POWER SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION CIVIL WORKS BASIC INFORMATION

High-voltage power electronic substations are special because of the valve rooms and buildings required for converters and controls, respectively. Insulation clearance requirements can lead to very large valve rooms (halls).

The valves are connected to the yard through wall bushings. Converter transformers are often placed adjacent to the valve building, with the valve-side bushings penetrating through the walls in order to save space.

The valves require controlled air temperature, humidity, and cleanness inside the valve room. Although the major part of the valve losses is handled by the valve cooling system, a fraction of the same is dissipated into the valve room and adds to its air-conditioning or ventilation load.

The periodic fast switching of electronic converter and controller valves causes a wide spectrum of harmonic currents and electromagnetic fields, as well as significant audible noise. Therefore, valve rooms are usually shielded electrically with wire mesh in walls and windows.

Electric interference with radio, TV, and communication systems can usually be controlled with power line carrier filters and harmonic filters. Sources of audible noise in a converter station include the transformers, capacitors, reactors, and coolers.

To comply with the contractually specified audible noise limits within the building (e.g., in the control room) and outdoors (in the yard, at the substation fence), low-noise equipment, noise-damping walls, barriers, and special arrangement of equipment in the yard may be necessary. The theory of audible

noise propagation is well understood, and analytical tools for audible noise design are available.

Specified noise limits can thus be met, but doing so may have an impact on total station layout and cost. Of course, national and local building codes also apply.

In addition to the actual valve room and control building, power electronic substations typically include rooms for coolant pumps and water treatment, for auxiliary power distribution systems, air conditioning systems, battery rooms, and communication rooms.

Extreme electric power flow densities in the valves create a certain risk of fire. Valve fires with more or less severe consequences have occurred in the past.

Improved designs as well as the exclusive use of flame-retardant materials in the valve, coordinated with special fire detection and protection devices, reduce this risk to a minimum. The converter transformers have fire walls in between and dedicated sprinkler systems around them as effective fire fighting equipment.

Many high-voltage power electronic stations have spare transformers to minimize interruption times following a transformer failure. This leads to specific arrangements and bus configurations or extended concrete foundations and rail systems in some HVDC converter stations.

Some HVDC schemes use outdoor valves with individual housings. They avoid the cost of large valve buildings at the expense of a more complicated valve maintenance. TCSC stations also have similar valve housings on insulated platforms together with the capacitor banks and other equipment.