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Bus Design In Aboveground Substations

Gas insulated switchgear (GIS) - Siemens

Substations can be constructed partly or entirely within aboveground or belowground enclosures.

However, cost is high and complexity is increased by fire-protection and heat-removal needs. The
following discussion deals with exposed aboveground substations.

Air insulated substations (AIS)

The bus and associated substation equipment are exposed and directly visible. An outdoor bus may
be multitiered or spread out at one level. Metal or wood structures and insulators support such bus and
power line terminations.
Space permitting, a low-profile bus layout is generally best for aesthetics and is the easiest to conceal
with landscaping, walls, and enclosures.
Overhead transmission line terminating structures are taller and more difficult to conceal in such a

layout.
In dry climates, a low-profile bus can be achieved by excavating the earth area, within which outdoor
bus facilities are then located for an even lower profile.

Switchgear
Metal-enclosed or metal-clad switchgear designs that house the bus and associated equipment in a
metal enclosure are an alternative design for distribution voltages. These designs provide a compact
low-profile installation that may be aesthetically acceptable.

Gas insulated substation (GIS)

Bus and associated equipment can be housed within pipe-type enclosures using sulfur hexafluoride or
another similar gas for insulation. Not only can this achieve considerable compactness and reduced
site preparation for higher voltages, but it can also be installed lower to the ground.
A GIS can be an economically attractive design where space is at a premium, especially if a buildingtype enclosure will be used to house substation equipment (see IEEE Std. C37.123-1996).

Cable bus
Short sections of overhead or underground cables can be used at substations, although this use is
normally limited to distribution voltages (e.g., for feeder getaways or transformer-to-switchgear
connections).
At higher voltages, underground cable can be used for line-entries or to resolve a specific connection
problem.

Noise
Audible noise, particularly continuously radiated discrete tones (e.g., from power transformers), is the
type of noise that the community may find unacceptable.
Community guidelines to ensure that acceptable noise levels are maintained can take the form of
governmental regulations or individual = community reaction (permit denial, threat of complaint to utility
regulators, etc.).
Where noise is a potential concern, field measurements of the area background noise levels and
computer simulations predicting the impact of the substation may be required. The cost of
implementing noise reduction solutions (low-noise equipment, barriers or walls, noise cancellation
techniques, etc.) may become a significant factor when a site is selected.

Noise can be transmitted as a pressure wave either through the air or through solids. The majority of
cases involving the observation and measurement of noise have dealt with noise being propagated
through the air. However, there are reported, rare cases of audible transformer noise appearing at
distant observation points by propagating through the transformer foundation and underground solid
rock formations.
It is best to avoid the situation by isolating the foundation from bedrock where the conditions are
thought to favor transmission of vibrations.
Resource: Electric power substation engineering by J. McDonald