Understanding basics of switchyard

Switchyard equipments and schemes

Components of switchyard:
Breakers, Isolators, Earth switch, CT, CVT, Wave
trap etc
Brief Description of modes of transmission
Conclusion
 What is a Switchyard ?
It is a switching station which performs following
credits :
It works as a junction between Generating plant and
Transmission system, which carries the generated
power to its destination (i.e. consumers).
Step-up and/or Step-down the voltage levels depending
upon
the Network Node.
Switching ON/OFF Reactive Power Control devices,
which
has effect on Quality of power.
Equipments commonly found in switchyard :
1. Lightening arrestor
2. Current transformer
3. Voltage transformer
4. Power transformers / I.C.T.
5. Bus bar and clamp fittings
6. Support structure
7. Isolators
8. Circuit Breaker
9. Wave traps
10. Earthing switch
 Functions of various equipment :
* Transformers :
- Transforms is a device that changes the voltage level without
change in frequency and transfer the electrical power from one
circuit to another circuit through changing magnetic flux.
* Circuit breakers :
- It is a switching device that isolate the circuit in normal and
abnormal condition.
* Isolators :
- Opens or closes the electrical circuits under No-load
conditions.
* Instrument transformers :
- For stepping-down the electrical parameter (Voltage or
Current) to a lower and safe value for Metering and
Protection logics.
* Earth switch :
- Used to connect the charged body to ground to discharge
the trapped charge to have a safe maintenance zone.
 * Lightning arrestors :
- Safe guards the equipment by discharging the high
currents due to Lightning.
* Overhead earth wire :
- Protects the O/H transmission line from Lightning
strokes.
* Bus bar :
- Conductors to which a number of circuits are
connected.
* Wave Traps/Line traps :
- Used in PLCC circuits for Communication and
telemetering.
* Reactive Power control devices :
- Controls the reactive power imbalance in the grid by
switching ON/OFF the Shunt Reactors, Shunt Capacitors etc.,
* Current Limiting Reactors :
- Limits the Short circuit currents in case of faulty
conditions.
 OPERATES UNDER NO LOAD CONDITION
INTERLOCKED WITH BREAKERS AND EARTHSWITCHES
SHOULD WITHSTAND EXTREME WIND PRESSURES
MOTOR DRIVEN AND HAND DRIVEN
LOCAL AS WELL AS REMOTE OPERATION POSSIBLE
ISOLATES SECTIONS FOR MAINTENANCE
USED TO SELECT BUS BARS
CT SWITCHING FOR BUS BAR PROTECTION
 USED TO GROUND SECTIONS REQUIRED FOR
MAINTENANCE
GROUND INDUCTION VOLTAGES
INTERLOCKED WITH BREAKERS AND ISOLATORS
CAN OPERATE FROM LOCAL ONLY
MOTOR DRIVEN AS WELL AS HAND DRIVEN
SAFETY DEVICE
 Purpose :
- To step-down the high magnitude of current
to a safe value to incorporate Measuring and
Protection logics
Current transformers are used for the
instrumentation, protection or metering of power
systems.
 Purpose :
- To step-down the high magnitude of voltage
to a safe value to incorporate Measuring and
Protection logics.
Voltage transformers serve a number of functions
in a power system. They are required for the
operation of many types of instrumentation and
relay protective systems. They measure voltage
and in conjunction with CT , they measure
power. They feed synchronizing equipment. They
can be used as coupling capacitors in power line
carrier network.
 Primary voltage is applied to a series of
capacitors group. The voltage across one
of the capacitor is taken to aux PT. The
secondary of the aux PT is taken for
measurement and protection.

SECONDARY VOLTAGES(110 VOLTS AC) FOR

METERS AND ENERGY METERS
VOLTAGES FOR PROTECTIVE RELAYS
VOLTAGES FOR SYNCHRONIZING
DISTURBANCE RECORDERS AND EVENT
LOGS
OVERFLUX RELAYS
PLCC
 CVT
Bus
internals :

Insulators which
acts as Capacitors

Intermediate PT

P S
Lightning Arrestors
 Purpose :
- To discharge the high voltage surges in the
power
system due to lightning to the ground.
Apparatus to be protected :
* Overhead linesEarth/Ground wires
(PA=30 deg)
* HV equipmentLAs
* Substation...Lightning Masts, Earth
wires
 Types :
r L in e
e
Pow

Rod gap LA :
* Gap length is such
that the break-down Insulator
occurs at 80% of the Rod gap
spark voltage
* After the surge, the Equipment
arc in the gap is body
maintained by the
normal supply
voltage. So, only used
as a back-up.
Earth Switches
Source
Isolator Isolator Load
CB

Earth S/W
Wave Trap
 Transmission Line
S/S-1 S/S-2

Wave Wave
Trap Trap

To control room To control room

of S/S-1 of S/S-2
* Wave trap is used for Protection of the transmission
line and communication between the Substations.
* VHF signal is transmitted from one end to the another
through the same power line.
* Sends inter-trip signal to the other end CBs so that
fault can be isolated at the earliest time.
 BASIC ARRANGEMENT OF WAVE TRAP AND
COUPLING CAPACITOR
POWER FREQ -50 KHZ
LINE

WAVE TRAP >500KHZ NOISE PICKUP

2FL <30KHZ-HARMONIC
C=1/2FC LIGHTENING,CORONA

30KHZ TO 500KHZ
STATION BUS
LMU IMPEDENCE 75 OHMS

PLC
C
 Modes
of
Transmission
 AC transmission
Advantages
- Power can be generated at high voltages.
- Step-up/Step-down is possible.
Disadvantages
- Requires more copper.
- Due to Skin effect, the effective resistance
is increased
- Continuous loss of power due to charging current
even
when the line is open.
- Requirement of Transposition of conductors.
 DC transmission
Advantages
- Low cost due to less copper requirement
- No Stability and synchronising problems.
- Asynchronous lines (Interregional ties)
- No increase in Fault level if interconnected.
- Less Corona and RI.
- Better Voltage regulation due to absence of
Inductance.
- Requires less insulation as the potential stress is
less
Disadvantages
- Higher generation is not possible due to
commutation
- Step-up/Step-down is not possible.
- Limitations in HVDC CBs, Switches etc.