Features of Our Compact Substation
- The compact substation is pre-assembled to reduce on-site construction process and achieve rapid deployment;
- Flexible layout due to its highly integrated design, suitable for applications with limited space;
- Feature fully enclosed structure and comprehensive protection systems to decrease operation risks, improving high safety and reliability;
- Modular design makes the compact substation easy to maintain, and the total lifecycle cost is low;
- ZHONGSHAO obtains multiple production certifications such as ISO, UL, CUL, CCC, and more.
Your Reliable Compact Substation Supplier in China
As a professional compact substation supplier, ZHONGSHAO features mature production technology to ensure high product quality. The compact substation offers a rapid installation process to accelerate project timeline, improving production efficiency. It also features modular design and tight structure, not only reducing electric risks, but also saving floor space to suit applications with limited lands. If you have any questions about the compact substation, please feel free to contact us for a customized solution.
It is a fully enclosed, ground-mounted electrical distribution for medium voltage power delivery.
Integrates high-voltage switchgear, low-voltage distribution, and transformer components installed on a concrete pad.
This metal-clad design ensures all live components are protected against dust, moisture, and environmental hazards.
Our substation design is ideal for temporary power supply, emergency backup, or remote locations.
Integrate 22kV medium-voltage switchgear and a 480V distribution panel for low-to-medium power supply.
Provide safe, reliable, and low-maintenance power distribution for industrial, commercial applications.
This high-capacity electrical unit is designed for safe and reliable medium-voltage power distribution.
Features a fully insulated and waterproof design, protecting live components from dust, moisture, and harsh conditions.
What is Compact Substation
A compact substation is a type of pre-assembled substation, integrating core functional units within a robust metal enclosure. This means this type of substation is prefabricated in the production factory, and its core components are completely tested before being put into use. The highly integrated substation significantly reduces installation cycle, while also saving floor space. It is used to ensure safe and reliable power distribution based on the high performance on integration, modularity, and rapid deployment.
Core Components of Compact Substation
Through the integrated structure, the compact substation integrates key components into a metal enclosure. Its core components include medium-voltage switchgear, distribution transformers, low-voltage distribution panels, and others. The following are their introduction and functions:
Medium Voltage Switchgear
The medium voltage switchgear of a compact substation typically employs ring main units or load switch cabinets, and is used to control the power supply and failure. If there are failures or issues occur on the compact substation, the medium voltage switchgear offers a rapid isolation function to prevent safety risks. The main function of the medium voltage switchgear is to ensure reliable and safe connection between the upstream power grid and the substation.
Distribution Transformer
The distribution transformer is employed by the compact substation to convert high voltage (around 10 kV- 35 kV) into low voltage below 0.4 kV, offering stable power for end-applications. It features various different types to meet different requirements, such as oil-immersed, dry-type, and more. Enterprises can choose a suitable one based on actual project conditions and demands. In addition, the transformer is typically installed in an isolated space to improve the operation safety.
Low Voltage Distribution Panel
A compact substation also features a low voltage distribution panel, which consists of low voltage circuit breakers, busbar system, and feeder circuits. It is used to distribute electric power that is output by transformers into different load circuits. The low voltage distribution panel also offers excellent protection performance on over load, short circuit, and ground fault. It can not only ensure safe operation of the downstream system, but also improve the production efficiency.
Enclosure
The enclosure of a compact substation is made of high-strength metal materials, offering high protection grade and excellent corrosion resistance. For different weathers or environments, the enclosure of the compact substation supports additional designs such as ventilation, heat dissipation, and anti-condensation. Its appearance can be standardized or customized based on the actual demands, integrating with the existing architectural styles.
Advantages of Compact Substation
Shorten Project Duration
Unlike traditional substation, the compact substation does not need a long civil engineering cycle. This type of substation features a core value on prefabricated production, which means over 90% of assembly and testing is completed at the factory. This can significantly shorten about 30%- 60% of your project lifeline, and its installation just requires simple hoisting and wiring. For projects with tight schedules, the compact substation is useful to accelerate the project delivery and improve the production efficiency.
Optimize Space Utilization
The highly integrated structure of the compact substation significantly reduces its land requirements, saving 40%- 60% of footprint. The compact substation compresses multiple buildings of traditional substations into a single integrated unit. It is suitable for commercial buildings, industrial parks, and other applications with limited space, offering high economic advantages for you. In addition, if the existing project requires expansion, this type of substation supports being installed in corner areas or on rooftops to optimize space utilization.
High Reliability and Safety
Compact substations are generally made of metal materials and feature enclosed structures to improve the safety of the operation process. After various testing in the factory, the prefabricated substation offers high reliability to ensure stable production. It is equipped with comprehensive grounding, protection solutions, and other reliable components, reducing failures rate during the production process. The enclosure of this type of substation also provides high protection grade, making it more suitable to be used in a harsh environment.
Low Cost
Due to its low failure rate and high reliability, the compact substation offers a long maintenance cycle, which can reduce your entire costs. Even if components of the substation are damaged or failed, it is easy to repair or replace based on the module design, decreasing production loss caused by downtime. The compact substation also supports remote monitoring to achieve online monitoring of temperature, humidity, load, and power quality, reducing the maintenance costs.
Excellent Compatibility
The compact substation also offers high compatibility to adapt to various different power scenarios. It supports grid-connected, ring network, or radial power supply schemes, meeting different projects requirements. The compact substation can be also combined with photovoltaic, wind power, and energy storage systems, enhancing the power efficiency. You can reserve certain modules when designing or installing for future expansion and other requirements.
Applications of Compact Substation
Due to its unique advantages on flexible layout, high safety, rapid deployment, and more, the compact substation is widely used for various applications. The following are common applications of this type of substation:
- Industrial Parks: The industry typically has high demand on the stability of power supply. While the compact substation supports flexible adjustment based on the actual load of your production line. It is suitable to maintain efficient operation in a high-load environment and can meet the heavy-load start requirements. If the project requires future expansion, the compact substation offers good scalability to achieve rapid production expansion.
- Commercial Applications: For the commercial centers, reasonable space layout is important to meet the needs of high-density buildings. The compact substation offers a smaller footprint than other traditional substations, and is suitable for basements, corners, and auxiliary building areas. It also supports customized design such as materials and appearances to integrate with the existing environmental style. This type of substation provides high-reliability power supply for your commercial project, ensuring uninterrupted critical loads.
- New Energy: The compact substation is also widely used in the new energy industry as a rapidly deployable power station, an interface distribution unit, or others. It significantly reduces the on-site construction process, accelerating the project cycle. The compact substation also features a high standardization level, making it more suitable for the standardized new energy station construction.
- Temporary Power Applications: Some temporary power application scenarios also employ the compact substation, such as infrastructure, rail transit, and municipal construction projects. It is a type of prefabricated substation, achieving rapid deployment within a short time. After the project completes, the compact substation can be easily relocated and reused for other applications, which can reduce your investment costs.
How to Select Suitable Compact Substation
A suitable compact substation not only ensures stable power supply, but also brings more economic benefits for you. When selecting the compact substation, you should consider comprehensive factors to make sure it can meet your demands. The following are common factors for your reference:
- Capacity and Voltage: Based on the project scale, you can choose different capacity and voltage ratings. The range of the two parameters can be determined through load calculations and projected growth. 10kV / 0.4kV is the standard power distribution, while certain areas require 35kV / 10kV.
- Medium-voltage Switchgear: The medium-voltage switchgear is a key factor that determines the safety and maintenance of a compact substation. Common types include SF6 gas-insulated ring main units, solid-insulated switchgear, and vacuum circuit breaker cabinets. If your project demands high reliability and small footprint, the gas/solid-insulated ring main units are suitable. While the vacuum switchgear is a cost-effectiveness choice.
- Transformer Type: The transformer generally consumes most energy of the compact substation, and is divided into oil-immersed and dry-type. The oil-immersed transformer features good thermal dissipation performance and low cost advantages, making it suitable for outdoor or industrial load applications. While the dry-type transformer is more suitable for indoor and other densely populated areas due to its excellent safety and fire resistance performance.
- Enclosure: It is important to choose an enclosure with high protection grade for the compact substation within the range of IP54- IP65. Based on the actual environmental conditions such as rain, dust, corrosive gases, or others, you can customize different materials of the enclosure. For applications with heavy pollution, the enclosure must be equipped with a high corrosion resistance rating by additional coatings or other methods.
- Additional Capability: If you have requirements, the compact substation supports employing remote monitor, power quality analysis, and other digitalization functions. It is suitable to be used in smart campuses, digital factories, and energy management system integration.
- Certification: When choosing the compact substation, you should ensure it has met certain industries or regulatory demands. As a device that is connected to electric power, the compact substation must also meet high safety standards, preventing electrical leakage and fire hazards. Grid connection and protection requirements of power supply departments are also important.
The compact substation is pre-assembled in the factory, so it just requires a concrete platform as the foundation. It is also necessary to pre-install basic components such as cable conduits, grounding grids, etc. The installation process of a compact substation is simple and short, you can determine the foundation based on actual project demands.
The maintenance work of a compact substation is relatively less than traditional substations. It typically just needs routine inspections every six months to one year for checking the condition of switchgear, connection tightness, ventilation systems, transformer temperature, etc. The corrosion level of its enclosure should be also focused, preventing safety risks.
For an oil-immersed transformer, the natural air cooling method is common. You can also improve its thermal dissipation efficiency by enclosure ventilation or cooling louvers. While the dry-type transformer typically employs either natural cooling or forced air cooling. If the working environment features high temperature, it can be equipped with an intelligent fan that is controlled by temperature for auxiliary cooling.
In general, most commercial and industrial loads support being connected with the low-voltage distribution panel. For example, variable frequency drives, motors, lighting and power circuits, and some production line equipment with high current can be combined with the component. If you have requirements, functions such as MCC, PCC, reactive power compensation can be also connected to your device.
