Power Plant Switching Station (Switchyard)

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SUBSTATION   

A station in the power transmission system at which electric power is transformed to a conveniently used form. The station may consist of transformers, switches, circuit breakers, and other auxiliary equipment. Its main function is to receive energy transmitted at high voltage from the generating station, by either step-up or step-down the voltage to a value appropriate for local use and provide facilities for switching. Substations have some additional functions. Its provide points where safety devices may be installed to disconnect circuits or equipment in the event of trouble.
Some substations, such as power plant switchyards are simply switching stations where different connections can be made between various transmission lines.     

Typical Components of a Power Plant Substation

BUSBAR

BUSBAR (or bus, for short) – is a term we use for a main bar or conductor carrying an electric current to which many connections may be made.
Buses are merely convenient means of connecting switches and other equipment into various arrangements. The usual arrangement of connections in most substations permits working on almost any piece of equipment without interruption to incoming or outgoing feeders. In the switchyard or substation, buses are open to the air. Aluminum or copper conductors supported on porcelain insulators, carry the electric energy from point to point.    

DISCONNECTS

DISCONNECT – is an easily removed piece of the actual conductor of a circuit. The purpose of disconnects is to isolate equipment. Disconnects are not used to interrupt circuits; they are no-load devices. A typical use of disconnects is to isolate a circuit breaker by installing one disconnect on either side of the circuit breaker (in series with the breaker). Operation of disconnects is one of the most important and responsible jobs of a power plant operator. One error in isolation of equipment, or the accidental grounding of the line equipment, can be a fatal mistake. 

CIRCUIT BREAKER

CIRCUIT BREAKER – is used to interrupt circuits while current is flowing through them. The making and breaking of contacts in an Oil type circuit breaker are done under oil, this oil serves to quench the arc when the circuit is opened. The operation of the breaker is very rapid when opening. As with the transformer, the high voltage connections are made through bushings. Circuit breakers of this type are usually arranged for remote electrical control from a suitably located switchboard.
Some recently developed circuit breakers have no oil, but put out the arc by a blast of compressed air; these are called air circuit breakers. Another type encloses the contacts in a vacuum or a gas (sulfur hexafluoride, SF6) which tends to self maintain the arc. 

CURRENT TRANSFORMER

CURRENT TRANSFORMER – Current transformers are used with ammeters, wattmeters, power-factor meters, watt-hour meters, compensators, protective and regulating relays, and the trip coil of circuit breakers. One current transformer can be used to operate several instruments, provided that the combined burden does not exceed that for which the transformer is designed and compensated. The current transformer is connected directly in series with the line.

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER – also known as a potential transformer, is used with volt-meters, wattmeters, watt-hour meters, power-factor meters, frequency meters, synchroscopes, and synchronizing apparatus, protective and regulating relays, and the no-voltage and over-voltage trip coils of automatic circuit breakers. One transformer can be used for several instruments at the same time if the total current taken by the instrument does not exceed that for which the transformer is designed and compensated. The ordinary voltage transformer is connected across the line, and the magnetic flux in the core depends upon the primary voltage  

EARTHING SWITCH

EARTHING SWITCH – also known as ground disconnect, which is used to connect the equipment to a grid of electrical conductors buried in the earth on the station property. It is intended to protect people working on the grounded equipment. It does this by completing a circuit path, thereby reducing the voltage difference between the equipment and its surroundings. For safety reasons, it is important that ground disconnects and all associated connections have good contact and low resistance. It is also important that the protective ground not be accidentally removed, that is why all the earthing switches, disconnect switches, and circuit breakers are all interlocked to each other and proper/correct sequencing must be followed.  

SURGE ARRESTOR

SURGE ARRESTOR – are devices used to provide the necessary path to ground for such surges, yet prevent any power current form following the surge. An ideal arrester must therefore have the following properties:
1. Ability to remove the surge energy from the line in a min. time.
2. High resistive to flow of power current.
3. A valve action automatically allows surge to pass and then close up so as not to permit power current to flow to the ground.
4. Always ready to perform.
5. Performance such that no system disturbances are introduced by its operation. 
6. Economically feasible  

OVERHEAD GROUND WIRE – by a ground wire is meant a wire, generally of steel, supported from the top of transmission-line towers and solidly grounded at each tower. It is considered a preventive device, but it does not entirely prevent the formation of traveling waves on a line. Furthermore, those lines which are not equipped with ground wires will be subjected to disturbances that produce surges that must be allowed to escape to the ground, or the apparatus connected to the line must be strong enough to reflect or absorb these surges until they are entirely damped out. 

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

• BUSBARS & OVERHEAD GROUND WIRE

At least once a year

• Visual Inspection & Examination of all wiring connectors.
• Check Insulator , clean or apply HVIC if necessary.
• Check the physical condition of bus (cables or bars)
• For ground wire, check or test the grounding system.
• DISCONNECT & EARTHING SWITCHES

At least once a month

• Visual Inspection.
• Check heating resistor located at its control panel for proper functioning.

At least once a year

• Clean contacts of disconnectors as well as earthing switches and apply electrical contact grease , if necessary.
• Check disconnectors and earthing switches, joints and bearings of the operating linkages for deformed bearing points.
• Check flexible connections of earthing switches.
• Check all screwed joints for tight fit.
• Clean insulators if necessary, when an excessive amount of dirt has accumulated.
• Carry-out the maintenance of operating mechanism.
• VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER

At least once a month

• Inspect the voltage divider to be sure that no oil leak or serious accumulation of soot, dust or salt composite is present.
• Inspect the intermediate voltage transformer and check the minimum permissible oil level.

At least once a year

• Check all screwed joints & contact for tight fit.
• Clean insulators if necessary, when an excessive amount of dirt has accumulated.

CURRENT TRANSFORMER

At least once a month

• Visual Inspection to check oil level and defects or possible oil leaks.

At least once a year

• Check all screwed joints & contact for tight fit.
• Clean insulators if necessary, when an excessive amount of dirt has accumulated.
• Check primary and secondary connectors and conduct necessary tightening.

Note: Never open a secondary winding of a CT while on service.

• SURGE ARRESTOR

At least once a year

• Visual Inspection & Examination of all wiring connectors.
• Check Insulator and metal circular ring, clean or apply HVIC if necessary.
• Check the physical condition of bus (cables or bars)
• For ground wire, check or test the grounding system. 

Note: Arrestors should never be touched unless completely disconnected from all live lines and equipment and effectively connected to the ground at the line side of the arrestor.