top of page

Blog Posts

Writer's pictureHüseyin GÜZEL

Single Line Diagrams and Circuit Configurations of HV and MV Switchgear

Single line diagrams (SLDs) and #circuit configurations are essential tools for understanding and planning high-voltage (HV) and medium-voltage (MV) #switchgear #installations. Here’s a brief overview:


Single-Line Diagrams (SLDs)

The initial step in planning a #switchgear installation is to create its single-line diagram. This diagram shows the scope of the installation, including the number of #busbars and #branches, as well as the related equipment.


Single Line Diagrams and Circuit Configurations of High Voltage and Medium Voltage Switchgears
Single Line Diagrams and Circuit Configurations of HV and MV Switchgears (on photo credit: Eaton.)

The most common circuit configurations for high and medium-voltage switchgear installations are depicted as single-line diagrams in the following paragraphs.


Circuit Configurations

The configuration of circuits for high-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear installations is determined by operational needs. The decision to use single or #multiplebusbars primarily hinges on the system's mode of operation and the requirement for sectionalizing to prevent excessive breaking capacities.


Consideration is given to the necessity of isolating sections of the installations for cleaning, maintenance, and potential future expansions.


In creating a single-line diagram, it is necessary to consider numerous potential combinations of incoming and outgoing connections. The most frequent configurations are depicted in the subsequent #diagrams.


 

The Table of Contents:

  1. Most Common Circuit Configurations

    1. Single Busbars

    2. Double Busbars

    3. Double Busbars in U Connection

    4. Composite Double Bus/Bypass Bus

    5. Double Busbars with Draw-out Circuit Breaker

    6. Two-breaker Method with Draw-out Circuit Breakers

    7. Double Busbars with Bypass Busbar (US)

    8. Triple (Multiple) Busbars

  2. Special Configurations Primarily Found Outside of Europe

    1. Double Busbars Equipped with A Shunt Disconnector.

    2. Two-breaker Method with Fixed Switchgear

    3. 1 ½ breaker Method

    4. Cross-tie Method

    5. Ring Busbars

  3. Configurations for Load-Centre Substations

    1. Branch Connections

      1. Overhead-line and Cable Branches

      2. Branch with Unit Earthing

      3. Transformer Branches

      4. Double Branches

    2. Connections of Instrument Transformers

      1. Normal branches

      2. Station with bypass busbar (Instrument transformers within branch)

      3. Station with bypass busbar (Instrument transformers outside branch)

    3. Busbar Coupling Connections

      1. Double busbars

      2. Triple busbars

 

1. Most Common Circuit Configurations


1.1 Single busbars

Ideal for smaller installations, a sectionalizer enables a station to be divided into two distinct sections, allowing these sections to be disconnected for #maintenance activities.


Single busbars
Single busbars

1.2 Double Busbars

Busbar sectionalizing is preferred for larger installations due to its #advantages: it allows for cleaning and maintenance without disrupting the power supply. It also enables separate #operation of #station sections from bus I and bus II, thereby increasing operational flexibility.


Double busbars
Double busbars

1.3 Double busbars in U Connection

A low-cost, space-efficient configuration is available for installations with #doublebusbars and #branches extending to both sides.


Double busbars in U connection
Double busbars in U connection

1.4 Composite double bus/bypass bus

This configuration can be tailored to meet operational needs. The station may be run using a double bus system or with a single #bus complemented by a #bypassbus.


Composite double bus/bypass bus
Composite double bus/bypass bus

1.5 Double busbars with draw-out circuit breaker

In medium-voltage stations, the use of draw-out #breakers minimizes downtime during switchgear maintenance, and additionally, the need for a #feeder #isolator is removed.


Double busbars with draw-out circuit- breaker
Double busbars with draw-out circuit- breaker

1.6 Two-breaker method with draw-out circuit-breakers

Draw-out #circuitbreakers lead to cost-effective medium-voltage stations as they eliminate the need for busbar and feeder isolators. During station operation, these breakers can be slotted into a cubicle designated for either bus I or bus II.


Two-breaker method with draw-out circuit-breakers
Two-breaker method with draw-out circuit-breakers

1.7 Double busbars with bypass busbar (US)

The bypass bus refers to an additional busbar that is connected through the bypass branch. The advantage of this setup is that it allows for each branch of the installation to be isolated for maintenance purposes without disrupting the #powersupply.


Double busbars with bypass busbar (US)
Double busbars with bypass busbar (US)

1.8 Triple (Multiple) Busbars

For critical installations that supply electrically independent networks, or when rapid sectionalizing is necessary to limit #shortcircuit #power in the event of a #fault, this configuration often includes a bypass bus.


Triple (multiple) busbars
Triple (multiple) busbars

2. Special Configurations Primarily Found Outside of Europe


2.1 Double busbars equipped with a shunt disconnector.

The shunt disconnector "U" is capable of disconnecting each branch without interrupting the supply. During shunt operations, the tie breaker serves as the branch circuit breaker.


Double busbars with shunt disconnector
Double busbars with shunt disconnector

2.2 Two-breaker method with fixed switchgear

The two-breaker method using fixed switchgear entails the duplication of circuit breakers, branch #disconnectors, and #instrumenttransformers within each branch. This #configuration permits the interchange and isolation of busbars, as well as the removal of a branch breaker for maintenance purposes at any time without disrupting service.


In each branch, the circuit breaker, branch disconnector, and instrument transformers are replicated. It is possible to interchange busbars and #isolate a single bus, allowing for the removal of a branch breaker for #maintenance at any time without disrupting the #operation.


Two-breaker method with fixed switchgear
Two-breaker method with fixed switchgear

2.3 1 ½ breaker method

For the same level of flexibility mentioned earlier, fewer circuit breakers are required. This allows for isolation without disrupting service. Since all breakers are typically closed, the supply remains continuous even if a busbar fails. The branches can be interconnected using the linking breaker V.


1 ½ breaker method
1 ½ breaker method

2.4 Cross-tie Method

Using the cross-tie disconnector "DT," the power from line A can be transferred to branch A1, circumventing the busbar. This makes the #busbars available for maintenance.


Cross-tie method
Cross-tie method

2.5 Ring Busbars

Each branch necessitates only a single circuit breaker, and each breaker can be isolated without disrupting the power supply to the outgoing feeders. The ring busbar configuration is frequently employed as the initial phase of the 1 ½ breaker setups.


Ring busbars
Ring busbars

3. Configurations for Load-Centre Substations

Configurations for load-centre substations
Configurations for load-centre substations

Where:

  • A and B – Main transformer station,

  • C – Load-centre substation with circuit breaker or switch disconnector.


Opting for switch-disconnectors over circuit-breakers can lead to certain operational limitations.

Switch-disconnectors are commonly employed in load-center #substations to manage #feeders for #overhead #lines, cables, or transformers. Their application is influenced by operational requirements and economic factors.


Switch-disconnectors used in load-centre substations
Switch-disconnectors used in load-centre substations

3.1 Branch Connections


3.1.1 Overhead-line and cable branches

An earthing switch, such as Earthing Switch 7, discharges capacitive charges and safeguards against atmospheric charges on the #overheadline.


Overhead-line and cable branches
Overhead-line and cable branches

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnector,

  2. Circuit-breaker,

  3. 3Switch-disconnector,

  4. Overhead-line or cable branch,

  5. Transformer branch,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Earthing switch,

  8. Surge arrester)


3.1.2 Branch with unit earthing

The necessity for stationary earthing switches 7 arises from the escalation in short-circuit #powers and, in systems with impedance earthing, the earth-fault currents.


Branch with unit earthing
Branch with unit earthing

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnector,

  2. Circuit-breaker,

  3. Switch-disconnector,

  4. Overhead-line or cable branch,

  5. Transformer branch,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Earthing switch,

  8. Surge arrester


3.1.3 Transformer Branches

Feeder disconnectors are often unnecessary in transformer branches since the #transformer is disconnected on both the high-voltage (h.v.) and low-voltage (l.v.) sides. For maintenance purposes, the use of an earthing switch is advised.


Transformer branches
Transformer branches

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnector,

  2. Circuit-breaker,

  3. Switch-disconnector,

  4. Overhead-line or cable branch,

  5. Transformer branch,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Earthing switch,

  8. Surge arrester


3.1.4 Double Branches

Double branches serving two parallel feeders are typically equipped with branch disconnectors 6. In load-center substations, the installation of switch-disconnectors 3 allows for the connection and disconnection, as well as the through-connection, of branches 4 and 5.


Double branches
Double branches

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnector,

  2. Circuit-breaker,

  3. Switch-disconnector,

  4. Overhead-line or cable branch,

  5. Transformer branch,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Earthing switch,

  8. Surge arrester



3.2 Connections of Instrument Transformers


3.2.1 Normal branches

Instrument transformers are typically positioned beyond circuit breaker 2, with the voltage transformer 5 following the #currenttransformer 4. This arrangement is proper for synchronization purposes.


Certain operations necessitate the use of a voltage transformer situated beyond the branch disconnectors, either directly on the cable or on the overhead line.

Normal branches
Normal branches

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnectors,

  2. Branch circuit-breaker,

  3. Bypass circuit-breaker,

  4. Current transformers,

  5. Voltage transformers,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Bypass disconnectors,

  8. Earthing switch


3.2.2 Station with bypass busbar (Instrument transformers within branch)

Instrument transformers stop functioning when the bypass is activated. The line protection for the branch needs to be ensured by the instrument transformers and #protection #relays of the bypass. This can only be achieved if the ratios of the transformers in all branches are roughly the same.


The bypass's #protectionrelays must be configured with the correct values. Additionally, maintaining the branch #transformers is more convenient and can be performed while the bypass is operational.


When capacitive voltage transformers, which serve as coupling #capacitors for a high-frequency telephone link, are utilized, the link becomes inoperative in bypass mode as well.


Station with bypass busbar – Instrument transformers within branch
Station with bypass busbar – Instrument transformers within branch

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnectors,

  2. Branch circuit-breaker,

  3. Bypass circuit-breaker,

  4. Current transformers,

  5. Voltage transformers,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Bypass disconnectors,

  8. Earthing switch


3.2.3 Station with bypass busbar (Instrument transformers outside branch)

During a bypass operation, the branch protection relays remain operational, and so does the telephone link when capacitive #voltagetransformers are utilized. The only required action is to redirect the relay-tripping circuit to bypass circuit-breaker 3.


Maintaining transformers becomes more challenging because the branch needs to be out of service during the process.

Whether to place instrument transformers inside or outside the branch is determined by factors such as branch currents, protection relays, maintenance feasibility, and for #capacitivevoltage transformers, the high-frequency telephone connection.


Station with bypass busbar – Instrument transformers outside branch
Station with bypass busbar – Instrument transformers outside branch

Where:

  1. Busbar disconnectors,

  2. Branch circuit-breaker,

  3. Bypass circuit-breaker,

  4. Current transformers,

  5. Voltage transformers,

  6. Branch disconnector,

  7. Bypass disconnectors,

  8. Earthing switch



3.3 Busbar Coupling Connections

Practical experience indicates that complex coupling arrangements are often required to fulfil the essential criteria for supply security and the flexibility needed during transitions or disconnections.


The increased complexity is apparent in the configurations of medium-voltage and high-voltage installations.

Generally, dividing into two bays is necessary to house the equipment used for #tiebreaker branches.


3.3.1 Double busbars

Double busbars
Double busbars

Where:

  • A and B = Busbar sections,

  • LTr = Busbar sectioning disconnector


3.3.2 Triple busbars

Triple busbars
Triple busbars


Reference:

Switchgear Manual (11th-edition) by ABB

Format:

PDF

Size:

27.96 MB

Pages

885

Download:

Comentarios

Obtuvo 0 de 5 estrellas.
Aún no hay calificaciones

Agrega una calificación
  • Beyaz LinkedIn Simge
  • Beyaz Facebook Simge
  • Beyaz Heyecan Simge

BU İÇERİĞE EMOJİ İLE TEPKİ VER

bottom of page