3. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
RUS BULLETIN 1724E-300
SUBJECT: Design Guide for Rural Substations
TO: All RUS Borrowers
RUS Electric Staff
EFFECTIVE DATE: Date of approval.
OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST: Transmission Branch, Electric Staff Division.
INSTRUCTIONS: This bulletin is an update and revision of previous REA Bulletin 65-1, “Design
Guide for Rural Substations” (revised June 1978). Replace previous Bulletin 65-1 with this bulletin
and file with 7 CFR Part 1724.
AVAILABILITY: This bulletin is available on the Rural Utilities Service website at:
http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric
PURPOSE: This bulletin provides a basic design guide and a reference tool for designing rural
substations.
GENERAL: This Bulletin has been revised to bring the publication up to date with latest industry
standards, current RUS format, and technical requirements.
Our thanks to Cooperative Research Network of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association,
(NRECA) which has supported this project, and it's consultant Burns & McDonnell Engineering
Company for the work which has made it possible to put this revision of the design guide together.
The following current and former members of the Substation Subcommittee of the (NRECA),
Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Engineering Committee provided invaluable assistance in
preparing this document.
1. Bardwell, Jim, SGS Witter, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico
2. Chapman, George, Patterson & Dewar Engineers, Inc., Decatur, Georgia
3. Eskandary, Mike, USDA-RUS-ESD-TB, Washington, DC
4. Howard, Jerrod, Central Electric Power Co-op, Inc., Columbia, SC
5. Kahanek, Bil, Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin, TX
6. Myers, Tom, Berkeley Electric Co-op, Moncks Corner, SC
7. Malone, Ken, Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, TN
8. Nicholson, Norris, USDA-RUS-ESD-TB, Washington, DC
4.
5. Bulletin 1724E-300
Page 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS..........................................................................................31
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................37
1.1 PREFACE........................................................................................................................37
1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE.................................................................................................37
1.3 RELATIONSHIP OF SUBSTATION TO OVERALL POWER SYSTEM.........................37
1.4 IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE SUBSTATION PLANNING AND
ENGINEERING...............................................................................................................38
1.5 TYPES OF SUBSTATIONS.............................................................................................38
1.5.1 General..............................................................................................................38
1.5.2 Distribution Substations .......................................................................................39
1.5.3 Transmission Substations.....................................................................................39
1.5.4 Switching Substations..........................................................................................39
1.6 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................40
CHAPTER 2 - GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS...............................................................41
2.1 INITIAL AND ULTIMATE REQUIREMENTS ...............................................................41
2.2 SITE CONSIDERATIONS...............................................................................................41
2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS......................................................................42
2.3.1 General..............................................................................................................42
2.3.2 Weather.............................................................................................................46
2.3.3 Altitude ..............................................................................................................46
2.3.4 Earthquakes .......................................................................................................47
2.3.5 Other Considerations...........................................................................................50
2.4 INTERFACING CONSIDERATIONS..............................................................................51
2.4.1 Line Tension.......................................................................................................51
2.5 RELIABILITY CONSIDERATIONS...............................................................................51
2.6 OPERATING CONSIDERATIONS.................................................................................52
2.7 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS.........................................................................................52
2.8 MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS...........................................................................52
2.9 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................52
CHAPTER 3 - DOCUMENTS.........................................................................................................55
3.1 GENERAL.......................................................................................................................55
3.1.1 Possible Documents or Studies Required of the Engineer.......................................55
3.2 NEED FOR DOCUMENTATION....................................................................................55
3.3 PROCEDURES................................................................................................................56
3.4 PROCUREMENT............................................................................................................56
3.5 DRAWINGS....................................................................................................................57
3.5.1 General..............................................................................................................57
3.5.2 Quality...............................................................................................................57
3.5.3 Types of Drawings .............................................................................................59
3.6 STUDIES.........................................................................................................................71
3.7 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................71
19. Bulletin 1724E-300
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20.4.3 Conclusion........................................................................................................ 754
20.5 REFERENCES............................................................................................................... 754
CHAPTER 21 - UPRATING AND EXPANDING EXISTING SUBSTATIONS.............................. 755
21.1 APPLICABILITY.......................................................................................................... 755
21.2 FEASIBILITY................................................................................................................ 755
21.3 SUBSTATION UPRATING........................................................................................... 755
21.3.1 Major Equipment Uprating................................................................................. 756
21.4 SUBSTATION EXPANSION......................................................................................... 758
21.4.1 General............................................................................................................ 758
21.4.2 Site Work......................................................................................................... 760
21.4.3 Grounding......................................................................................................... 760
21.4.4 Raceway System.............................................................................................. 760
21.4.5 Control House .................................................................................................. 761
21.4.6 Equipment........................................................................................................ 761
21.5 PLANNING FOR UPRATING OR EXPANSION.......................................................... 762
21.6 COMPARISONS—NEW VS. UPRATING OR EXPANSION........................................ 763
21.7 SUBSTATION UPGRADING........................................................................................ 763
21.8 REFERENCES............................................................................................................... 764
20. Bulletin 1724E-300
Page 20
LIST OF FIGURES
These exhibits are available electronically as well as in hard copy.
FIGURE TITLE
2-1 Basic Wind Speed.....................................................................................................48
2-2 Seismic Zone Map of the United States......................................................................50
3-1 Power Transformer ..................................................................................................60
3-2 Three-Phase Transformer with Tertiary.....................................................................60
3-3 Three-Phase Auto-Transformer.................................................................................60
3-4 Step Voltage Regulator with Bypass Switch...............................................................61
3-5 Hook Stick-Operated Disconnecting Switch................................................................61
3-6 Three-Phase Gang-Operated Disconnecting Switch with Horn Gaps and
Grounding Switch......................................................................................................61
3-7 Three-Phase Double Side-Break Disconnecting Switch with Motor Operator ...............62
3-8 Fused Disconnect.....................................................................................................62
3-9 Oil Circuit Recloser...................................................................................................63
3-10 Circuit Breaker.........................................................................................................63
3-11 Surge Arrester..........................................................................................................63
3-12 Voltage Transformer.................................................................................................64
3-13 Current Transformer.................................................................................................64
3-14 Coupling Capacitor with Voltage Transformer ............................................................64
3-15 Coupling Capacitor, Wave Trap, Tuning Unit, and Power Line Carrier
Transmitter/Receiver ................................................................................................64
3-16 Disconnecting Clamp ................................................................................................65
3-17 Shunt Capacitor ........................................................................................................65
3-18 One-Line Diagram Symbols.......................................................................................66
3-19 Typical Relay and Meter Representation....................................................................67
3-20 Conceptual One-Line Diagram..................................................................................68
3-21 Partial Switching One-Line Diagram..........................................................................69
3-22 Partial Functional Relaying One-Line Diagram............................................................70
4-1 Substation Plan View Showing Space for Equipment Removal................................... 121
4-2 Basic Distribution Substation.................................................................................... 122
4-3 Voltage Regulator Bypass Arrangements................................................................. 123
4-4 Typical Circuit Breaker/Recloser Bypass Arrangement............................................. 124
4-5 Use of Tandem Switches for Circuit Breaker/Recloser Bypassing ............................. 124
4-6 Basic Transmission Substation................................................................................. 125
4-7 Typical Circuit Breaker Bypass Arrangement........................................................... 126
4-8 Basic Switching Substation...................................................................................... 128
4-9 Single Bus—Low Profile ......................................................................................... 130
4-10 Single Bus—High Profile......................................................................................... 131
4-11 Sectionalized Bus.................................................................................................... 132
4-12 Main and Transfer Bus—Low Profile ...................................................................... 134
4-13 Main and Transfer Bus—High Profile ...................................................................... 135
4-14 Ring Bus ................................................................................................................ 137
4-15 Breaker-and-a-Half ................................................................................................ 138
21. Bulletin 1724E-300
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FIGURE TITLE
4-16 Double Breaker–Double Bus................................................................................... 140
4-17 Zones of Protection for Masts and Shield Wires Using Fixed Angle Method............... 143
4-18 Principle of Rolling Sphere....................................................................................... 144
4-19 Station Post Insulator .............................................................................................. 148
4-20 Suspension Insulator................................................................................................ 152
4-21 Safety Clearance to Electric Supply Station Fences................................................... 158
4-22 Drag Coefficients for Structural Shapes ................................................................... 166
4-23 Typical Bus System Illustrating Provisions for Conductor Thermal Expansion ............. 169
4-24 Coupler Location .................................................................................................... 175
4-25 Bus Configuration for Example ................................................................................ 176
4-26 Short Strain Bus Insulator Effect.............................................................................. 180
5-1 Methods of Oil Preservation.................................................................................... 211
5-2 “Dead Tank” Breaker............................................................................................. 222
5-3 “Live Tank” Breaker.............................................................................................. 222
5-4 Three-Pole Single-Throw Breakers.......................................................................... 223
5-5 SF6 Gas Circuit Breakers ........................................................................................ 224
5-6 Type SDV Vacuum Circuit Breaker ........................................................................ 225
5-7 Relation of Symmetrical Interrupting Capability, Closing Capability, Latching
Capability, and Carrying Capability to Rated Short-Circuit Current ............................. 235
5-8 Ratio of Circuit Breaker Asymmetrical to Symmetrical Interrupting Capabilities.......... 236
5-9 Single-Aisle Metal-Clad Switchgear with Ancillaries ................................................. 247
5-10 Typical Single-Aisle Switchgear Installation.............................................................. 248
5-11 Single-Phase Voltage Regulator............................................................................... 255
5-12 Three-Phase Voltage Regulator............................................................................... 256
5-13 Typical Capacitor Bank—Two Three-Phase Capacitor Racks Connected to
Form a Two-Step Bank, Floating Wye with a Common Neutral................................. 264
5-14 A Y-Y Connected Capacitor Bank with One Series Section per Phase and
Neutrals Isolated..................................................................................................... 270
5-15 Typical Capacitor Bank Grd Wye Connected............................................................ 273
5-16 Typical Capacitor Bank Floating Wye ...................................................................... 274
5-17 Typical Capacitor Bank Wye Wye Connected.......................................................... 275
5-18 A Complete Typical Capacitor Equipment Connected Grd Wye with Two
Series Sections/Phase in a Single Stack.................................................................... 276
5-19 Typical Internally and Externally Fused Capacitor Units ............................................ 281
5-20 Capacitors Vertically Mounted................................................................................. 286
5-21 Capacitors Horizontally Mounted............................................................................. 287
5-22 Horizontally Mounted Double-Break Switch with Grounding Switch........................... 300
5-23 Horizontally Mounted Double-Break Switch............................................................. 300
5-24 Horizontally Mounted Vertical-Break Interrupter Switch........................................... 301
5-25 Vertically Mounted Vertical-Break Switch............................................................... 304
5-26 Tilting Insulator Switch............................................................................................ 305
5-27 Single Side-Break Switch........................................................................................ 306
5-28 Underhung Center-Break V-Switch......................................................................... 306
5-29 Hook Stick Switches on Structure at Termination of Bus from Transformer................ 307
5-30 Vertical Reach Switch............................................................................................ 307
22. Bulletin 1724E-300
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FIGURE TITLE
5-31 Arrangement of Bolt Hole Centerlines in Terminal Pads............................................ 315
5-32 Outdoor Air Switch Hook Dimensions...................................................................... 322
5-33 Coefficient of Grounding for Various System Conditions............................................ 336
5-34 Typical Voltage–Time Curve for Coordination of Arrester Protective Levels
with Insulation Withstand Strength for Liquid-Filled Transformers.............................. 338
5-35 Typical Volt–Time Curves for Coordination of Metal Oxide Surge Arrester
Protective Levels with Insulation Withstand Strength................................................. 341
5-36 Gapless Metal Oxide Surge Arrester........................................................................ 342
5-37 Shunt-Gapped Metal Oxide Surge Arrester............................................................... 343
5-38 Series-Gapped Metal Oxide Surge Arrester.............................................................. 343
5-39 Typical 60-Hz Temporary Overvoltage Capability for Metal Oxide Arresters.............. 345
5-40 Typical Volt–Time Curve for Coordination of Arrester Protective Levels with
Insulation Withstand Strength for Liquid-Filled Transformers ..................................... 348
5-41 Typical Volt–Time Curves for Coordination of 152-kV MCOV Metal Oxide
Surge Arrester Protective Levels with Insulation Withstand Strength.......................... 350
5-42 Typical Volt–Time Curves for Coordination of 140-kV MCOV Metal Oxide
Surge Arrester Protective Levels with Insulation Withstand Strength.......................... 351
5-43 Maximum Safe Separation Distance of Lightning Arresters from Protected
Equipment—Nominal System Voltage 23 kV Through 46 kV..................................... 353
5-44 Maximum Safe Separation Distance of Lightning Arresters from Protected
Equipment—Nominal System Voltage 69 kV Through 138 kV................................... 354
5-45 Maximum Safe Separation Distance of Lightning Arresters from Protected
Equipment—Nominal System Voltage 161 kV Through 345 kV ................................. 355
5-46 Typical Single-Phase Hydraulically Controlled Oil Circuit Breaker.............................. 358
5-47 Recloser with Single-Phase Tripping and Three-Phase Lockout................................. 359
5-48 Typical Line Diagram of Distribution Circuit Showing Application of Reclosers........... 360
5-49 Operating Mechanism with Housing Cover Removed................................................ 372
5-50 Unit Operation........................................................................................................ 373
5-51 Recloser Operating Sequence Upon Occurrence of a Permanent Fault ...................... 374
5-52 Mounted Recloser................................................................................................... 376
5-53 55ºC Rise Current Transformer Basic Loading Characteristics (in Air) ...................... 380
5-54 Bushing, Window, and Wound-Type Current Transformers ....................................... 383
5-55 High-Voltage Current Transformers......................................................................... 384
5-56 Voltage Transformers............................................................................................. 390
5-57 Typical Primary Connections for Voltage Transformers ............................................ 397
5-58 Coupling Capacitor with Carrier Accessories............................................................ 400
5-59 Typical Coupling Capacitor Voltage Transformer with Carrier Coupling
Accessories............................................................................................................ 402
5-60 Coupling Capacitor Voltage Transformers with and Without Wave Trap.................... 405
6-1 Flat Yard................................................................................................................ 413
6-2 Sloped Yard on Moderately Sloped Site.................................................................... 413
6-3 Stepped Yard......................................................................................................... 414
6-4 2-Year, 30-Minute Rainfall Intensity (cm/hr)............................................................. 417
6-5 2-Year, 30-Minute Rainfall Intensity (inches/hr)........................................................ 417
6-6 Fence Erection Details ............................................................................................ 430
23. Bulletin 1724E-300
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FIGURE TITLE
7-1 Single-Phase Bus Support........................................................................................ 442
7-2 Tubular Structure—Short-Circuit Loading................................................................. 443
7-3 Tubular Structure—Wind Loading............................................................................ 443
7-4 Tubular Structure—Ice Loading............................................................................... 444
7-5 Tubular Structure—Seismic Loading........................................................................ 445
7-6 Tubular Structure—Deflection Equivalent Loadings .................................................. 446
7-7 Lattice Structure..................................................................................................... 448
7-8 Lattice Structure—Short-Circuit Loading.................................................................. 448
7-9 Lattice Structure—Wind Loading............................................................................. 449
8-1 Drilled Shaft Force and Moment Diagrams............................................................... 473
8-2 Drilled Shaft Elevation—Example ............................................................................ 473
8-3 Drilled Shaft Section ............................................................................................... 476
8-4 Drilled Shaft Elevation—General............................................................................. 477
8-5 “Alpha” Function for Drilled Shafts.......................................................................... 480
8-6 Approximate Frost-Depth Contours of the United States ........................................... 483
8-7 Spread Footing—General........................................................................................ 484
8-8 Spread Footing with e < b/6..................................................................................... 485
8-9 Spread Footing with e > b/6..................................................................................... 485
8-10 Spread Footing Elevation......................................................................................... 486
8-11 Spread Footing Plan................................................................................................ 487
8-12 Spread Footing—3D Example.................................................................................. 487
8-13 Spread Footing—2D Example.................................................................................. 488
8-14 Transformer Slab Loading....................................................................................... 492
8-15 Oil Separator Tank.................................................................................................. 494
9-1 Wenner Four-Pin Method........................................................................................ 505
9-2 Fault Within Local Substation, Local Neutral Grounded............................................. 507
9-3 Fault Within Local Substation, Neutral Grounded at Remote Location......................... 507
9-4 Fault in Substation, System Grounded at Local Substation and Also at Other Points..... 508
9-5 Typical Current Division for a Fault on High Side of Distribution Substation................ 509
9-6 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 1 Transmission Line, Low Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 511
9-7 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 1 Transmission Line, High Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 512
9-8 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 2 Transmission Lines, Low Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 513
9-9 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 2 Transmission Lines, High Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 514
9-10 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 4 Transmission Lines, Low Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 515
9-11 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 4 Transmission Lines, High Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 516
9-12 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 8 Transmission Lines, Low Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 517
9-13 Approximate Split Factor Sf, 100% Remote, 8 Transmission Lines, High Line
Ground Resistance.................................................................................................. 518