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Home / Technical Articles / What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function?

Switchgear bays

It’s not always an easy task to explain what is what in high voltage substations. Shapes of the major elements are mostly similar through substations, but there are also combinations of two and more elements with integrated functions.

What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function?
What is what in outdoor HV substation? How to identify elements by shape and function? (photo credit: Geoff Collins via Flickr)

This technical article explains the basic elements and their shapes/functions you can see in outdoor high voltage substations.

Each operating facility inside a substation fulfils an important function, varying in shape and size depending on its location and purpose. They ensure that the total installation can be operated securely and reliably.

The combination of the devices surrounding a circuit breaker – disconnectors and earthing switches and combined instrument transformers that form a functional unit with the circuit breaker – is called the switchgear bay.

At the centre of each switchgear bay is the circuit breaker, which can interrupt the current both in normal operating conditions and in case of disturbances. The switchgear bay is connected to the other operating facilities via disconnectors with an integrated earthing switch.

The combined instrument transformer reports information on the current and voltage to the protection and control systems.

According to the function, a distinction is made between:

Line switchgear bay – this connects the high voltage power line with the busbars.

Transformer switchgear bay – this switchgear bay connects the transformer with the busbars. Noteworthy is that the transformer is connected directly and not by means of a disconnector.

Coupler bay – this switchgear bay forms a flexible connection with the busbars.

How is an underground cable connected? When power is supplied to the substation via a high-voltage underground cable instead of an overhead line, the overhead line portal is replaced by the cable portal. In addition, specific facilities also need to be installed to operate the cable.

These are compensation reactors which regulate the reactive power needed by the cable, as well as surge arresters.


Substation elements

High voltage substation elements
High voltage substation elements (click to expand layout)

Following the layout above, let’s see the shapes and functions of ten major components you can see in most HV substations. Note that listed elements may have a little bit different look depending on technology and manufacturer.

  1. Power transformer
  2. Disconnectors
  3. Earthing switches
  4. Current and potential transformers
  5. Circuit breakers
  6. Surge arrester
  7. Busbars
  8. Lightning conductor mast
  9. Portal
  10. Relay and operating buildings

1. Power transformer

Power-transformer

The maximum voltage used to transport electric current in the European transmission system is 380,000 volts (380 kV) in order to keep the losses as low as possible.

But how are these 380,000 volts brought down to the voltage used in households? Transformers take care of this change in voltage. The large jump from high voltage (380,000 volts) to household voltage (230 volts) can, however, not be made in a single bound.

The grids using these different voltage levels are all connected by substations.

The closer these substations are to the final consumer, the lower the voltage and the smaller their size. The transformation to the standard voltage used to connect residential buildings to the grid takes place in the immediate vicinity.

Transformers that adjust voltage levels from 380 kV to 110 kV – meaning from the voltage level of the transmission system to the distribution system – are about as large as a personal garage. Both on the outside and the inside, they are mainly constructed in metal.

Transformer at substation Oberschöna (Saxony)
Transformer at substation Oberschöna (Saxony) – photo credit: 50hertz

A transformer has a primary and a secondary side. On the primary side, the power on the high voltage side ows through a large coil. This coil is wrapped around a large iron core. The magnetic field that is created inside the transformer induces a current in the coil on the secondary side. As the proportions of the coils are different, the voltage is lowered to 110 kV.

Inside the transformer, oil is used as insulation and a means to dissipate heat. The oil is cooled in large heat exchangers next to the transformer, so that the latter can be properly cooled in each operational state.

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2. Disconnectors

Disconnector

Disconnectors can be found almost everywhere in a substation. Depending on the location, these are feeder or busbar disconnectors. Their purpose is to open the electrical circuit and to completely isolate certain system components from the rest of the installation.

They do not connect or disconnect the current. Within your own home, opening a disconnector can be as simple as unplugging a switched-off appliance or device.

High voltage disconnector
High voltage disconnector

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3. Earthing switches

Earthing switch

An earthing switch provides a safe and reliable ground connection for a deactivated and therefore voltage-free system component. It prevents the danger occurred through the charge processes.

In combination with the disconnectors, they create a safe working environment inside the substation.

High voltage earthing switch
High voltage earthing switch

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4. Current and potential transformers

Current and potential transformers

For the secure operation of a substation, it is necessary to know of the state of the grid system at all times. The data needed to determine this state are supplied by current and potential transformers.

Additionally, these data are processed by the protection and control systems, so that they can respond automatically in case of disturbances.

Current and potential transformers
Current and potential transformers

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5. Circuit breakers

Circuit breaker

The circuit breaker is the high-voltage equivalent of a light switch and a miniature circuit breaker. It activates and de-activates lines and system components, irrespective of whether there is a normal load current or a disturbance.

Aside from the transformer, this is the most important high-voltage device of the substation.

HV circuit breaker
HV circuit breaker

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6. Surge arrester

Surge arrester

Surge arresters can often be found at the end of an overhead line or a cable. They limit over-voltages or surges, which are brief voltages that are significantly higher than the normal voltage and can be caused, for example, by a lightning stroke.

By limiting the voltage to a normal level, the devices in the substation can be protected without interrupting the supply.

HV surge arrester
HV surge arrester

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7. Busbars

Busbar

The busbar is the backbone of the substation. Tubes connect the different switchgear bays and take care of power transmission within the substation. In order to increase the fail-safe performance and more flexibly control the transmission of electricity, there are usually multiple busbars.

These can be connected in many different ways.

HV busbars in substation
HV busbars in substation

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8. Lightning conductor mast

Lightning conductor mast

The lightning conductor mast is not part of the operating facilities of the substation. Nevertheless, it is an essential component. Given the often open area and the many tall metal devices, lightning strokes are not unlikely in a substation. In order to protect the devices and ensure the electricity supply, substations are equipped with several high lightning conductor masts.

Like a lightning rod on a house, it serves to conduct the lightning stroke to the earth in a controlled manner without exposing personnel and operating facilities to danger.

Protection against lightning strokes: The voltage of a lightning stroke can amount to 100 million volts and has to be safely conducted to earth to avoid damage to the substation.

HV lightning conductor
HV lightning conductor

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9. Portal

HV substation portal

Aside from operating facilities and lightning conductor masts, there is another noticeable construction within the substation – the portal.

Overhead lines, busbars and transformer connections cannot be suspended in thin air, but have to be supported in a mechanically stable manner. This purpose is fulfilled by the portals, which in case of a line or transformer portal look like a large frame in which the lines are insulated and suspended.

Busbar portals, however, act as supports on which the tubular busbars are mounted and insulated.

HV portal in substation
HV portal in substation

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10. Relay and operating buildings

Relay and operating buildings

Inside the substation there are also relay and operating buildings. Relay buildings mainly include protection and control components. In order to limit the distance to the controlled devices, there can be multiple relay buildings in-side a single substation.

The operating building contains the other components of the control system, communications system and the storage, break and restrooms.

Relay and operating building
Relay and operating building

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HV Substations around the world… 125kv, 66kv, 33kv

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Reference // How substations work by 50Hertz Transmission GmbH

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author-pic

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.

14 Comments


  1. Sayed Ebrahim Alawi Hashem
    May 16, 2023

    it is a highly engineered site


  2. Abbas Dairawy
    Nov 26, 2022

    Thank you
    Great article


  3. Lason Suke
    Feb 05, 2022

    Great Article. Thank you


  4. Ramin Hoseinnezhad
    Sep 05, 2021

    Can I have your valuable articles in PDF format please?


  5. Adeyemo Gbolahan Isaac
    Jun 16, 2021

    I’m so impress with all the outrageous and exclusive Jon welldone,by the EEP group of Company. I wish to learn more mad to work with the Company


  6. Dan
    Mar 11, 2019

    Hello. Great work, but … on the energy flow, the lower voltage section, after the power transformer, should go through the Relay and operating building, isn’t’? There we find the medium voltage bay, for example, no?
    Thank you.


    • Iryna
      Feb 27, 2024

      Don’t think so. In this case, in the building there is no MV switchgear, only protection / control panels, etc. Lower voltage energy from transformer ( = MV) is not presented in the plan, and goes to special dedicated switchgear, in another building (or open-yard).


  7. Peter Olajide
    Mar 04, 2019

    I am really grateful to meet you, this is very informative and useful
    Thanks


  8. Sonny Soemarsono
    Mar 04, 2019

    Edvard Csanyi…you’re the most effective professor I’ve ever known : your systematic and the way you explaining subjects are incredible. Thank you very much.


  9. Peter
    May 03, 2018

    I really appreciated the knowledge shared by EEP and I m very interested in reading all your articles because they are very educative.Thanks Edvard for your support to younger Engineers


  10. Elikem Obuo
    Jan 11, 2018

    I wish to join the Premium membership but the link is not secured and I needed to use my VISA card. What can be done for me?


  11. Ghazanfar Ali Khan
    Jan 11, 2018

    The article is very useful and the information is valuable for learning and practicing in the field. Thanks EEP.


  12. Alan James
    Jan 10, 2018

    Hi, Some 52 years ago I was engineer in charge of high voltage research with A. Reyrolle in U.K.
    Reading about what you guys are doing today has blown me away. I am still not sure I comprehend
    how High Voltage D.C. circuit breakers actually work. By the way I am now 84, but still like to read and
    appreciate the advances that have taken place. In particular I would like to know a VSC valve functions.

    Kind regards,
    Alan


    • Hassan
      Feb 22, 2018

      Good luck Allen. That was great to see your attitude.

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