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Theoretically optimal location of a distribution substation

Former Community Member over 4 years ago

Hello,
I have the following problem with the preliminary design stage of a residential area:

The software I use can calculate a theoretically optimal location of a distribution substation for low-voltage networks. This place is calculated as a "center of power demand" or "center of gravity" of electrical consumers.

If the substation locates in this optimal place, we can design 0.4kV distribution feeders with a minimum length and power losses in low-voltage feeders are minimal.

I understand it’s almost impossible to put it exactly there, and I consider some sites nearby. But the architect believes that this is unacceptable in terms of landscape design and wants to place the substation in a far corner.

Who should be the arbiter in this situation? DNO representative takes a neutral position. Local authorities are completely on architect side, they do not care that long power cables will heat the atmosphere for many years to come.

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0 Former Community Member over 4 years ago

Thanks to all. Yes, choosing a substation location is a complex task. We must consider many factors - technical and non-technical.

OMS listed in his posts the main non-technical factors - the price of land, the convenience of access and maintenance, nearness to existing HV-lines.

If we talk about the technical part, then the optimization problem is divided into two components:

1. How to reduce the length of cable lines and thereby reduce losses in the lines;

2. How to find cost-effective cable cross-sections. This is a balance between the cost of investment and the cost of losses over a lifetime - this can help Kelvin’s law. Some information you can find on www.electricaleasy.com/.../economic-choice-of-conductor-size-kelvins-law.html

The problem is that at the stage of the preliminary project, we define only the corridors for communications and internal estate borders. Power demands of consumers have so far been determined tentatively. These are individual residential buildings of 2-3 floors. Heating is gas. Cables will be selected and designed in the next stages. With a high degree of probability underground Al 4x240mm2 will be used.

At this preliminary stage of the project, we can make only one type of optimization – to find a place for the substation to reduce the total length of 0.4 kV distribution cables.

I will write a little later about the calculation of losses
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0 Former Community Member over 4 years ago

Thanks to all. Yes, choosing a substation location is a complex task. We must consider many factors - technical and non-technical.

OMS listed in his posts the main non-technical factors - the price of land, the convenience of access and maintenance, nearness to existing HV-lines.

If we talk about the technical part, then the optimization problem is divided into two components:

1. How to reduce the length of cable lines and thereby reduce losses in the lines;

2. How to find cost-effective cable cross-sections. This is a balance between the cost of investment and the cost of losses over a lifetime - this can help Kelvin’s law. Some information you can find on www.electricaleasy.com/.../economic-choice-of-conductor-size-kelvins-law.html

The problem is that at the stage of the preliminary project, we define only the corridors for communications and internal estate borders. Power demands of consumers have so far been determined tentatively. These are individual residential buildings of 2-3 floors. Heating is gas. Cables will be selected and designed in the next stages. With a high degree of probability underground Al 4x240mm2 will be used.

At this preliminary stage of the project, we can make only one type of optimization – to find a place for the substation to reduce the total length of 0.4 kV distribution cables.

I will write a little later about the calculation of losses
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Theoretically optimal location of a distribution substation

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