# 4 Major Types of Electrical Substations

- Link: https://studyelectrical.com/2018/11/4-major-types-of-electrical-substations.html
- Published: 2018-11-21T13:12:00+00:00
- Author: 

![4 2Bmajor 2Btypes 2Bof 2Bsubstations](https://studyelectrical.com/wp-content/uploads/
2018/11/4-2Bmajor-2Btypes-2Bof-2Bsubstations-300x189.jpg)

 

The assembly of the apparatus used to change some characteristic (e.g. voltage, 
a.c. to d.c., frequency, p.f etc.) of electric supply is called a sub-station. The
four major types of substations are explained in this article.

Sub-stations are an important part of the power system. The continuity of supply
depends to a considerable extent upon the successful operation of sub-stations.

There are four major types of substations. 

 1. switchyard at a generating station
 2. customer substation
 3. system station
 4. distribution station

### Generating Station Switchyards

The first type is the switchyard at a generating station. These facilities connect
the generators to the utility grid and also provide off-site power to the plant.

 * Generator switchyards tend to be large installations. They are typically engineered
   and constructed by the power plant designers. They are subjected to planning,
   finance, and construction efforts different from those of routine substation 
   projects. 
 * Because of their special nature, the creation of power plant switchyards will
   not be discussed here. But the expansion and modifications of these facilities
   generally follow the same processes as system stations.

### Customer Substations

The second type of substation, typically known as the customer substation, functions
as the main source of electric power supply for one particular business customer.

 * The technical requirements and the business case for this type of facility depend
   highly on the customer’s requirements, more so than on utility needs.

### System Stations

The third type of substation involves the transfer of bulk power across the network
and is referred to as a system station. Some of these stations provide only switching
facilities (no power transformers) whereas others perform voltage conversion as 
well.

 * These large stations typically serve as the endpoints for transmission lines 
   originating from generating switchyards and provide the electrical power for 
   circuits that feed transformer stations. 
 * They are integral to the long-term reliability and integrity of the electric 
   system and enable large blocks of energy to be moved from the generators to the
   load centers. 
 * These system stations are strategic facilities and usually very expensive to 
   construct and maintain.

### Distribution Substation

The fourth type of substation is the distribution station. These are the most common
facilities in power electric systems and provide the distribution circuits that 
directly supply most electric customers.

 * They are typically located close to the load centers, meaning that they are usually
   located in or near the neighborhoods that they supply, and are the stations most
   likely to be encountered by the customers.
 * Depending on the type of equipment used, the substations could be
    - Outdoor type with air-insulated equipment
    - Indoor type with air-insulated equipment
    - Outdoor type with gas-insulated equipment
    - Indoor type with gas-insulated equipment
    - Mixed technology substations
    - Mobile substations

### Related posts:

No related posts.