Substation architecture is an indispensable part of the power system. Below, we provide a detailed introduction from aspects such as definition, components, types, design principles, construction methods, maintenance requirements, and automation and intelligence.

1. Definition

Substation structures refer to the main supporting structures for outdoor conductors and equipment in substation buildings and transformer stations. They are determined based on the voltage level, scale, equipment layout, construction and operation conditions, as well as the local climatic conditions. These structures are characterized by tall columns and thin cross-sections, making them large deflection structures. They are used for rigid frameworks that suspend conductors, support conductors, or switchgear, as well as other electrical equipment.

2. Components

• One-time Equipment: Includes transformers, circuit breakers, and isolators, responsible for voltage transformation and circuit switching.
• Secondary Equipment: Includes relay protection devices, automatic equipment, measuring instruments, control signal devices, etc., responsible for monitoring, control, and protection of primary equipment.
• Support Structure: The substation structure serves as a support structure for hanging conductors, supporting conductors, or switchgear, as well as a rigid framework assembly for other electrical equipment.

3. Type

• By Function Category:
• Hub Substation: Located at a critical point in the power system, it is used to connect different voltage levels of the power grid.
• Terminal Substation: Located at the end of the power system, it is used to convert high-voltage electricity to low-voltage electricity for direct use by consumers.
• Step-up Substation: Converts low-voltage electricity into high-voltage electricity for long-distance transmission of power.
• Step-down substation: Converts high-voltage electricity to low-voltage electricity for direct use by consumers.
• By voltage grade classification:
• Ultra-high voltage substation: Voltage level of 1000kV or above.
• Ultra-high voltage substation: Voltage levels include 330kV, 500kV, 750kV, etc.
• High-voltage Substation: Voltage levels include 220kV, 110kV, etc.
• Medium and low-voltage substation: Voltage levels of 35kV, 10kV, 6.3kV, etc.
• By structural form:
• Outdoor Substation: Equipment is arranged outdoors, occupying a large area, but with relatively low construction costs.
• Indoor Substation: Equipment is installed indoors, occupying less land area, but with higher construction costs.
• GIS Substation: Utilizes gas-insulated switchgear, with a small land footprint and high reliability, but higher construction costs.

4. Design Principles

• Safety Principles: Substation design should prioritize safety, including measures to prevent electric shock, fire, and explosion.
• Reliability Principles: Ensure equipment operates normally under various working conditions, preventing power outages.
• Principle of Economy: A comprehensive consideration of construction, operational, and maintenance costs to achieve investment returns
• Flexibility Principle: Adaptable to the evolving needs of the power system and future expansion plans.
• Maintainability Principles: Reasonably arranged equipment layout with clear maintenance pathways for easy inspection and maintenance.
• Site Selection and Planning: Consider geological conditions, natural environment, surrounding buildings, and future development needs to ensure adequate space for equipment layout, maintenance, and expansion.
• Electrical Design: Based on power system planning, load forecasting, and power balance analysis, determine voltage levels, capacities, and equipment selection, and rationally arrange primary and secondary equipment.
• Mechanical structural design: Select appropriate materials and structural forms based on local weather conditions to ensure strength and durability.
• Architectural Design: Meets requirements for functionality and aesthetics, considering issues such as ventilation, heat dissipation, lighting, fire prevention, and drainage.
• Environmental Protection: Choose energy-saving and eco-friendly equipment, reduce land occupation, and minimize noise and electromagnetic radiation impact on the surrounding environment.

5. Construction Method

• Construction Process: Includes planning and design phase, site preparation, foundation construction, structural construction, electrical equipment installation, grounding system installation, and power system debugging.
• Equipment Installation: Complies with specifications and manufacturer's requirements; equipment pivot points move flexibly and accurately, with good contact and correct indications.
• Busbar Installation: Soft busbars should be free of looseness, broken strands, and damage, with a natural bend and consistent curvature; the axes of tube-shaped busbars should be parallel, and the elevations should be uniform.
• Monitor cabinet installation: Flat screen surface, small gaps, firmly fixed, good grounding.
• Grounding System Installation: The grounding body burial depth meets requirements, using lap welding for reliable connection.
• Cable Laying: Cables are not exposed, protective conduits are vertically aligned with the ground, cables are straight and smooth, with consistent bend radii at turns.
• Fireproof Sealing: Implement fireproof sealing at cable trenches, entrance of conduits, cable shafts, etc., with standardized fire wall construction.
• Secondary wiring: Cable ends are tightly and neatly arranged, identification tags are clear and accurate, secondary cores are straight, and connections are securely fastened.

6. Maintenance Requirements

• Operations Staff: Possesses solid electrical expertise, extensive practical experience, and a high sense of responsibility; subject to regular training and assessment.
• Equipment inspection and surveillance: Routine inspections are conducted according to prescribed routes and time intervals, with a focus on checking the appearance, sound, temperature, pressure, and other parameters of the equipment.
• Equipment maintenance and inspection: Includes cleaning, lubrication, and tightening of equipment. Inspections are scheduled based on the age of the equipment, fault conditions, and results of preventive tests.
• Safety Management: Establish a comprehensive safety management system, define the safety responsibilities of all personnel at various levels, enhance safety training and education, and set up safety warning signs.
• Operation and Record Management: Detailed records of equipment operating parameters, operation logs, inspection records, fault records, etc., to establish and maintain comprehensive equipment files.
• Environmental Conditions: Maintain cleanliness and hygiene within the substation, free of debris accumulation. Pay attention to ventilation and moisture prevention, and guard against external factors affecting the environment.

7. Automation and Intelligentization

• Automation: Substation Automation is a comprehensive automation system that utilizes microcomputer technology to recombine and optimize the functions of secondary equipment in substation, enabling automatic monitoring, control, measurement, and coordination of the substation. It features functions such as telemetering, telesignaling, telecontrol, and telemetering adjustment. The structure is divided into centralized and hierarchical distributed configurations.
• Intelligent Substation: An advanced, reliable, integrated, and environmentally friendly intelligent substation that meets the basic requirements of full-station digital information, networked communication platforms, and standardized information sharing. It automatically completes basic functions such as information collection, measurement, control, protection, metering, and testing. Additionally, it is equipped with advanced functions such as real-time automatic grid control, intelligent adjustment, online analysis and decision-making, and collaborative interaction. The structure is divided into process layer, interval layer, and substation control layer.