Equipment for construction and modernization of substations

Insulators, transformers, primary equipment (switches, transformers, disconnectors, earthing switches, surge arresters), busbars, screws, holders, caps, connectors, power protection – there are many parts of equipment used in the construction and modernization of substations. In this article, we present basic information about the construction and modernization of substations and what equipment is used in these processes.

The process of building or upgrading substations is extremely complex, and the issue itself is very extensive. It is enough to realize that even a single, small substation consists of really many elements. Among the basic ones, we can distinguish the following:

• busbars
• transformer stations
• circuit breakers, disconnectors, contactors, disconnectors, fuses, earthing switches, short-circuit breakers, current transformers, voltage transformers, short-circuit reactors, insulators, lightning arresters, surge arresters, power protection, statewide circuits
• auxiliary equipment rooms
• control rooms

Based solely on the above list, it is easy to conclude that there will be even more individual hardware and statewide components used in the construction and operation of substations. What’s more, the operation of substations in service obviously involves wear and tear of individual components, which means that regular maintenance and service work is required. On the other hand, in the case of larger needs, this may involve the compulsion to upgrade the entire substation.

Modernization of substations – what does it consist of?

The purpose of substation modernization is primarily to introduce more modern substation components to improve the efficiency of individual components or the entire substation. The operation of the substation means that from time to time the necessity of replacement of equipment components arrives. After a certain period of use, the decision may be made to upgrade the entire station or its individual components. This process is done by improving, upgrading infrastructure and generation units.

Modernization of substations may involve the use of solutions to improve the efficiency of power generation, such as through technologies that enable the levelling of losses, the use of more modern components of the monitoring system, increasing substation reliability and generation capacity, or adapting (by replacing individual components) substations to new environmental standards.

Construction of substations

In terms of the possibility of using modern equipment and efficient technical solutions, paradoxically, it is often a simpler process to build substations. Guidelines for the construction of substations can take into account the use of state-of-the-art equipment to meet applicable environmental standards and guarantee the highest possible level of safety or reliability.

Substation construction standards and substation design must define detailed formal and technical requirements of the facility under construction. Among other things, the type of apparatus used, the switchgear scheme, infrastructure requirements, technical parameters are determined. Based on these data, the layout of the substation is prepared and equipment such as switchgear, transformers or generators are selected. And these are just the basic elements of equipment for substations.

Equipment for substations

What kind of equipment components are used in the process of construction and modernization of substations? Of course, there are a lot of them. We should remember that not only the “large” parts used, such as transformers or generators, but also the small ones, such as all kinds of connectors, terminals, bolts, hooks, handles, etc., are crucial to the safety and reliability of substation operation. Each component, even the smallest one, should be selected to guarantee an adequate level of reliability and safety.

An example of equipment used in substations are busbars, used to connect overhead lines and transformers. The so-called support insulators are used to support rail wires. They are usually made of a mixture of epoxy resins with a filler – quartz or porcelain flour. They are characterized by, among other things, resistance to corrosion, the ability to work in high ambient temperatures or places exposed to vibration. For routing high-voltage circuits through metal or masonry walls, the conduit insulators are used, which can also be made of various materials (ceramic insulators, epoxy insulators, mica insulators). Special sockets are used to attach the rail conductors to the insulators, which must also have sufficient strength to ensure the durability of the connection. Other fittings used in substation construction and modernization include insulating connectors, surge arresters, welded connectors and many others.