ABB has been designing and building substations for more than 100 years. In that time we have supplied some 5,500 air insulated and gas insulated substations for all voltage levels and all climates, from the densest downtown locations to the harshest environments on earth.
ABB engineers, manufactures and delivers complete installations, and has dedicated substation capabilities in around 100 countries.
Inside a substation
A typical substation consists of the following equipment, all of which is manufactured by ABB:
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| ABB has 100 years experience in building substations.
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Instrument transformers for measuring the current or voltage. Disconnectors for visibly disconnecting the power during no-load conditions. Earthing switches for connecting parts of the substation to earth Switchgear, including circuit breakers, for breaking rated and short-circuit current. Surge arresters for protecting the switchgear from high overvoltages caused by lightning. Power transformers for stepping up and stepping down the voltage. Control and protection systems for the electrical equipment in the substation. A control building which contains the medium voltage switchgear and the electrical control and protection systems.
1900 – the first ABB substation
ABB manufactured its first substation in 1900. In those days, substations were equipped with oil boiler circuit breakers rated at 8 kV, to be able to switch 8 kV in 1891 was a major sensation.
The resources required for their operation were enormous; they required constant supervision and daily maintenance.
As the century progressed ABB focused on developing new technologies that would increase capacity and availability, and address the crucial issues of size, speed and automation.
Slashing substation size by 90 percent
One of the most important innovations in electrical engineering in the 20th century was the launch of gas insulated switchgear by ABB in 1965.
At that time a conventional air insulated substation was the size of a soccer pitch. With ABB’s new GIS technology, the dimensions were reduced to a mere tenth.
Maintenance intervals were also cut to once every ten years, which radically improved availability and reliability and lowered operating costs. The unique SF6 gas enclosure made the switchgear completely insensitive to pollution and the corrosive effects of salt, sand and snow.
Ushering in automation
In the 1980s, ABB innovations in substation automation replaced conventional electromechanical protection and control systems with electrostatic systems. The effect of these innovations is seen, for instance, in the latest generation of ABB numerical control and protection systems. These systems incorporate multiple functions and tasks that communicate with other systems via bus technology and monitor actual process values.
Utilities are able to operate and control substations by remote, without the need for operational personnel on site.
Cutting delivery times in half
In 2001 ABB launched another unique concept that cuts delivery times for turnkey substations in half. Pre-engineered, modularized substations are available in various AIS and GIS configurations and at ratings of up 145 kV.
Customers can even configure and order a substation online and have it delivered and commissioned within six months.
Another ABB innovation - mobile substations – enables utilities to respond rapidly to outages and get power quickly to their customers. They are delivered by trailer and can be up and running within less than 24 hours of arrival.