformer (exceeding generally 1250 kVA), several MV/LV transformers or one or several MV/LV secondary substations.

The consumer power substation with metering on medium voltage side
The consumer power substation with metering on medium voltage side

The single line diagram and the layout of a substation with MV metering depend on the complexity of the installation and the presence of secondary substations.

For example a substation may:

  • Include one single room containing the MV switchboard, the metering panel, the transformer(s) and the low voltage main distribution board(s),
  • Supply one or several transformers, each installed in a dedicated room including the corresponding main LV distribution switchboard
  • Supply one or several secondary MV/LV substations.

Functions of the substation with MV metering

  1. Connection to the MV network
  2. MV/LV Transformers and internal MV distribution
  3. Metering
  4. Local emergency generators
  5. Capacitors
  6. LV main switchboard
  7. Simplified electrical network diagram

1. Connection to the MV network

Connection to the MV network can be made:

  1. By a single service cable or overhead line,
  2. By dual parallel feeders via two mechanically interlocked load-break switches
  3. Via a ring main unit including two load-break switches.
SM6 medium voltage switchgear, Schneider Electric
SM6 medium voltage switchgear, Schneider Electric (photo credit: ezois.ru)

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2. MV/LV Transformers and internal MV distribution

As well as for substation with LV metering, only oil-immersed and dry type cast-resin transformers are allowed with the same rules of installation. When the installation includes several MV/LV transformers and/or secondary MV/ LV substations an internal MV distribution network is required.

Trihal - Dry-type transformer 1600 kVA 10/0,42kV connected to busbar system Canalis KTA 2500A (Schneider Electric)
Trihal – Dry-type transformer 1600 kVA 10/0,42kV connected to busbar system Canalis KTA 2500A (Schneider Electric)

According to the required level of availability, the MV supplies to the transformers and the secondary substations may be made:

  1. By simple radial feeders connected directly to the transformers or to the secondary substations
  2. By one or several rings including the secondary MV/LV substations
  3. By duplicate feeders supplying the secondary MV/LV substations.

For the two latter solutions the MV switchboard located in each secondary substation includes two load break switch functional units for the connection of the substation to the internal MV distribution and one transformer protection unit, for each transformer installed in the substation. The level of availability can be increased by using two transformers operating in parallel or arranged in dual configuration with an automatic change over system.

It is not recommended to use MV/LV transformers above 2500 kVA due to: The high level of the short circuit current generated on the main LV switchboard and the number of LV cable required for the connection of the transformer to the LV switchboard.

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3. Metering

The characteristics and the location of the VT’s and CT’s dedicated to the metering shall comply with the utility requirements.

Medium voltage SM6 metering cubicle GBC
Medium voltage SM6 metering cubicle GBC (photo credit: schneider-electric.be)

The VT’s and CT’s are generally installed in the MV switchboard. A dedicated functional unit is in most of the cases required for the voltage transformers while the current transformers may be contained in the functional unit housing the circuit breaker ensuring the general protection of the substation.

The panel that contains the meters shall be accessible by the utility at any time.

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4. Local emergency generators

Emergency standby generators are intended to maintain the power supply to the essential loads in the event of failure of the utility power supply. According to the energy needs an installation may contains one or several emergency generators.

The generators can be connected:

At MV level to the MV main substation (see Fig. B34).The generator(s) may be sized either for the supply of the whole installation or for a part only. In this case a load shedding system must be associated to the generator(s).

Connection of emergency generators at MV level
Figure B34 – Connection of emergency generators at MV level

At LV level on one or several LV switchboards requiring an emergency supply. At each location, the loads requiring an emergency supply may be grouped on a dedicated LV busbar supplied by a local generator (see Fig. B32).

Emergency generator at LV Level
Figure B32 – Emergency generator at LV LevelEmergency generator at LV Level

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5. Capacitors

Capacitors are intended to maintain the power factor of the installation at the contractual value specified by the utility. The capacitor banks can be fixed or adjustable by means of steps.

They can be connected:

  • At MV level to the main MV substation
  • At LV level on LV switchboards.
Capacitor banks panel
Capacitor banks panel (photo credit: schneider-electric.be)

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6. LV main switchboard

Every MV/LV transformer is connected to a main LV switchboard complying with the requirements listed for substation with LV metering.

Main low voltage switchgear, type PRISMA P, Schneider Electric
Main low voltage switchgear, type PRISMA P, Schneider Electric (photo credit: skaaret.as)

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7. Simplified electrical network diagram

Consumer substation with MV metering
Figure B35 – Consumer substation with MV metering

The diagram (Fig. B35) shows:

  • The methods of connection of a MV/LV substation to the utility supply:
    • Spur network or single-line service
    • Single line service with provision for future connection to a ring or to dual parallel feeders
    • Dual parallel feeders
    • Loop or ring-main service
  • General protection at MV level
  • MV metering functions
  • Protection of MV circuits
  • LV distribution switchboard
Compared with a substation with LV metering, a substation with MV metering includes in addition:

  • A MV Circuit breaker functional unit for the general protection of the substation
  • A MV metering functional unit
  • MV Functional units dedicated to the connection and the protection of:
    • MV/LV transformers
    • MV feeders supplying secondary substations
    • MV capacitor banks
    • Emergency generators

The general protection usually includes protection against phase to phase and phase to earth faults. The settings must be coordinated with the protections installed on the feeder of the primary substation supplying the installation.

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Reference: Electrical Installation Guide 2015 – Schneider Electric (Download)

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Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

4 Comments


  1. Mmikaeya Tanka
    Jul 14, 2022

    Good afternoon,
    How much is the 11kv consumer substation?
    How much is a 400v to 11kv transformer?
    How much is a 400v mini substation?
    How much is a 550v mini substation?


  2. Tan Tiong Teck
    Nov 28, 2016

    The LV connection between the tranformer and busbar system shown in your picture, should it be connected via a flexible link?


    • Yalamo Uri
      Feb 09, 2021

      Interested so please inbox me more details..


  3. Paul Peres
    Jan 13, 2015

    Very good

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