INTRODUCTION TO POWER DISTRIBUTION SUBSTATIONS Modern substations installed by distribution utilities serve as the hub of the distribution circuits.

They also reduce the higher voltages coming from the transmission lines or power generation facilities. Substations can be placed close to load centers to limit line losses and maintain power quality. Sometimes substations are placed within the perimeter of large power loads like malls and factories, in which case they are called dedicated substations. Substation Components Power transformer Circuit breakers, automatic circuit reclosers and power fuses Protective relays Current transformers Voltage or potential transformers Disconnect switches Power meters Lightning or surge arresters Automatic voltage regulators Power capacitors Communication equipment Control and monitoring cubicles

System and Control Voltages Voltages, safety and construction standards determine the relative spacing, layout and configuration of equipment and structures. The Philippine Electrical Code sets the minimum standards for electrical equipment used in power substations, including vertical and horizontal clearances. Common system voltages among utilities range from 13.2 kV for electric cooperatives, 34.5 and 69 kV for large utilities like VECO,
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MERALCO. Control voltages are commonly 48 or 125 volts dc, to assure of supply during power interruptions. These voltages are provided by battery banks and are utilized by circuit breakers, switches and relays. Power Transformers These transformers are usually three phase units rated from 5,000 to 30,000 kVA. High side voltages are commonly 34.5 or 69 kV, while low side voltages are the common distribution voltages, 13.2, 13.8, 22, 34.5 kilovolts. Most often the high side voltages are connected Delta while the low side connected in Wye, but there are installations that are connected otherwise, depending on the type of utilization. There are instances where the transformers are single phase units and banked as three-phase assemblies. These transformers are commonly oil-immersed, with cooling fins or radiators to help cool the oil. The type of oil commonly used is PCB-free mineral oil. Some have oil conservator tanks to minimize oxidation, while some are sealed types with a nitrogen gas-filled space above the oil. In order to allow for some degree of flexibility when it comes to voltage variations, the high side windings have taps, usually two above and two below, at 2.5% each of rated voltage. These taps can only be changed with the transformer unloaded. These are called No-Load Tap Changers or NLTC. Some, although more expensive, have 16 x 5/8% taps above and below rated voltage. These are called Load Tap Changers and serve as automatic voltage regulators. Circuit Breakers, Reclosers, and Power Fuses To protect the transformer from overcurrent due to faults, circuit breakers (or fuses) are placed before and after the transformers. If placed at the high side, the circuit breaker de-energizes the transformer momentarily during an abnormal current surge, while if placed at the low side, it momentarily unloads the transformer. If placed at both sides, protection then becomes selective, and is considered good practice.
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Power fuses have been used to provide some degree of protection to power transformers, but are usually employed for smaller units. Since fuses detect only over-currents, other abnormal transformer conditions like unbalanced voltages and loading, excessive temperatures and pressures are left to some other modes of control. Also, at high voltages, fuses can not be operated so that all three poles close or open simultaneously, and may introduce dangerous unbalanced conditions to the system, even to operating personnel. Automatic circuit reclosers are like circuit breakers, but are designed to operate following a set of pre-determined sequence and time interval. These are commonly installed at feeders or at the low side of the transformer. Protective Relays Power circuit breakers, owing to design and manufacturing considerations, are built to be operated with relays. These small devices detect the operating parameters and send signals to the circuit breaker to open or close when set conditions are met. There are several types of relays and the measured values are not limited to current. Some sense voltages, frequency, temperature, pressure, combustible gases, etc. The degree of protection is thereby increased and made more flexible and selective by applying several types to control a particular circuit breaker. There are relays that incorporate several measurable parameters into one small package. They are called multifunction relays.

Current Transformers It would be impractical to measure and monitor large magnitudes of current at high voltages while maintaining a safe operating environment. A fractional representation of the actual quantity is sufficient to provide an accurate picture to the relays. Current transformers come to play. As in other types of transformers, these devices keep a constant ratio to the actual value. Transformation ratios vary up to several hundreds or
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thousands. Most common secondary outputs of current transformers are 1 and 5 amperes, while the primary ratings are as high as a few thousand amperes. Current transformers are also used to provide inputs to power and energy meters. Voltage Transformers Voltage transformers, similar to the previous current transformers, provide a fixed ratio of the actual voltage, so that manageable levels can be brought to the control center or to the instrument. While primary ratings are chosen to suit the high side voltages, the secondary output is usually 120 volts. These transformers are so designed to keep as low phase angle difference between primary and secondary as possible to minimize measurement errors.

Disconnect Switches In order to provide a visual proof of opening and for security and maintenance purposes, disconnect switches are installed preferably at both sides of each circuit breaker. These switches can be installed as individually operable or as a set of three-pole group-operated disconnect, with the operating handle at the base of the structure for ease of operation. Some are even motor operated and automatically opens when the associated circuit breaker opens. Group operation is required at the source side of transformers, to avoid unwanted unbalance conditions during operation. Ratings are for both voltage and current, while for the latter they are usually at 300, 600, or 1200 amperes.

Meters and Metering Equipment Meters come in several types and functions. The most common is the energy billing meter, which is required for all substations. The difference from the usual residential types is the utilization of instrument transformers rated for the voltages and currents prevailing in substations.
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At present these meters are fitted with communication modems and transmitters to upload metering data to remote offices. Other types are statistical meters that store needed records of measurements for statistical or analytical purposes. There are also the usual indicating voltmeters, ammeters, power factor meters, etc.

Surge Arresters This type of component is a mitigating measure that serves as a trap for voltages that occur during lightning strokes or surges. The device is connected between the line conductor and ground and is rated slightly above the nominal voltage and functions only when a certain level is reached or exceeded. The energy is conveyed to ground via large conductors, and dissipated to the ground grid. The protected equipment is usually the power transformer, and the surge arrester is mounted close to the protected unit. As a sacrificial device, surge arresters may sustain irreparable damage and are often replaced.

Automatic Voltage Regulators This type of equipment looks like a large distribution transformer but with an extra primary bushing. The usual placement is at the low voltage side of the power transformer and serves to regulate the feeder voltages during load variations. Like the On-Load tap changer, the output voltage is varied by several taps from its winding. Voltage sensing is done automatically and tap changing is performed by quick-make quick-break contacts operated by a stepping motor. The common trade name is a 5/8% step voltage regulator. There are 16 steps above and 16 below rated phase voltage.

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Power Capacitors Sometimes capacitors are installed at substations to improve the substation power factor, but these devices are most often placed out along the feeders to maximize the benefits that could be realized from them, including voltage improvement. These have rectangular tanks with high voltage bushings and usually connected in Wye. Installations could either be fixed or switched, the latter done with the use of oil switches controlled by sensors or time switches. Distribution capacitors are rated in voltage and kilovars, with sizes ranging from 25 kvars up to several hundreds.

Communication Equipment It is essential that substations have the capability of sending or receiving data. A large number of modern protective equipment already have communication capabilities pre-installed. The user can configure the built-in communication capability to adapt to SCADA requirements and monitor or control the substation remotely.

Control and Monitoring Cubicles Some utilities still prefer to have personnel in substations. Should this be opted, control and protection can be indoor type and placed inside control houses constructed within the substation perimeter. The control panels are arranged much like any other power station where one can see panel meters, indicators and annunciators. The switchgear is housed behind the panels with provisions for convenient maintenance and inspection.

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