Substation Engineering and Design

Topics covered include station design parameters, bus arrangements, major equipment
specifications, electrical clearances, above-ground structures, and line/station overvoltage
protection.

SUBSTATION DESIGN PROCESS
As part of the design process, our substation engineers routinely:
Select equipment
Plan yard layouts
Develop protection schemes
Apply IEC61850
Deliver earthing, lightning and lighting systems
Provide construction support
Optimise layouts to reduce costs
Produce operational manuals
Deliver operator training












Electrical Substation Projects
Electrical substation projects involve many aspects of engineering,
management, supply and construction. In general, they require electrical,
substation, structural and foundation engineering, as well as project
management. There is also the specification, purchase & supply of major
equipment, substation equipment and structures. And finally the construction,
testing and start-up.


PLAN VIEW - Low-Profile, two feeder, single sectionalized bus substation

Basic Design Requirements
The following outline lists the basic information required for the specification
and/or design of an outdoor substation. The list includes substation drawing
requirements, basic substation design parameters, basic structure design
parameters, basic foundation design parameters, and basic grounding design
parameters. This list does not include information relative to the power system
design, site design & procurement, environmental requirements, safety
requirements, relaying, control, low voltage, grading, drainage, conduits,
cables and wiring, fences, etc.
Substation Drawings Requirements
Plot plans
One line diagrams (basic switching)
One line relaying diagrams
Substation bill of materials
Substation layout plan & elevation drawings
Substation grounding plans
Conduit layout and lists
Control house drawings
Station service diagrams, control panels, schematics, etc.
Structure design calculations
Structure design drawings
Structure shop and erection drawings
Anchor bolt plan drawings
Foundation design calculations
Foundation plan
Foundation details
Transformer oil containment drawings
Grading & sub-grade drainage drawings
Depending on the project scope, some of the above may not be required.
Basic Substation Design Parameters:
Type of substations: Transformer, Distribution, Transmission &
Switching
Types of feeders: Single, Multiple, Feed-through, etc.
Types of bus arrangements:
o Single bus
o Sectionalized bus
o Double bus, single or double breaker
o Main & transfer bus
o Ring bus
o Breaker and a half
Design parameters:
o Ultimate substation KVA capacity
o Nominal voltages
o BIL requirements
o Continuous currents
o Momentary currents
o Short Circuit capacity
o Electrical Spacings & Clearances
Equipment:
o Transformer
o Substation bus (rigid or strain bus)
o Switches (Vertical, side, center, double, etc. break)
o Switchgear
o Bus Support Insulators
o Suspension insulators
o Arresters
o Breakers
o Reclosers
o Voltage regulators
o Current transformers
o Potential Transformers
o Coupling Capacitors
o Line Traps
o Other
Basic Structure Design Parameters:
Material:
o Steel: Hot-dip galvanized, painted or weathering
o Aluminum
o Concrete
Types of construction:
o Low profile
o High bay
o Latticed
o Structural shapes - Wide flange, channel, angle, structural tubing,
pipe, etc.
o Tapered tubular - octagonal, multi-sided, round, etc.
Design Loads:
o Dead loads, line tensions, ice loads, wind loads, seismic loads,
equipment operation loads, short circuit, construction loads, etc.
o Incoming Line Tension
o Incoming OHGW Tension
o Incoming Line Angles
o Incoming Line Span
o NESC Heavy, Medium or Light
o High wind ASCE 7
o Heavy ice + wind ASCE 7
o Seismic UBC Zones
o Design approach ASD or USD
Deflection requirements:
o NEMA SG-6 (or special)
Basic Foundation Design Parameters:
Common types of foundations:
o Spread Footings
o Drilled Piers
o Slab-on-grade
o Pile foundations
Basic design parameters:
o Allowable Soil Bearing Pressure
o Allowable Passive Lateral Pressure
o Allowable Skin Friction
o Frost depth
o Soil Layers for Drilled Piers
o Soil Type
o Cohesion
o Angle of Internal Friction
o Unit Weight
o Modulus of Subgrade Reaction
o Ultimate End Bearing Capacity
o Ultimate Skin Resistance
o Ultimate Pull-out Skin Resistance
o Water Table Depth
Basic Grounding Design Parameters:
Electrical:
o Ground fault current
o Time duration
o System growth factor
o Current division factor
Resistivity:
o Soil
o Crushed rock
Ground Grid:
o Grid Area
o Grid conductor - size, spacing, depth
o Ground rods - size, length, quantity