CIRED 19th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Vienna, 21-24 May 2007

Paper 0506

MOBILE SUBSTATIONS
Willy LORD
Vattenfall Power Consultant AB – Sweden
[email protected]

Lennart AHNLUND Inge JOHANSSON

Vattenfall Eldistribution AB – Sweden ABB Power Technologies AB - Sweden
[email protected] [email protected]

To provide easy transport the 170/52/24(12) kV mobile

ABSTRACT substation is split into several parts. These make transport in
air possible. The transformer is placed on a trailer and the
The report describes in Sweden newly developed mobile rest of equipment in containers. Because of the modular
substations. They are compact, modularised and completely design and cable connection, see figure 2 the substation
enclosed. The mobile substations are arranged for quick requires a minimum of time at site for installation and
transport on road and prepared for transport in air or on sea. commissioning.

INTRODUCTION
In a modern society long power outages are unacceptable.
After heavy storms have destroyed parts of the distribution
network, power companies in Sweden have invested
hundreds of millions USD in the distribution networks.
Medium voltage overhead lines have mainly been replaced
by cables. However also faults in substations may cause
major blackouts.

To provide a quick supply of power to customers after a

serious fault in a substation, Vattenfall, a European utility,
has developed new types of mobile substations. They are
easy to move and install. Indoor installation makes fences
unnecessary and equipment more reliable. The mobile
substations have been designed in cooperation with the
Contractor, ABB Power Technologies. One substation for
52/24(12) kV has now successfully been in operation for
two years. More of this type is planned and one of another
type for 170/52/24(12) kV is ordered.
Figure 2 Lay-out of 170/52/24(12) kV mobile substation
The complete 52/24(12) kV mobile substation, see figure 1
is built on one 17 meters long trailer with a weight of 43
tons. The trailer can be transported with a speed limit of 80 BACKGROUND
km/h facilitating a quick contribution after voltage collapse. The purpose of the newly developed mobile substations is
mainly to guarantee quick restoration of power supply after
a major fault in a substation. However, if required, they can
also be used for temporary power supply during
maintenance or substation extensions. They can be used in
temperatures between 40ºC and -50ºC. However transports
shall not be done at lower temperatures than -35ºC because
of risk for damages of tyres.

Until now substations in Sweden often have been provided

with two transformers of full capacity. One of these is
normally in stand-by as spare for automatic connection in
case of fault on the operating one, i.e. full transformer
redundancy. To reduce the cost, it is possible to replace the
second transformer with mobile redundancy, when it is
Figure 1 52/24(12) kV mobile substation suitable. The northern region of the Swedish utility

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CIRED 19th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Vienna, 21-24 May 2007

Paper 0506

Vattenfall Eldistribution AB has developed a new switchgear bays, see figure 4. Electrical connection will be
substation concept for a modularised 52/24(12) kV via flexible cables.
substation with only one transformer [1] and a mobile
substation.

The first mobile substation of this type, delivered by ABB,

has now been in operation for two years and more are
planned to be ordered. The mobile substation is intended to
be in operation within 8 hours after a major fault in a nearby
substation.

For domestic security of power supply a new type of mobile

substation for 170/52/24(12) kV has been invented. The
substation is financed by Swedish National Grid to be
available in emergency for all Swedish power companies.
The substation can also, if decided by National Grid, be
used for emergency abroad. If a major fault occurs, the
modular design makes it possible to transport and use either
the complete substation or only parts of it. The design
makes transport on road, at sea or in air possible. The Figure 4 single line diagram
substation shall be installed and ready for operation within
two days after coming to site. The incoming feeder is equipped with a 52 kV SF6 trolley-
mounted circuit breaker. Surge arresters are installed in the
One 170/52/24(12) kV mobile substation is ordered from same bay. The current transformers are installed around the
ABB Power Technologies AB and will be delivered to cables.
Vattenfall Eldistribution AB in summer 2007.
There are two outgoing feeders and one incoming in a
52/24(12) KV MOBILE SUBSTATION 24(12) kV switchgear of metal-clad type. The switchgear is
equipped with vacuum-type circuit breakers.
Description
A new type of mobile substation, called RULLE, figure 3 is The substation has one 5 kVA, 240 V petrol powered
developed. The substation is completely enclosed and can emergency generator, to provide electrical power for battery
be installed without fences. It is assembled and tested in the charging and heating of control cabinet during transport at
factory. The substation is built on a 17 meters long and 3,1 low temperatures, and also for low voltage supply before
m wide trailer. A relatively low weight makes quick connecting to the local power supply during installation.
transport on Swedish roads possible.
The trailer has an integrated oil-pit of 5,5 m3, for handling
of possible oil spill. The volume is enough to take care of
the total oil quantity from the power transformer and the
neutral point reactor.

A shock detector on the trailer ensures that the electrical

equipment is in good shape after transport.
Figure 3 Intersection of 52/24(12) kV mobile substation

Ratings 170/52/24(12) KV MOBILE SUBSTATION

Transformer power 6,5/4 MVA
Vattenfall Eldistribution AB has ordered, from ABB,
Cooling type ONAF/ONAN
delivery of a new type of mobile substation in summer of
Rated voltage 46±8x1,67%/23(11,5) kV
2007. The substation is intended to be available in
Highest voltage of equipment 52 kV, 24(12) kV
emergency for all Swedish power companies. The
Short-circuit current 1 sec. 16 kA
substation was required to be designed for transport abroad
Auxiliary power transformer 100 kVA
in an easy manner, also in air. Therefore it is split in
Neutral reactor 23(11,5) kV is placed in the front of trailer.
modules adapted to transport profiles.
Design
The substation has one transformer of 6,5 MVA, one 52 kV
single line connection and two outgoing 24 kV metal-clad

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CIRED 19th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Vienna, 21-24 May 2007

Paper 0506

Description Rated power 25/25/25/8,3 MVA

A new type of mobile substation, called BAMSE is Connection mode YN/yn/yn/d
developed, see figure 5. It is completely enclosed and can Cooling type ONAF
be installed without fence. The substation is modularised
with the transformer on a trailer and the other electrical Reactors connected to 52 kV and 24 kV neutrals are placed
components installed in containers. An advantage is that in two containers, one for each neutral.
also part of the substation then can be used in emergency
situations. Connections between the different parts of the Containers
substation are made with prefabricated cables. The electrical equipment, except transformer, is housed in
containers. The dimensions are adapted for maximal
transportability. They are, except for the neutral equipment,
placed on one metre high legs to simplify cable entrance.
The walls and roof are made of galvanized steel. The floor
has a strong frame to minimize buckling. Doors where
cables enter are doubled to be tight against dust, snow etc.
All doors are lockable. Containers for switchgears have
devices for pressure relief in case of internal arcs.

The trailer as well the containers are all equipped with

shock detectors. This is to ensure that all electrical
equipment is in good shape after transport.

170 kV switchgear
One switchgear bay is placed in a separate container, see
figure 7. The switchgear is SF6 gas-insulated of ABB type
PASS M0.

Rated voltage 170 kV

Figure 5 Single line diagram BIL 650 kV
Rated current 2500 A
Trailer Short time current 40 kA
The transformer is placed on a trailer together with the
prefabricated 170 kV high-voltage cables on a drum, see The switchgear is connected to the grid and transformer
figure 6. Cables for 52 kV and 24 kV are placed on separate with cables.
drums. All cable drums are motor operated.

The trailer has an integrated oil-pit of 5 m3, at site

connected to a flat oil-tank of 17 m3 for handling oil-spill.

The trailer has four axles and the total weight is 75,5 tons. It
has a speed limit of 80 km/h.
Figure 7 Container with 170 kV switchgear

The switchgear container can be transported without

reduction of gas pressure in switchgear.

Figure 6 Trailer 52 kV switchgear

Three outgoing bays and one incoming are placed in an
Transformer other container, see figure 8. The switchgear is of AREVA
The transformer is designed for trailer transport on bad manufacture.
roads and is adapted for relevant transport profiles. It is of
three-winding type with an equalizing winding. The Rated voltage 52 kV
transformer is provided with an on-load tap changer with BIL 250 kV
vacuum interrupters. HV connections are enclosed for cable Rated current 1250 A
connection. Short time current 25 kA
The switchgear is of SF6 gas-insulated type with low
Rated voltage 145± 9x1,67%/46/24(12)/11 kV

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CIRED 19th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Vienna, 21-24 May 2007

Paper 0506

working pressure. Gas from a possible internal arc is led to winding of the transformer or as an alternative from a local
outside of the container by an exhaust channel. network. A board is installed in the control container for
400 V power distributions to the different parts of the
mobile substation. A 44 kVA, 240 V diesel generator is
used for supply before the substation is connected to the
local a.c system. The aggregate is completely enclosed and
transported as a separate unit.

A system for 110 V d.c. is installed in the control container.

A cubicle contains main supply, rectifier, fuse boards,
batteries and control equipment.
Figure 8 Container with 52 kV switchgear

24(12) kV switchgear SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The switchgear is placed in a separate container, see figure
9. The switchgear consists of five outgoing bays and one Vattenfall has in Sweden developed new types of mobile
incoming. It is of type Unigear ZS1, manufactured by ABB. substations. The purpose of these substations is mainly to
guarantee quick restoration of power supply after a major
fault in a substation. However, when required, they can also
Rated voltage 24 kV
be used for temporary power supply.
BIL 125 kV
Rated current busbar 2000 A Substations in Sweden often have been provided with two
Rated short circuit current 25 kA transformers i.e. full transformer redundancy. One of these
is normally in stand by. To reduce the cost, it is suggested
The switchgear is fully compartmented and equipped with to replace the second transformer with mobile redundancy
vacuum circuit breakers on trolleys. Also here gas from a in parts of the 52 kV network. A mobile substation is
possible internal arc is led to outside of the container by an intended to be in operation within 8 hours after a major fault
exhaust channel. in a nearby substation.

The new types of mobile substations are easy to move and

install. Enclosed design makes fences unnecessary and
equipment more reliable. The mobile substations have been
designed in cooperation with the contractor, ABB Power
Technologies. One substation for 52/24(12) kV has now
successfully been in operation for two years. More of this
type are planned and another one for 170/52/24(12) kV is
ordered.
Figure 9 Container with 24 kV switchgear
The complete 52/24(12) kV mobile substation is built on a
Control and protection trailer. The trailer can be transported with a speed limit of
The equipment for control and protection of the 170kV 80 km/h facilitating a quick contribution after voltage
switchgear is placed in a separate container together with collapse. A mobile substation is intended to be in operation
the auxiliary system. An ABB RET670 terminal handles within 8 hours after a major fault in a nearby substation.
operation and indication. The tap changer control is a part
of the same terminal. The 170/52/24(12) kV mobile substation is split in several
parts, to provide easy transport mainly in Sweden but also
abroad. The transformer is placed on a trailer and the rest of
The protections for 52kV and 24(12) kV switchgears are equipment in containers. Because of the modular design and
placed in the switchgear cubicles, from where also cable connection, the substation requires a minimum of time
operation and indication is handled. at site for installation and commissioning. An advantage is
that also part of the substation can be used in emergency
Individual alarms from different types of equipment are situation. The complete substation is intended to be installed
normally transferred to a selected control centre and also to and ready for operation within two days after coming to
an alarm-unit in the control container. Alarms from 52 kV site.
and 24(12) kV switchgears are visualized on the relay
protections. Measuring of power and energy are only done REFERENCES
at 24(12) kV outgoing feeders. [1] W.Lord, L.Ahnlund B.Wallbing-Lövgren, A.Lundvall
2005, "A substation concept for changeable load
Auxiliary conditions" CIRED 2005
The substation is normally supplied from the auxiliary

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