Substations for Non-Engineers: Types of Substations, Characteristics, and Operations

Introduction

This training course will cover the fundamentals of substations delivering electric power from generation, transmission, and distribution. The three stages of substations will focus on the alternating current (AC) network systems. This includes the voltage classifications and color codes. As we are all aware electricity kills, therefore understanding of electrical hazards and electric shock risks are primary concerns. Effective and importance of earthing or grounding create awareness when we are dealing with electricity. Operations and characteristics of the generating substations equipment include the alternator, turbines as prime movers, step-up transformer, and circuit breaker. In the transmission substations where voltages are reduced via step-down power transformers. The transmission process can either be overhead or underground. The final stage is the distribution substation to supply electricity to domestic and industrial consumers. A safe and secured electric power supply is vital to ensure the smooth operation of protection devices namely fuses and circuit breakers and transformers.

This Substations for Non-Engineers training course will highlight:

• Electrical safety related to hazards and risks of electricity,
• The generation of electrical power process
• Characteristics of transmission substation
• Categories of distribution substations
• The power transformers at the generation, transmission, and distribution substations
• Electrical protection devices for substations

Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will learn to:

• Understand the electric shock risks and hazards and importance of earthing
• Comprehend the roles and characteristics of the various substations
• Explore the construction and operations of the power transformers
• Understand the alternating current (AC) system and process

Training Methodology

This Substations for Non-Engineers training course will ensure that participants will receive a thorough training on the subjects covered by the course outline with the instructor utilizing a variety of proven adult learning teaching and facilitation techniques. Each participant will receive a copy of the comprehensive course notes. The presenter will outline and discuss the topics using computer displays, videos and power point presentation. The course is designed to have an interactive format to maximize delegate participation. Questions and answers are encouraged throughout and at the daily sessions.

Who Should Attend?

The engineering and administrative staff will be able to comprehend the operations of the substations. This training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Plant engineers
• Maintenance technicians
• Facility supervisors
• Engineering professionals
• Managers of the engineering department

Course Outline

Day 1: Electrical Safety with Emphasis on Electric Shock Risks And Hazards, Importance Of Earthing/ Grounding

• Essentials of electrical safety
• Electric shock risks and hazards
• Personal protective equipment
• Importance of earthing/ grounding
• Types of earthing/ grounding
• Touch voltage and step voltage

Day 2: The Generation Substation Characteristics and Roles

• Voltage classification and color codes
• Thermal power generation process
• Construction of the prime movers
• Operations of the alternator
• The generator circuit breaker
• The step-up transformer characteristics

Day 3: The Transmission Substation Characteristics

• The overhead transmission lines
• Characteristics of the underground transmission system
• Construction and operation of the step-down power transformers
• Transformer cooling systems
• Construction and characteristics of a high voltage circuit breaker
• Surge and lightning protection for transmission towers

Day 4: The Distribution Substation Characteristics and The Alternating Current (AC) System

• Fundamentals of an AC network and units
• Relationship between single phase and three-phase systems
• Construction of air insulated distribution substations
• The modern gas insulated (GIS) distribution substation
• Classifications of distribution substations
• Hermetically sealed distribution transformers

Day 5: Protection Devices for Substations and Distributions

• Types and construction of circuit breakers and fuses
• Typical single line diagram of an electrical distribution system
• Common types of testing instruments
• Modern digital testing instruments
• Wrap up session with Q&A