Consulting and Designing Substations: Standard Process and New Technologies

Substation consulting and design is a specialized electrical service, ensuring technical feasibility and cost optimization for power projects.

Overview of Substation Consulting and Design Services

Substation consulting and design activities include the design of medium voltage line and electrical works such as hydropower, wind power, solar power. This is a specialized service in the electricity sector, playing an important role in determining technical feasibility, cost estimation, and optimal construction solutions for power-related projects.

Substations are crucial technical elements in the power transmission system, responsible for voltage conversion to optimize the transmission and distribution of electrical energy. In this process, substations minimize energy losses and protect the system against incidents.

Roles and Functions

Substations have the following main functions:

• Voltage Conversion: Adjust high voltage to low or vice versa to meet the electrical transmission needs.
• Improving Power Quality: Maintain a stable and continuous power supply to consumer areas.
• System Protection: Equip control devices to prevent overloading or short circuits.

Types of Substations

Substations can be classified by:

• Intermediate Substations: Convert high voltage levels from 110kV, 220kV, or 35kV to intermediate levels.
• Distribution Substations: Lower from intermediate to the final use voltage level like 0.4kV.

Structure and Capacity

Substations can use three-phase or single-phase transformers with voltage levels such as 35/0.4kV, 22/0.4kV and capacities ranging from 50KVA to over 2500KVA depending on demand.

Designs and Structure

Substation designs can be hanger, rack, or kiosk types, suitable for different technical and environmental conditions.

Substation Consulting and Design Services

This service includes several standard steps:

1. Analyze power needs to determine the required capacity and type of substation.
2. Select the type of substation and design with a focus on technical and operational efficiency.
3. Detailed design including layout of transformers, protection, and control systems.
4. Consult on technical standards to ensure compliance with regulations.
5. Propose economic solutions, optimizing costs and operations.
6. Support construction and installation to ensure the system operates stably.

Components of the substation like transformers can come from well-known brands such as ABB, Mitsubishi, LS, Eaton. Choosing appropriate equipment helps optimize power capacity, power quality, and increase system lifespan.

Design Process and Legal Requirements

The substation design process begins with a site survey and selection of equipment such as 3-phase transformers, metering systems, and automated control devices. Professional electrical engineering teams design detailed drawings based on safety standards for fire protection, lightning protection, and grounding. In addition, engineers need practice certificates and must comply with national standards on electrical safety.

Substation design plays a crucial role in building and operating a safe and efficient electrical system. This process can be divided into specific steps as follows:

1. Field Survey

• A field survey is an essential step in the substation design process. It provides necessary information about the construction site, environmental conditions, and load requirements to form the basis for precise design.

1. Outline and design drawings

• Next, engineers create outline drawings and design plans for the substation. This step is crucial to identify the placement of major equipment like transformers, switching systems, grounding devices, conductors, and cables.

1. Calculate technical parameters

• During this step, engineers calculate the capacity, choose the appropriate type of transformer, and determine energy losses to ensure electrical safety and operational efficiency.

1. Prepare legal and technical documentation

• Finally, preparing legal and technical documentation ensures that the substation has sufficient valid legal papers. Documents like connection request files and equipment schematic diagrams need approval from competent authorities.

In the process of constructing a substation, the execution steps must be strictly ensured to maintain quality and safety:

• Organizing the construction site and preparing materials

• Ensure sufficient site area, water, electricity, and labor.

• Transport equipment like transformers, electrical cables, etc., to the installation site.

• Construction implementation

• Excavate foundations, build supports, lay cable conduits, and install switchgear accurately.

• Installation and connection

• Ensure grounding systems, install transformers, and connect to the power grid.

• Inspection and acceptance

• After completing construction, inspection and acceptance are necessary to ensure the system operates stably.

Legal requirements in substation design are very stringent to ensure safety and efficiency. This includes compliance with technical standards and construction norms, approvals from competent authorities for design, and operational permits. Additionally, close coordination among involved parties is a prerequisite to meet all aspects from legality, technicality to safety.

Technology Trends and Challenges in Substation Design

Integrating SCADA systems for remote monitoring and applying new materials like composite insulators is a new trend in substation design. Challenges include ensuring synchronization between substation design and existing grid infrastructure, managing risk of cost overruns, and responding to load issues when integrating distributed energy sources.

In the context of increasingly modern substation technology trends, the adoption of new technological solutions such as GIS, digital substations, and 3D design enhances the efficiency and stability of power systems.

• GIS Technology (Gas Insulation Switchgear): GIS is a significant advancement in substation design due to using SF6 gas as an insulating medium, reducing construction area, and increasing operational safety. This is especially beneficial for urban areas with limited space, ensuring stable operation under harsh conditions.
• Digital Substations: The digital transformation in the electricity sector is clearly reflected through digital substations. This technology integrates photochemistry and fiber optics to transmit signals, enhancing self-monitoring and diagnosis capabilities while shortening construction time.
• Applying AI, IoT, and Automation: Modern substation automation systems apply AI and IoT for real-time monitoring and management, minimizing response time to incidents, and optimizing maintenance processes.
• Applying BIM and 3D Design: BIM and 3D design are widely deployed to complete construction drawings and improve design quality. The collaboration in the 220kV Hai Chau substation project is a testament to the effectiveness of applying BIM combined with UAV data.

However, these trends also pose many challenges in the development and operation of substations:

• Space and environmental constraints: Designing substations in urban areas requires optimizing space and effectively controlling noise and issues from SF6 gas. This requires effective fire and lightning protection systems.
• High Safety and Reliability: Ensuring continuous operational safety is mandatory, including load and voltage endurance as well as optimal protection and monitoring systems.
• Integrating digital technology and automation: Increasing the application of advanced technologies requires training the technical team and investing simultaneously in software and hardware.
• Data management and cybersecurity: With the use of IoT sensors, information system security and cybersecurity become top priorities to prevent attack threats.
• Investment and project management costs: High-tech investments such as GIS or BIM require significant costs and need strict project management to ensure long-term efficiency.

With significant benefits from substation technology trends, addressing accompanying challenges will be key to helping enterprises achieve optimal operational efficiency and sustainable development.

Integrating modern technology helps optimize features and durability for substations, thereby enhancing investment efficiency. Standard processes and legal compliance ensure technical synchronization, creating favorable conditions for the development of future energy projects.

For more information about QuangAnhcons’ optimal services and solutions, please contact Hotline: +84 9 1975 8191.

QuangAnhcons provides professional substation consulting and design services, adhering to national electrical safety standards, committed to quality and cost optimization for customers.