Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electrical power distribution systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-04-10
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electrical power distribution systems and devices
C361S603000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215653
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to electric power distribution systems and in particular to substations and to the method of constructing the same. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a permanent but recoverable electrical substation which uses readily erectable and disassemble modules to reduce power substation construction costs and space capabilities than heretofore required by permanent substation constructions.
2. Background Information
Electric power substations have been utilized in the electrical utility industry and primarily in the transmission and distribution areas thereof for the supplying of electrical power for many years. These substations usually consist of a transformer which will receive a high incoming voltage and reduce the same to a lower voltage for ultimate use by a customer or for further distribution to a plurality of customers. These substations are constructed with permanent concrete bases and foundations on which the vertical frameworks are installed, and include concrete pads for mounting of the transformers and associated circuit breakers and control panels, etc. Once these substations are installed, they are intended to remain in place for a considerable number of years and require only occasional upgrading as to transformer sizes, insulators and associated circuit breakers and disconnect switches, should either the incoming or outgoing voltage increase or the transformers capacity size increase or decrease to meet a particular customer's needs or design criteria for the subsequent distribution and/or transmission system.
However, with the coming deregulation of the electric utility industry, it is becoming increasingly important that the substations be of a less permanent nature and of a reduced construction cost and erection time as well as reduction in the space occupied by the substation. The heretofore constructed substations with the concrete bases and transformer and circuit breaker pads are not removable without destroying these foundations and bases, all of which increase considerably the cost of modifying the station or removing the station should the customer desire a different electric power supplier. Likewise, the lower cost will become necessary in order to be more competitive in a competitive marketplace where a number of utilities will be vying for the same customer.
Various mobile substations have been developed such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,237,812; 2,551,841; 4,367,512; and 4,562,360. In these substations, the various transformers, circuit breakers and associated equipment are mounted on a wheeled support truck or truck body and driven to a particular site. However, these mobile substations are for temporary use only and are used in the event of a power outage requiring replacement of a piece of major equipment within a substation, or are used during a substation rebuild. These mobile substations are not intended to remain at the substation site for any length of time and are limited as to their capability since they have to be transported by truck over public roads. Thus they are limited as to the weight able to be transported by the wheeled vehicle and the size and capacity of the equipment.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved electrical substation and to the method of constructing the same which enables a substation to be permanently constructed at a desired site at a reduced cost than heretofore possible, yet be easily removed from the site should the substation not be required, without material construction erection and/or subsequent destruction of foundations for supporting the various frameworks and electrical equipment used therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Objectives of the invention include providing an improved modular substation which has reduced construction costs and time as well as station space, than heretofore required by prior permanently constructed and assembled substations.
Another objective is to provide such an improved modular substation which provides for a permanent electrical facility, yet which enables all of the components to be easily recoverable from the site for subsequent reuse.
A still further objective of the invention is to provide such a modular substation which utilizes standard components to eliminate future engineering and design time and costs and which supports preassembled and prewiring of various components thereof, which can be performed at a site remote from the actual substation location.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide an electrical substation which eliminates the need of installation of below grade foundations requiring anchoring and concrete for forming of the framework foundations and pads for placement of the circuit breakers and transformers thereon.
A still further objective of the invention is to provide such a modular substation in which a main support base is formed of a plurality of readily available steel beams which can be assembled at a site remote from the ultimate site of the substation and transported to the site for placement thereon, or which can be assembled at the substation site by the use of readily available fasteners such as bolts and similar erection means.
Another objective of the invention is to provide such a modular electrical substation in which the frameworks for dead ending of incoming and outgoing conductors and for supporting the various insulators, disconnect switches, etc. can be either constructed off site and transported to the substation site or assembled in position at the substation site by bolting to the modular base without requiring any concrete foundations or any excavation for mounting the frameworks.
A still further objective of the invention is to provide such a modular substation in which an oil containment pan is centrally located on the base for receiving the transformer therein to guard against possible contamination of the surrounding soil should a transformer leak develop, and in which the transformer's central location on the base provides the needed weight to maintain the base in position and to counterbalance forces exerted on the base by the incoming and outgoing power lines.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide such a modular substation construction in which a pair of frameworks are provided on opposite sides of the transformer and are connected by guy wires so that the incoming and outgoing tensions of the power lines are distributed to both frameworks thereby reducing the amount of materials required in each of the individual frameworks, and in which the moment created on the base by the tension in the dead ended power lines is counterbalanced by the weight of the transformer and circuit breakers located on the base adjacent one or both of the frameworks.
These objectives and advantages are obtained by the modular electrical substation of the present invention, the general nature of which may be stated as including a base formed by a plurality of coplanar longitudinal and transverse connected beams, said base being adapted to rest upon a relatively horizontal level surface; oil containment means centrally located and supported on the base for receiving a transformer therein; and a pair of spaced frameworks containing a plurality of vertical members and connecting cross members attached to the base on opposite sides of the oil containment means for supporting disconnect switches, insulators and conductors which interconnect the transformer and said switches.
These objectives and advantages are further obtained by the method of the present invention forconstructing a modularelectrical substation, the general nature of which may be stated as including the steps of preparing a substantially level area for subsequent execution of the substation thereon; providing a base formed by a plurality of coplanar horizontal, longitudinal and transversely connected beams; placing the base on the prepared level area; mounting an oil containment pan on the base; securing a pair of vertically extending frameworks to the base on
Cochran H. Stephen
Miller Henry G.
AEP Resources Services Company
Sand & Sebolt
Scott J. R.
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