Design and costs estimation of electrical substations based on three-dimensional building blocks

Abstract

Substations design is a fundamental engineering component in power network construction. The benefits obtained for having adequate tools and design systems are related mainly to cost savings, reduction of construction problems and faster throughput of projects. In this paper we propose an approach based on three dimensional building blocks to construct virtual substations. The building blocks can become 3D standards for advanced engineering, automated drawing, data extraction and reusability of designs. Therefore these substation designs can improve quality and reliability of the design process. With virtual substations we can use them to help on making decisions about construction site selection and community and government acceptance. Finally 3D visualization and walkthrough can be used to improve construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance of distribution and transmission electrical substations. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.