Whether you work in property development or support businesses with their utilities, gaining some background knowledge on substations is essential. A vital part of the UK power network, a substation essentially helps increase or decrease the voltage of an electrical supply. As a result, they ensure the reliable and safe delivery of electricity.
Read on to learn more about how substations work and what they mean for your electricity supply.
If you’d like more advice on substation design, construction, or maintenance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Network Power Connections.
What are substations?
Located along power lines and networks, substations transform voltage from high to low or vice versa. By doing so, they allow a generating station to distribute electricity to its final destination.
This transformation of voltage is necessary so that households, businesses, and other end users can safely receive the amount of power they need to operate their electronics. Put simply, without substations and other components of our modern electric grid, there would be no reliable way for us to access and use electricity.
There are three fundamental types of substations:
Transmission substations (high voltage), which link the power generation sources to regions receiving electricity.
Sub-transmission substations (medium voltage) — these link transmission lines within the same region together.
Distribution substations (low voltage) — this type of substation provides electricity to homes and business establishments.
All three play an important role in safely transporting electricity for us to use at home and at work. It’s crucial that all types of substations are well maintained so the UK power network can run smoothly.
How do they work?
Although substations come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they generally all have the same basic components. Each component has a particular role in transforming currents to ensure safe electricity supply and provision.
Transformers
A key part of a substation, transformers are used to either increase or decrease the voltage of an electrical supply. A primary winding connects to the incoming high-voltage supply, while a secondary winding is connected to the load. The ‘load’ could be a lower voltage device (a domestic appliance, for example). Alternatively, it might be a higher voltage device, such as another transformer.
To increase the voltage, the primary winding will turn more times than the secondary. In contrast, to decrease the voltage, the turns on the primary winding will be less than those on the secondary winding.
Circuit breakers
Circuit breakers protect transformers and other equipment from damage caused by overloading or faults in the system. They automatically disconnect (or break) the circuit when they detect a problem. This prevents further damage from occurring.
Capacitors
Often used in conjunction with batteries to provide a backup power supply in case of a power outage, capacitors store electrical energy. They can also help improve power quality by filtering out harmful harmonics that could damage the equipment.
Disconnect switches
If a piece of equipment needs to be repaired or worked on, a disconnect switch can isolate it. In most cases, you need to operate a disconnect switch manually. However, they can also sometimes be operated remotely.
Busbars
Made from copper or aluminium to give them a high current-carrying capacity, busbars are the elements that distribute power around a substation.
Lightning arrestors
Substations need to be protected from lightning. To do this, lightning arrestors divert the lightning strike away from sensitive equipment and into the ground, where it can do no harm.
Substation installation, maintenance and support from NPC
Understanding how substations work is essential for property developers, utility consultants, and other industry professionals who need reliable electrical power systems for their projects. However, when it comes to design, repairs, or maintenance, it’s vital to seek the services of a professional.
At Network Power Connections, we have the training, skills, and experience to safely manage substations of all sizes. Whether you’re looking to install a new substation or need an extensive refurbishment, our experts can support you with the surveying and construction process.
We’re also here to carry out regular maintenance to ensure your substation is working exactly as it should. If you need any in-depth reporting carried out, we can do that too.
No matter what services your substation requires, we’ll be happy to help. Please feel free to get in touch with the Network Power Connections team to arrange a confidential discussion.
