The text below is the transcript from the Designing for Safety and Efficiency: Inside a Transmission Substation and An audio-described version of the video is also available.
Today we wanted to bring you a unique view of our transmission network using BIM building information modeling techniques.
We will take you on a tour of a 3D model of a typical SP transmission substation.
In this video, we will demonstrate some of the key factors in building and designing transmission substations.
Every substation is unique in design with necessary equipment and layout being dependent on a number of factors. For example, voltage levels, connection capacity, terrain and environmental constraints, each of which requires careful consideration and substantial time to develop.
Substations are an important point in the transmission network where power is controlled, monitored and protected to ensure reliable electricity supply. Building them takes years due to complex planning, specialized equipment, and strict safety and environmental standards.
Substations are where your projects connect safely and efficiently to the grid. The heart of every substation is the control room. It's where we utilize telecommunication and house protection panels and relays, which are the intelligence of the substation. All of these are used to constantly monitor the functioning of the system and send signals when needed.
Designing one takes years with careful thought and discussions around layout, space, and equipment followed by a long building process. Leaving the control room, we can enter the substation compound. Right at the main gate, you will see several warning signs. This is to ensure site safety for everyone on site.
In the compound, you will see a variety of equipment such as transformers, switch gear, bus bars, and cable sealing ends. Each piece of equipment has specific safety distances depending on voltage level, which adds to the space each asset needs and ensuring that there are safe pathways and areas of work for our engineers on site.
Transformers step up or down voltage enabling efficient transmission. They are typically rated between 90 to 240 MBA. The higher the voltage, the larger in size this piece of equipment will be and the larger the necessary safety distances, meaning more compound space used. For this particular transformer example, you can see the substantial safety distance of 10 m highlighted in red. As the voltage level of the transformer increases, this fire safety distance would also increase, thus requiring even more space in the compound.
Next, we have switch gears. There are various types such as gas insulated switch gear GIS or air insulated switch gear AIS. These are generally used to isolate faults or redirect power flow. Moving on, we have bus bars. Bus bars carry current between equipment. They are engineered for safe and proper loading based on voltage levels. Here we show face-to-face clearance. In this case, 1.3 m. Highlighted in red, yellow, and blue. Shown here in green is the 1.4 m of safety clearance between the conductors. This is another key safety distance within a substation.
Next you can see the cable sealing ends. A termination point where high voltage cables connect to overhead lines or substation equipment. Caling ends provide mechanical support, environmental protection and ensure proper insulation.
Ultimately substations are essential for transferring power across our country. They are complex and highly engineered environments built to ensure efficiency, safety and reliability of the electricity network. We ensure our substations are not just fit for today's needs but are also future ready.