Design of Distribution

Substations

1
 Objectives
♦ Discussion of the types of substation and
their functions
♦ Discussion of the substation bus
configuration
♦ Discussion of substation’s reliability
concepts
♦ Calculation of the substation rating
♦ Illustration of the discussed analytical
methods by some numerical examples
 Introduction
♦ Selection of substation switchyard system schemes
represented in the substation buses and switches
configuration is based mainly on reliability and
economical aspects.

♦ The choice of the substations’ rating, and the number of

exit primary-feeders are based on the service areas and
the percentage of voltage drop along the primary-feeders
and their associated laterals.

♦ To evaluate the parameters of the substations several

analysis and practical considerations evaluations have to
be performed.
Types of Substations
 Generating Station to transform generating
voltage to network voltage
This substation steps up the
generation voltage (15-23 kV)
to the transmission system
voltage (69-500 kV).
 Transmission Switching Station to switch
interconnect portions of the utility system

This substation
interconnects different
parts of transmission
system without changing
the voltage levels
 Transmission Substation which can step-down
or step-up voltage to interconnect the network

This substation interconnects

different parts of the
transmission system operating
at different voltage levels.
 Distribution Substation to step-down voltage to
the distribution level

This substation interconnects

transmission system with the
distribution system.
Transmission system and
distribution system operate at
different voltages.
Function of Substations
Isolate a faulted line or other component from
the rest of the utility system
To step-up or step-down voltage levels
To allow for maintenance of line or equipment
To allow for the addition of capacitors or
reactors for electrical system control
To allow for operational voltage, current, power
and frequency measurements
To allow control of power flows by switching
lines in and out
Substation Different
Layouts
 Summary
♦ Distribution substation main parts are:
– The high side buswork and protection.
– Low side buswork and protection.
– Transformers.
– The substation site.

♦ From the construction point of view, there are three main types of
distribution substations.
– Conventional outdoor (open terminal) substation in which busbars and
live parts can be seen.

– SF6 gas insulated metal enclosed substation in which various

equipment is in metal enclosed form with SF6 gas providing internal
insulation. Such substation can be either indoor or outdoor.

– Hybrid substation which is a combination of the above two. In the

hybrid substation some equipment are conventional open terminal type
and some equipment are metal enclosed SF6.
 Summary(Cont.)
♦ Substation voltage rating will depend on substation location, capacity, and
service area.
♦ There are some preferable voltage ratings of distribution substation in
North America. These ratings are:
– 69 kV/25 kV
– 33 kV/11 kV
– 69 kV/ 13 kV
– 161 kV/ 24 kV
– 230 kV/25 kV

♦ The main function of distribution substation is to step down the sub-

transmission voltage to a lower primary system voltage for local
distribution via distribution primary feeders.

♦ These three phase primary feeder distributes energy from the low voltage
bus through three phase feeder and three or single phase laterals.

♦ It is imperative for the substation to be equipped with a reliable and

efficient bus schemes that will insure the continuity and the reliability of
the delivered power from the transformers to the feeders.
♦ Introduction.
♦ Substation: types and functions
♦ Substation Bus Configuration Design.
– Single (Radial) Bus Scheme.
– Sectionalized Single (Radial) Bus Scheme.
– Main-And-Transfer Bus Scheme.
– Double Bus-Single Breaker Scheme.
– Ring Bus Scheme.
– Breaker-And-A-Half Scheme.
– Double Bus-Double Breaker Scheme.
♦ Substation Reliability Service
♦ Distribution Substation Rating
♦ Numerical examples.
 Single Bus Scheme
♦ For maintenance purposes, the CB
Incoming Line
and its disconnecting switches, as
well as the relays and the control
Disconnecting
equipment can be isolated by switch
operating the bypass switch in the CB
closed mode (after opening the
Bus
CB).
N.O. bypass
♦ Any fault occurring in this circuit switch

requires the main CB (incoming

line CB) to be opened and hence a
complete substation outage. Outgoing Line circuits

20
 Single Bus Scheme
Advantages
♦ Lowest cost compared to other schemes
♦ Simple
Disadvantages
♦ Failure of the circuit breaker results in shutdown of entire
substation.
♦ Difficult to do any maintenance.
♦ Bus can’t be extended without completely de-energizing
substation.
♦ Can be used only in places where loads can be interrupted
or have other supply arrangements.

21
 Sectionalized (Radial) Bus Scheme
Incoming Line Incoming Line

CB Bus-Tie CB
CB
Bus 1 Bus 2

N.O. bypass
switch
Disconnecting
switch

Outgoing Line circuits

♦ This scheme is the modification of the single bus scheme. It consists of

two single bus schemes connected by a normally opened (N.O.) or
normally closed (N.C.) sectionalizing switch or bus tie CB.
♦ circuits supplying the same loads and energized from the same source
have to be divided between different sections
 Sectionalized (Radial) Bus Scheme
Advantages
♦ A CB (other than tie CB) failure causes an outage only in
its sectionalized section
♦ Low required land area
♦ More reliable, flexible and easier to expand than the radial
scheme
Disadvantages
♦ More complex in operation and protection. More
expensive than the radial scheme
 Main-And-Transfer Bus Scheme

Incoming line
♦ It consists of main
and transfer buses
connected through a Main bus
N.O. transfer CB.
N.O.

♦ Its operation voltage N.O.

Transfer
CB
level and location is
N.O. Transfer switch
similar to that of the N.O. N.O. N.O.
radial scheme. Transfer bus

Outgoing line circuits

24
 Main-And-Transfer Bus Scheme

Advantages
♦ Low cost.
♦ Any breaker can be taken out of service for maintenance.
Disadvantages
♦ Requires one extra breaker for the bus tie.
♦ Switching is somewhat complicated when maintaining a
breaker.
♦ Failure of bus or any circuit breaker results in shutdown of
entire substation.

25
 Double Bus-Single Breaker Scheme
Bus 1

N.O.
♦ Two buses are connected
through a tie breaker. Bus
N.O. tie
breaker
♦ Each circuit can be
N.O.
connected to one bus
through CB and
disconnecting switches. Bus 2 N.O.

Outgoing line 26
 Double Bus-Single Breaker Scheme
Advantages
♦ Permits some flexibility with two operating buses.
♦ Either main bus can be isolated for maintenance.
♦ Circuits can be transferred readily from one bus to the
other by use of bus-tie breaker bus selector disconnect
switches.
Disadvantages
♦ One extra breaker is required for the bus tie.
♦ Four switches are required per circuit.
♦ Bus protection scheme may cause loss of substation when
it is connected to that bus.
♦ Line breaker failure takes all circuits connected in that
bus out of service.
27
 Ring Bus Scheme
♦ In this scheme several Line Line
sectionalized single bus schemes
are connected in series.
♦ In the case of occurrence of bus
or circuit fault, one position is
disconnected through its CB.
♦ Each line is equipped by a
disconnecting switch.
♦ To make preparations for this
line to go out of service: the two
CBs are opened first; then the
line disconnecting switch is Line Line
opened; following that the two
CBs are closed.
28
 Ring Bus Scheme
Advantages
♦ Flexible operation for breaker maintenance
♦ Any breaker can be removed for maintenance without
interrupting load.
♦ Requires only one breaker per circuit.
♦ Each circuit is fed by two breakers.
♦ All switching is done with breakers.
Disadvantages
♦ For a fault during breaker maintenance period, the ring can
be separated into two sections.
♦ Automatic reclosing and protective relaying rather complex.

29
 Breaker-And-A-Half Scheme
Line Line

♦ In this scheme each circuit has its

own CB and shares one CB with Bus 1
another circuit (one and one-half CB)
as shown in the figure.

♦ A CB failure connecting a bus and Tie

breaker
circuit causes this circuit to be out of
service.

♦ A CB operation failure between two

Bus 2
circuits causes these two circuits to be
out of service.
Line Line
30
 Breaker-And-A-Half Scheme
Advantages
♦ Most flexible in operation with High reliability
♦ Breaker failure of bus side breaker removes only one circuit
from service.
♦ All switching is done with breakers.
♦ Either main bus can be taken out for service at any time for
maintenance.
♦ Bus failure doesn’t remove any feeder from circuits from
service.
Disadvantages
♦ For a fault during breaker maintenance period, the ring can be
separated into two sections.
♦ Automatic reclosing and protective relaying rather complex.
31
 Double Bus-Double Breaker Scheme
♦ For this scheme each circuit has Incoming Incoming
Line 1 Line 2
two CBs to connect to either one of
the two buses as shown in the
figure. Bus 1

♦ Each circuit has two CBs.

Therefore, only the faulted circuit is
disconnected.
♦ Furthermore, for a faulted bus no
circuit is disconnected.
♦ A CB failure to operate in case of a
faulted bus causes only one circuit Bus 2
to be out of service.

Outgoing Line circuits

32
 Double Bus-Double Breaker Scheme
Advantages
♦ Each circuit has two dedicated breakers.
♦ Has flexibility in permitting feeder to be connected to either
bus.
♦ Any breaker can be taken out of service for maintenance.
♦ High reliability.
Disadvantages
♦ Most expensive
♦ Lose half of the circuit for breaker failure if circuits are not
connected to both busses.

33
 Bus Schemes and Their Applied Voltage

Substation voltage level in kV

Substation bus configuration
69 115 138 161 230 345 500

Single and Sectionalized single (radial) bus

X X X
scheme

Main-and-transfer bus scheme X X X

Double bus-single breaker scheme X X X

Ring bus X X X X X X X

Beaker-and-a-half scheme X X X X X X

Double bus-double breaker scheme X X X X X X

♦ Introduction.
♦ Substation: types and functions
♦ Substation Bus Configuration Design.
– Single (Radial) Bus Scheme.
– Sectionalized Single (Radial) Bus Scheme.
– Main-And-Transfer Bus Scheme.
– Double Bus-Single Breaker Scheme.
– Ring Bus Scheme.
– Breaker-And-A-Half Scheme.
– Double Bus-Double Breaker Scheme.
♦ Substation Reliability Service
♦ Distribution Substation Rating
♦ Numerical examples.
 Substation Reliability Service
♦ High reliability service for the distribution substation is
insured by implementing many design and operation
practice in the construction of these substations.

– The first design practice is the reliability of the buswork as

discussed in the previous section.

– The second aspect is the selection of transformers ratings and

numbers. Most substations have two or more transformers to
provide contingency support in the event of a transformer outage
for improved reliability.

– The third aspect is the combined high side/transformer/low side

connections which also have to be flexible as well as reliable.
 High Side- Transformer- Low Side
Connections For Distribution Substations [7]
Two Case Studies For Reliability Analysis
For Distribution Substation
Case 1 Case 2
115 kV/25 kV, 31 MVA peak 115 kV/13 kV, 35 MVA peak
Situation Ave. 16 mile exposure on both Ave. 2.3 mile exposure on both
incoming transmission routes incoming transmission routes
8,300 customers. 9,100 customers.
Configuration Cost Voltage Freq. Duration Cost Voltage Freq. Duration

Radial/one trans. $4,400 .96 .73 112 1,735 1.00 .25 20

A $7,200 .95 .18 28 $2,200 1.00 .07 5

B $7,600 .95 .18 28 $2,500 1.00 .07 5

C $7,400 .95 .18 28 $2,300 1.00 .07 5

D $7,700 .98 .10 15 $2,600 1.03 .05 4

E $7,900 .98 .07 12 $2,800 1.03 .03 2

F $7,900 .98 .07 12 $2,800 1.03 .03 2

♦ Introduction.
♦ Substation: types and functions
♦ Substation Bus Configuration Design.
– Single (Radial) Bus Scheme.
– Sectionalized Single (Radial) Bus Scheme.
– Main-And-Transfer Bus Scheme.
– Double Bus-Single Breaker Scheme.
– Ring Bus Scheme.
– Breaker-And-A-Half Scheme.
– Double Bus-Double Breaker Scheme.
♦ Substation Reliability Service
♦ Distribution Substation Rating
♦ Numerical examples.
 Distribution Substation Rating
♦ Distribution system engineers can satisfy the load
increase by the following two options; which can be
implemented separately or combined:

– Expanding an existing substation (increasing the

substation capacity) to serve the same service area
(constant area but with increased loading).

– Building new substations (adding new substation

capacity) while keeping the existing substation (with its
original capacity) to serve its load. The rest of the loads
are to be served by the new substations.

40
 Distribution Substation Rating
♦ It is helpful to assume that the system changes at:
– Constant load density for short term distribution planning
– Increasing load density for long term planning.

♦ It is also helpful to suggest geometric figures to

represent substation service area.

♦ Such approach simplifies the comparison of

alternative plans which may require:
– Different sizes of distribution substation
– Different numbers of primary feeders
– Different primary feeder voltages.

41
 Four Feeders Service Area
♦ The square service area can be assumed that it is
served by four feeders from a central feed point as
shown below.
♦ Each feeder and its laterals are of three-phase.

42
 Four Feeders Service Area
♦ The percent voltage drop from the feed point A to
the end of the last lateral point C is:
%VDAC = %VDAB + %VDBC
♦ Each feeder serves a total load of:
S 4 = A4 × D = L4 × D
2

Where :S4 is the kVA load served by one of four feeders, A4 is the area
served by the feeder and D is the load density.

43
 Four Feeders Service Area

♦ Alternatively, the voltage drop can be calculated

using the K-drop factor as follows:
2
% VD4,main = ⋅ L4 ⋅ K ⋅ S 4
3

%VD4,main = 0.667.K .D.L4

3

44
 Six Feeders Service Area
♦ The previous discussion can be extended to a
hexagonal shape service area.
♦ The substation loads are supplied by six feeders
from a feed point at the center of the substation
service area as shown in the following figure.

45
 Six Feeders Service Area

♦ The feeder’s service load is given by:

L6
S6 = A6 ⋅ D = ⋅ L6 ⋅ D = 0.578 ⋅ D ⋅ L26
3

♦ The maximum voltage drop along the main feeder is

given by:

2
% VD6,main = ⋅ L6 ⋅ K ⋅ S6 = 0.385 ⋅ K ⋅ D ⋅ L36
3

46
A General Geometrical Shape Service Area
A General Geometrical Shape Service Area

2 360
% VDn ,main = ⋅ K ⋅ D ⋅ Ln ⋅ tan
3
∀n≥ 3
3 2n
♦ Where: n represents the number of feeders

♦ The feeder’s service load is given by:

Ln Ln
Sn = ∫ dS = ∫ D ⋅ dA = D ⋅ L2n ⋅ tan θ
=x 0=x 0

♦ Where: ⋅ 2 θ 360
n= ∀n≥ 3
 Comparison Between Four And Six Feeder’s
Service Area Characteristics

n=4 n=6
The feeder service area (A) 2 1
L ⋅ L26
4 3
6
The substation service area (TA)
4 L24 3
⋅ L26

D⋅L
The feeder service area loading (S) 2 1
⋅ D ⋅ L26
4 3
The substation service area loading (TS)
4 D ⋅ L24 6
3
⋅ D ⋅ L26

𝟐𝟐 2
% VDmain � 𝑲𝑲 � 𝑫𝑫 � 𝑳𝑳𝟑𝟑𝟒𝟒 ⋅ K ⋅ D ⋅ L36
𝟑𝟑 3 3
The load current in main feeder (I) S4 D ⋅ L24 S6 D ⋅ L26
=I4 = =I6 =
3 ⋅VL − L 3 ⋅VL − L 3 ⋅VL − L 3 ⋅VL − L

49
 Comparison Between Four And Six Feeder’s
Service Area Characteristics
♦ Based on the comparison shown in previous Table,
the relation between four and six feeder service areas
can be discussed under two different assumptions:
a) Assuming equal feeder’s thermal capacity and
neglecting the voltage drop for a given conductor size:

6
× L26 2
TA6 3 3  L6  3
Hence: = =   =

TA4 4 × L4
2
2  L4  2
Therefore, the six-feeder can hold up to 3/2 of the total load
of the four-feeder for the same conductor thermal capacity.
50
 Comparison Between Four And Six Feeder’s
Service Area Characteristics
b) Assume equal feeder’s percentage voltage drop and
ignore thermal capacity for a given conductor size::

6
× L 2
2
Hence: TA6 3
6
3  L6  5
= =   =
TA4 4 × L4
2
2  L4  4
Hence, the six-feeder can hold up to 5/4 of the total load of
the four-feeder for the same conductor percentage voltage
drop.
51
 Example 1
A substation is serving a square service area as shown
below. Assume that the substation is served by a three
phase 4.16 kV primary feeders. The feeder mains are
made of either #2 AWG copper or #1/0 ACSR (max
current capacity is 230A). The distance between phases
are 37 inches. Assume a lagging power factor of 0.9 and
1000 kVA/mi2 uniformly distributed load density.
Calculate the following:
a) Consider thermally loaded feeder mains, find
I. Maximum load per feeder
II. Substation size
III. Substation spacing, both ways
IV. Total voltage drop till the end of the main

52
 Example 1, solution

Maximum load per feeder:

S n = 3 × VL − L × I max = 1657.2 kVA

Substation size is:

TS n = 4 × S n = 6628.8 kVA
Substation spacing:

S n = An × D = L24 × D
1/ 2 1/ 2
 Sn   1657.2 
L4 =   =  = 1.287 mile
D  1000 

53
 Example 1, solution
Total percent voltage drop:
2
%𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 = � 𝐾𝐾 � 𝐷𝐷 � 𝐿𝐿34
3
From the figure, K = 0.007

2
%𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 = × 0.007 × 1000 × 1.2873
3
= 9.95%

54
Example 1, continue

b) Consider voltage limited feeders which have 3%

voltage drop, find:
I. Substation spacing, both ways
II. Maximum load per feeder
III. Substation size
IV. Ampere loading of the main

55
 Example 1, solution
Substation spacing, both ways, can be found from:
2
%𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 = � 𝐾𝐾 � 𝐷𝐷 � 𝐿𝐿34
3
1� 1�
3 × %𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 3 3×3 3
𝐿𝐿4 = = =0.86 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
2 × 𝐾𝐾 × 𝐷𝐷 2 × 0.007 × 1000

Maximum load per feeder is:

S n = L24 × D = 1000 × (0.86 ) ≅ 750 kVA

2

Substation size is: TS n = 4 × S n = 4 × 750 = 3000 kVA

The Ampere loading is: Sn

I= = 104.1 A
3 × VL − L
56
 The Trapezoid Area
Trapezoid area of constant load density is shown below

1 D. Area
Area = ( w1 + w2 ) ⋅ l IT = ∠ − cos −1 ( PF )
2 3kVLL
The current that is delivered to the trapezoid abef is
D. Area x
Ix = ∠ − cos −1 ( PF )
3kVLL
where Areax is the area of the trapezoid abef given by
1
Area x = ( w1 + wx ) ⋅ x
2 57
 The Trapezoid Area

 w1 + 2 w 2 
Vdrop = Re  Z .I T . 
 3( w1 + w 2 ) 
 2 8 w 2 + 9 w1w 2 + 3 w 1
2 2

Ploss = 3. R. IT . 
15(w1 + w2 )
2
 

7-Mar-22 58
Geometric Patterns and Service Areas
Rectangular

Model for Voltage drop

1 
Vdrop = Re  .Z .I T 
2 
W

1 2
Ploss = 3. .R. I T  0.5L 0.5L
3  I

7-Mar-22 59
Geometric Patterns and Service Areas
- Triangular Model for Voltage drop
a) If source at A:
2 
Vdrop = Re  .Z .I T 
3  A B
W
8 2
Ploss = 3. .R. IT 
15 
B) If source at B: (2/3)L (1/3) L
1  I
Vdrop = Re  .Z .IT 
3 
1 2
Ploss = 3. .R. IT 
5 
7-Mar-22 60
 Substation Application Curves
♦ This an other technique used to calculate the
number of feeders and substation service area.
♦ For each conductor size, phase spacing, voltage
drop there is a different substation application
curve.
♦ In general these substation application curves
link: load density (D), substation service area (A)
substation loading (TS), primary feeder’s voltage
(V), number of feeders (n), and allowable feeder
loading (Sn).

61
Substation Application Curves

6% Voltage drop
62
Substation Application Curves

3% Voltage drop
63
 Example 2
Calculate the substation design parameters for the
following substation input data
♦Given:
1- A load density (D) of 500 kVA/mi2
2- Substation voltage 13.2/22.9 kV
3- Substation rating (TS) of 40MVA
4- 3 % voltage drop
♦Determine:
1- Substation service area (TA)
2- Substation outgoing feeders number (n)

64
 Example 2, Solution

The substation application curve under study

65
 Example 2, Solution (Cont.)

♦ From the previous figure:

– Substation service area (TA) = 80 mi2
– Substation outgoing feeders number (n) = 6

66
 Example 3

Using the substation application curves and

the data given in Table-1, determine:

The substation sizes, the required number of

feeders and check whether the feeders are
thermally limited (TL).

67
Example 3
Table 1

68
69
 Example 3, solution

Case no. 1 and 2:

The total substation kVA = 500*6 = 3000 kVA
Using the first graph from each column, then
the number of feeders will be 3.8(4) and 2 for 3
and 6% voltage drop respectively. Repeating
the same thing and choosing the right, the
results will be summarized in the following
table:

70
 Example 3, solution

Cases 6 and 8 will be thermally loaded.

71