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Electrical Network comprises the following regions:

Generating Stations
Transmission Systems
Receiving Systems
Distribution Systems
Load Points
In all these regions, the power flow of Electrical energy takes place through Electrical
Substations.

The assembly of apparatus used to change some characteristic (e.g. voltage, A.C. to D.C.,
frequency P.F. etc.) of electric supply is called a substation. A substation is a part of an electrical
generation, transmission and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to
low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions. Electric power may flow
through several substations between generating plant and consumer, and its voltage may change
in several steps. A substation may include transformers to change voltage levels between high
transmission voltages and lower distribution voltages, or at the interconnection of two different
transmission voltages. The word substation comes from the days before the distribution system
became a grid. The first substations were connected to only one power station, where the
generators were housed, and were subsidiaries of that power station. Substations generally have
switching, protection and control equipment, and transformers. In a large substation, circuit
breakers are used to interrupt any short circuits or overload currents that may occur on the
network. Smaller distribution stations may use reclosed circuit breakers or fuses for protection of
distribution circuits. Substations themselves do not usually have generators, although a power
plant may have a substation nearby. Other devices such as capacitors and voltage regulators may
also be located at a substation.

1. Function of Substations:
An electricity supply undertaking generally aims at the following:
Supply of required electric power to all the consumers continuously at all times
Maximum possible coverage of the supply network over the given geographical area
Maximum security of supply
Shortest possible fault-duration
Optimum efficiency of the plants and the network
Supply of electric power within targeted frequency limits (49.90 Hz t0 50.05Hz)
Supply of electrical power within specified voltage limits
Supply of electrical power to the consumers at the lowest cost







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2. Types of Substation:
There are several substations between generating station and final load points.
Electrical substations receive power from the incoming lines. The power is transformed to
desired voltage by the transformers and is then supplied via the outgoing lines. There may be two
or three voltage levels in a substation depending upon incoming and outgoing line voltage levels.
The electrical substation at the various locations in the network differs greatly in their sizes,
designs, configuration and appearance. However, the electrical schemes are based on curtained
well defined requirements. The electrical substation design is influenced by following aspects:
Rated voltages of incoming and outgoing lines/cables
Total MVA to be transferred
Type of consumers
Geographical area available
Practice of the owner, etc.
Electrical substation can be following types:
Step-up or Step-down
Generating Station, Main Station
Switching Substation (Without transformer)
Intermediate Compensating Substation
Receiving Substation
Distribution Substation
Industrial Substation
T-off Substation
Traction Substation for electrical Traction
Conversion Substation for A.C. to D.C.
HVDC conversion substations, etc.

2.1 ACCORDING TO SERVICE REQUIREMENT:
Transformer sub-stations: Those sub-stations which change the voltage level of electric
supply are called transformer sub-stations.
Switching sub-stations: Those sub-stations which simply perform the switching
operations of the power line are called switching sub-stations.
Power factor correction sub-stations: Those sub-stations which improve the power
factor of the system are called power factor correction sub-stations. They are generally
located at the receiving ends of transmission lines. These sub-stations use synchronous
condensers as the power factor improvement equipment.
Frequency changer sub-station: Those sub-station which change the supply. Frequency
is known as frequency changer sub-stations.

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(v) Converting sub-stations: Those sub-stations which change a.c. power into D.C.
power are called converting substations. They do so using suitable apparatus (erg
ignitron) to supply for such purposes as traction, electroplating, electric welding etc.
Industrial sub-stations: Those sub-stations which supply power to individual industrial
concerns are known as industrial sub-stations.


2.2. ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES:
Indoor sub-stations: For voltages up to 11kV, the equipment of the substation is
installed indoor because of economic considerations. However when the atmosphere is
contaminated with impurities, these sub-stations can be erected for voltages up to 66 kV.
Outdoor sub-stations: For voltages beyond 66kV, equipment is invariably installed
outdoor.
Underground sub-stations: In thickly populated areas, the space available for
equipment and building is limited and cost of land is high. Under such situations, the sub-
stations are created underground.
Pole mounted sub-stations: This is an indoor sub-station with equipment installed
overhead or H-pole or 4-pole structure. These sub-stations are designed for voltages not
exceeding 11kV (or 33kV in some cases).

2.3. ACCORDING BASED ON CONFIGURATION:
Conventional Air insulated Substation: In such Substations bus bars and connectors,
circuit breakers, isolators, transformers, etc. are seen by naked eye or are installed
outdoor.
Gas Insulated Substation: These are developed during 1970. : In such Substations bus
bars and connectors, circuit breakers, isolators, transformers, etc. are in form of metal
enclosed SF6 gas filled modules.

2.4. ACCORDING TO VOLTAGE LEVELS:
Low tension: Below 1000 V A.C. , 400 V, 660 V
High tension: All A.C. voltages above 1000 V
Medium High voltage: Between 1 KV & 33 KV
High voltage: Between 33 KV & 110 KV
Extra High voltage: 220 KV & 400 KV
Ultra High voltage: 760 KV & 1100 KV
High voltage Direct current (HVDC): 100 KV, 200 KV, 400 KV, 500 KV