Safety, equipment performance and environmental management of electrical substations in constrained environments
Electrical source substations are at the heart of power system reliability and performance.
Their growing number, their location in urban and rural environments, and the evolution of technical and regulatory constraints pose new challenges: clogging of filtration systems, linked for example to green roofs, noise control in the environment, optimization of cooling and the lifespan of transformers and other equipment, and finally, management of explosion risks.
Faced with these complex, interdependent challenges, AXILAB supports network operators and all market players with comprehensive, tailor-made solutions. Thanks to its expertise in aeraulics, acoustics and vibration, AXILAB secures installations, improves their energy performance and guarantees continuity of operation, while ensuring regulatory compliance and the protection of people and neighbors.
Control and treatment of air filtration clogging on source substations with green roofs
When building a new source substation in an urban environment, recent regulations require the installation of green roofs. While this solution is beneficial from an environmental point of view, it does lead to premature clogging of air intake filters due to pollen.
The manager of a source substation observes malfunctions due to this clogging:
- An increase in maintenance operations
- Increased risk of transformer cooling system failure
- Significantly higher electricity consumption
He called on AXILAB’s expertise in ventilation to ensure the reliability of the entire ventilation network and reduce abnormally excessive consumption.
Turnkey support from AXILAB :
- On-site aeraulic audit
- Studies and analysis of results
- Proposal and supply of air treatment solutions
- Installation of a continuous monitoring system (pressure, temperature, flow), enabling us to track the network's behavior in nominal operation (clean filters) as well as in situations of clogging.
Results for the customer :
Thanks to the AXILAB solution, the manager now benefits frompredictive maintenance and optimized ventilation control:
- Reduce unplanned interventions
- Enhanced protection for critical equipment (transformers)
- Improved plant service life
- Optimizing energy consumption
Reducing noise pollution from a source substation
In urban areas, electrical source substations can generate noise that exceeds ICPE regulatory thresholds. The network operator must therefore reduce these noise emissions while maintaining the reliability of critical equipment. For example, compliance with airflow requirements for cooling the transformer housing must be ensured at the same time as compliance with noise constraints in the vicinity of the substation.
The network operator asked AXILAB for a turnkey solution that would guarantee both noise control and the thermal integrity of the equipment.
Turnkey support from AXILAB :
- Acoustic measurements and modeling
- Airflow studies and calculations to ensure proper cooling of equipment
- Sizing of technical solutions to ensure acoustic compliance while preserving aeraulic performance.
AXILAB solutions installed :
- Baffle silencers on air inlets and outlets
- Acoustic cladding and walls adapted to site constraints
Results for the customer :
- Significantly reduced noise impact, improving comfort for local residents
- ICPE compliance achieved without compromising transformer cooling or reliability
Optimizing transformer compartment cooling
A source substation with cooling problems in the transformer box can lead to overheating. These malfunctions can compromise equipment life, increase power consumption and cause production outages. In the long term, these deviations threaten the stability of the power grid and the reliability of the network when operating at full load.
An electricity network operator called on AXILAB to optimize the cooling system and ensure safe operation of the substation under all operating conditions.
Turnkey support from AXILAB :
- Complete aeraulic diagnosis
- CFD studies (numerical airflow simulations) to visualize airflows and thermal retention zones
- Design and dimensioning of a customized solution to optimize heat dissipation to the outside of the lodge
- Sizing and supply of heat dissipation ducts to the outside of the lodge
- On-site installation by teams trained and qualified to work at height
Results for the customer :
- Controlled cooling
- Eliminates overheating and thermal hazards
- Reduced energy consumption
- Reliable power supply at full load
Explosion protection in enclosed transformer cubicles
Electricity network operators are responsible for ensuring the safety of people, installations and the surrounding environment, particularly in the face of the risk of explosion that can occur in enclosed transformer cubicles. Controlling the blast and channelling it to safe areas is therefore essential.
A network operator asked AXILAB to secure a closed box while preserving the efficiency of the transformer’s ventilation and cooling system.
Turnkey support from AXILAB :
- Design and dimensioning of solutions integrated into the ventilation system (air inlet and outlet)
- Manufactured to the highest standards of robustness and safety
- On-site installation and commissioning
- Solutions maintenance offer
AXILAB solutions installed :
- Blast dampers to limit blast propagation to sensitive areas
- Explosion-proof valves, capable of opening or closing according to internal pressures to channel the blast
- Customized fuse walls designed to release energy in a controlled manner and direct it to a safe area
Results for the customer :
- Staff and neighborhood safety
- Protecting critical production equipment
- Business continuity guaranteed
