Different types of transformer / substation

Victor

Do I have the following correct? What is number 3. Yes, there are similar telephone cabinets, but this seems to be an ESB Networks cabinet.

1 - 10 kV
2 - 3kV
3 - ??
4 - 380 V mini-pillar

1


2


3


4

foxy farmer

I'm open to correction on these as its nearly 20 years since I left the ESB.
1 is possibly an RMU (ring main unit). 10kv cable in 10kv out with T off for installed indoor trafo, feeding a single consumer or feeding distribution cables in residential areas. 10kv side switchgear could be in cubicles or in self contained oil immersed units. Has door been widened on left side to remove install larger trafo?
2 is possibly a self contained version of 1. Door on left usually houses 10kv side, cable terminations, fuses and disconnects.
Right hand door has 400v equipment, usually a bank of fuses and 3ph cable terminations.
Trafo is fitted in tank directly behind switchgear.
3 I've never seen but more than likely 400v pillar. Older type oil/paper cables which need more room for termination with possibly a fuse bank fitted feeding an older cabled network.
4 is a 400v minipillar. 4 core cable in, 4 core cable out with usually 230v single phase service cables out to residents and public lighting. Up to 4 cables of 4x185Al could be fitted but its tight as fxxx. 4 or 5 service connections per phase I think . Thats an early one with old ESB logo. A nightmate to work on too as its so low. Door only just clearing the ground.

Tibulus

1. Is a indoor 10/20kV substation. That building would hold a 3 cubicle ring main unit (incoming switch, outgoing switch and circuit breaker to a transformer). If there were overlead lines the incomer/outgoer may alos have a nulec recloser connected between the RMU and lines. The LV side of the 10/20kV transformer would be directly connected to an 400V board and cables which feeds to a mini pillers on the opposite end. This type of substation is also used to supply large industrial buildings where the 400V offloader cables are connected to the incommer of the customer 400V board. Also if the customer requested a 10/20kV supply the same building would be used but only a RMU would be inside. Both RMU's and transformers are purchased from ABB on the ESBN framework.
2. Is a modular version of number 1. Manfactured by CG Power in Cavan and one time by ABB in Waterford. Obviously alot cheaper to install by the ESBN. Similair product used on windfarms where the transformer is external to the turbine.
3. Have not worked on. Possibly a telecoms cabinet or a larger minipiller.
4. This a mini-piller. This is where the opposing end of the 400V cable that came out of the 10/20kV substation in number 1 and 2 ended up. Effectively a junction box where the LV supply for each house, business etc is connected to the LV supply from the substation.

Worked as a contractor on ESBN 10/20kV network a few years back. Still work in the industry but in a different capacity and at higher volatge levels.

bassey

3 looks like a junction/inspection box for older oil cooled underground cables, I worked on them when I was an apprentice with ESBN

Mr Magnolia

How's the transformer being ventilated/cooled in 1?

foxy farmer

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

How's the transformer being ventilated/cooled in 1?

Natural heat dissipation. Oil natural air natural ONAN. Louvre vent over the door and maybe more in other walls. Have seen a fan fitted in wall vent in one sub.

Tibulus

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

How's the transformer being ventilated/cooled in 1?

Any of the transformers that I have seen been installed by ESBN are all dry type and small enough that they dont require much ventilation. The type ESBN use have been the same construction as a standard oil filled transformer but the tank filled bitchumen.

ESBN would put in an additional substation opposed to a larger transformer.

In industry where a customer would take a 10/20kV (or larger) suppply from ESBN they would either use a cast resin transformer indoors or construct an outdoor enclosed bay for a oil filled transformer.

Victor

The original reason I asked was because I have been mapping transformer,etc. on www.openstreetmap.org There is a custom electrical distribution map here: http://www.itoworld.com/map/4?lon=-6.26776&lat=53.33857&zoom=13&fullscreen=true

A few things I've noticed:
* Transformer housing come in all shapes and sizes.
* Naming and signage of transformers is a bit hit and miss - sometimes a name, sometimes a number, sometimes circuit, sometimes not.
* Every transformer I've seen numbered in Dublin has been on the X circuit, no Ys, As or Bs.
* Transformer doors don't get a lot of tender loving care.
* Some are referred to as transformers, some as substation and some as stations. However, all are obviously only transformers and rudimentary controls.

Question. In labelling such locations, what is the proper definition of a transformer, substation and station?

bassey

A transformer is a transformer, weather it's mounted on a pole, in a big green box on the side of the road, or in a substation, you're best bet for any clear labelling is to go by voltage.

Pole mounted or in a big green box, you're looking at 10/20KV (I think the medium voltage network in Dublin is nearly all 20KV now) to 400v three phase.

38KV to 10/20KV substations are all in an enclosed compound, some are open air, some are in buildings, there are a deceptive amount hidden around the place, I can give you a few examples if you want.

Then you have large 220/110 KV to 38KV substations which are hard to miss, again they can be open air or in buildings but they're much larger generally.

Victor

So, make anything with 38kV a substation and anything else a transformer?

Feel free to point out other locations.

Tibulus

Not aware of any clear definition of a substation. Possibly has to do with isolation or protection facilities provided.

Even those 10/20kV to 400V dotted around urban areas are substations. Iv heard them call modular substation, unit substations, package substations etc depends on the operator.

The reason that labeling schemes change is due to the fact that the infrastructure has been built up over decades over and over various changes in ESB labeling standards.

Another reason is that each local ESBN office like to do their own thing and like to think they work independently of the others.

bassey

I'll try and dig out some of my old module books from ESBN and see if they make a distinction in the naming

Luckysasha

Majority of the ESB refer to picture 2 as a ground mounted unit sub or unit sub for short. These will either be a KKKT or a KKK. The K refers to a 10/20kv outlet and the T refers to a Trafo. The KKKT is used in 90% of unit subs where as the KKKK is use for sectionalising purposes on the HV system.
Picture 1 is known as an indoor sub. This will usually have a 10/20kv cable coming in to a 10/20kv to LV Trafo. This in turn will feed an LV bus bar and have numerous LV outlets to feed the surrounding area. This indoor sub is an old set up hence why it is so much physically bigger. The switchgear is air insulated which means it is exposed and kept at a sufficient distance apart to prevent short circuits.
Substations are basically your 38kv and up switchgear be it indoor or outdoor. The voltage level on the name refers to the highest voltage in that particular station when in fact there could be a couple of different voltage levels via transformers in the one station. Finglas 220kv station for example has 220kv / 110kv and 38kv in the one station.

dingding

Had a look at the Electricity Distribution Map.

An excellent piece of work.

Victor

Just to let people know about progress on the project.

Victor wrote: »

The original reason I asked was because I have been mapping transformer,etc. on www.openstreetmap.org

Rather than procrastinate on the voltages involved with the <21kV networks, I've had to tag these as 'low'.

There is a custom electrical distribution map here: http://www.itoworld.com/map/4?lon=-6.26776&lat=53.33857&zoom=13&fullscreen=true

Unfortunately, this map is no longer available.

Substations (33kv / 38kV and higher) http://url.ie/11vj0
Transformers (all voltages) http://url.ie/11vj1
Power plants (including wind) http://url.ie/11vj2
Transmission network (110kV and higher) http://url.ie/11vj3 (this may take a while to display)
Progress (about 50%) the 33kv / 38kV networks http://url.ie/11vj5(this may take a while to display, but not as long as the previous one)

Luckysasha

Just wondering where your getting your info from. A lot of your HV station names are wrong

Victor

Luckysasha wrote: »

Just wondering where your getting your info from. A lot of your HV station names are wrong

I concur - there is only so much of the country that I (and others) can cover. Many substations and transformers have a name and/or number on the front of them.

I don't want to plagiarise the EirGrid map: http://smartgriddashboard.eirgrid.com/assets/All-IslandTransmissionMap.pdf so I've had to use placeholder names, with a note for the correct name to be inserted.

Luckysasha

Just wondering what is the point to the mapping exercise. ESB networks have very good up to date maps. They recently issued staff with iPads / iPhones so everything is now digital

Victor

Luckysasha wrote: »

Just wondering what is the point to the mapping exercise.

People like to understand things.

Like:
Passenger rail services: http://product.itoworld.com/map/171?lon=-7.75279&lat=53.13547&zoom=7
Rugby grounds: http://product.itoworld.com/map/217?lon=-7.53306&lat=53.10388&zoom=7
Car parks: http://product.itoworld.com/map/7?lon=-8.47892&lat=51.88492&zoom=13

And some people need specific things
Toilets: http://url.ie/11vk7
Libraries: http://url.ie/11vk8
Police: http://url.ie/11vk9

www.OpenStreetMap.org is an open data project and anyone can use the data.

Luckysasha wrote: »

ESB networks have very good up to date maps. They recently issued staff with iPads / iPhones so everything is now digital

Sure, but they aren't publicly available.