Substation Design
and Modernization
Interface

The Story

     In order to create this project, based on the global problems and expectations, the future of the substation design-modernization industry, the possibilities provided by digital engineering solutions, and the modernization procedure of a 500kV HV conventional switchyard have been analysed according to the main principles of substation design and modernization.

       Currently, the issue of modernization of electric power facilities is of great importance, because the deterioration of equipment at some electrical installations is 50% or more. In addition, the digitalization of the industry and compliance with the IEC 61850 standard is the exclusion of leaving the situation in its current position. In the study, firstly, the traditional solutions of substation design and modernization processes were examined based on the analysis of the past and future of electrical power systems. At this point, the basic requirements, standards, and visions of power systems were summarized taking into account the climate change and the obligations caused by the delayed awareness of this global problem. In addition, the sectoral acceleration that came with the demands for the reduction of carbon dioxide emission and the increase in generating energy by renewable resources were highlighted. The future potential of the substation design as a part of the transmission and sub-transmission system was examined concerning the aforesaid information. The contribution to the development of substation engineering by the traditional design approach and modernization process has been researched considering the leading companies’ products in the power equipment manufacturing sector. Attention was drawn to the orientation of the companies towards visionary and innovative solutions. The digital technologies and design-oriented interfaces that form the basis of this sectoral orientation are of great importance. Therefore, the use, potential, and possible advantages of a unique interface design are explained as part of both practical implementation and analysis of non-conventional solutions. The development process of the interface which started at the beginning of the master's thesis period and will continue to be developed is explained in the light of cross-sectoral intersections. As well as the examined design and modernization-oriented auxiliary resources are pointed out. A practical implementation part has been created to put the research done up to this part and the online substation designer interface, which is an essential part of the master's thesis, into practice with a solid example. In the practical implementation part, firstly "Modernization of 500 kV Switchgear by DCB Solutions" was examined, and the necessity and advantages of the modernization process in traditional substations were explained. In the modernization study the requirements and standards of electrical power systems, substation design, and modernization processes were examined in detail and the different benefits of variations were compared in the light of information obtained from contemporary sources with actual prices, and reliability indexes. As a result of these comparisons, the importance of critical points such as footprint, reliability, and cost, should be considered in substation design and modernization processes, and the importance of digital technologies and design-oriented interfaces that contribute to sectoral acceleration has been proven. The mathematical calculations that form the basis of the design and modernization processes, were represented in the first part of the practical implementation and applied to the online version. Different combinations of parameters in this section created different variations that appeal to a variety of priorities. At the same time, the compatibility of the variation determined in the first part of the practical implementation with the calculations that form the theoretical basis of the balance between source and load is verified. In the last part of the practical implementation, the manual calculations made in the second part were recalculated by the online substation design and modernization interface explained in the third chapter. In this section, the structure and use of the interface created are explained in detail, and the improvements made to meet user expectations and provide ease of use are mentioned. In this regard, the results of the Excel calculations which form the basis of the coded web-based interface, manual calculations, and the calculations of the web-based interface, were compared and the accuracy rates were highlighted.

    Finally, the past and future trends of substation systems, global expectations, and sectoral visions, have been examined in a narrowing circle from general to specific, the benefits of innovative solutions have been proven with practical application, and a new one can be added to the web-based substation applications. The theoretical and practical results of the work can be applied to substantiating the modernization of existing substation switchgear for various voltage levels and further research in this engineering area.