More particularly, the present invention relates to an electric power substation with a dual three-phase system of bus bars which differs from known types of substation in the simplicity and compactness of its constructive structure and is thus optimized in its functions and economically advantageous.

It is known from the state of the art that electric power substations with a dual three-phase system of bus bars use two separate sets of three bars which are supported by a supporting structure, typically a supporting portal, and are electrically connected to a three-phase power supply line. In particular, two bars are connected to each phase of the power supply line: a first bar belongs to a first set of three and a second bar belongs to the second set of three. The substation is furthermore provided with one or more power and/or distribution transformers and with a series of primary components, such as for example disconnectors, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, et cetera, and of secondary components, for example bus bar protectors, overcurrent protectors, et cetera. Said primary and secondary components allow to provide the necessary electrical connections among the various parts of the substation and ensure their correct operation.

The adoption of a dual three-phase system of bus bars is particularly advantageous in that it allows high flexibility and reliability in applications and allows in particular to operate a load which is connected to the substation even when one bar system is offline; furthermore, indeed because of the redundancy of the dual bus bar system, it is possible to perform the necessary maintenance operations without having to put the entire substation offline.

However, in the current state of the art, the constructive architectures according to which substations are manufactured have drawbacks.

In particular, a typical configuration of a substation with a dual three-phase bar system arranges the two sets of three bars so that they are parallel to each other and aligned on a horizontal plane; accordingly, the various devices connected to the bars of a same phase must be arranged so that they are distributed along the longitudinal extension of said bars. This entails a considerable increase in space occupation and in the overall dimensions of the substation, with a consequent negative impact on installation costs and on environmental impact.

The fact also cannot be ignored that the large number of primary components used in known types of substation inherently contributes to an increase in the space occupation and costs of the substation. Furthermore, since said components are usually individual independent elements, the corresponding maintenance requirements are as a whole demanding.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an electric power transmission and distribution substation for high-and/or medium-voltage applications which has a compact structure and reduced dimensions, so as to significantly reduce the space occupation required with respect to known substations.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric power transmission and distribution substation for high-and/or medium-voltage applications whose constructive architecture allows to reduce environmental visual impact and installation costs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric power transmission and distribution substation for high-and/or medium-voltage applications which allows to optimize the execution of electrical switching operations and to increase flexibility in applications with respect to known types of substation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric power

transmission and distribution substation for high-and/or medium-voltage applications which allows to reduce maintenance requirements with respect to known types of substation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric power transmission and distribution substation for high-and/or medium-voltage applications which is highly reliable, relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs.

This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an electric power transmission and distribution substation for high- and/or medium-voltage applications, said substation being connected to a three- phase power supply line, characterized in that it comprises: --a first set of three bus bars and a second set of three bus bars which are mutually aligned on a substantially vertical plane; and --for each phase of the power supply line, a first interruption and disconnection device and a second interruption and disconnection device which comprise an enclosure containing an interruption unit which has a fixed contact and a moving contact, and a disconnection unit which comprises a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact and a third fixed contact which are connected to corresponding connection terminals, and a first moving contact, a second moving contact and a third moving contact which can be coupled to the corresponding fixed contacts, said first and second interruption and disconnection devices being arranged mutually opposite with respect to said substantially vertical plane and being electrically connected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar which respectively belong to said first and second sets of three bus bars.

The substation according to the invention therefore has an optimized configuration in which the space required and the overall dimensions are reduced considerably with respect to known types of substation.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the substation according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a first possible configuration of the connection between two sets of three bus bars and a plurality of interruption and disconnection devices used in the substation according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic front view of a second possible configuration of the connection between two sets of three bus bars and a plurality of interruption and disconnection devices used in the substation according to the invention; Figure 3 is a top view of the substation of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of a possible embodiment of an interruption and disconnection device which can be used in the substation according to the invention.

With reference to the above figures, the electrical substation according to the invention comprises two sets of three bus bars (L1, L2, L3), designated by the reference numerals 200 and 300 respectively.

Advantageously, in the substation according to the invention, the two sets of three bus bars 200 and 300 are mutually aligned on a substantially vertical plane 101 and are electrically connected to suitable interruption and disconnection devices which are generally designated by the reference numeral 150, in the manner described in greater detail hereinafter; said devices are suitable to ensure the necessary connections between a three-phase power line, not shown in the figures, by which the substation is powered, and the various parts that compose said substation.

In particular, each phase of the power supply line uses two interruption and disconnection devices 150, as shown schematically in Figures 1-3; possible embodiments of interruption and disconnection devices 150 which can be used

in the electrical substation according to the invention are described in the International patent applications no. PCT/EP99/07915 and no.

PCT/EP99/07914, whose description is to be assumed included herein by reference.

In particular, as shown in detail in Figure 4, each interruption and disconnection device 150 comprises an enclosure 1 provided with three bushings: a first bushing 40 which accommodates a first connection terminal 13, a second bushing 41 which accommodates a second connection terminal 11, and a third bushing 42 which accommodates a third connection terminal 2; said connection terminals allow to provide the electrical connections in input and output to the devices 150. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the third bushing 42 is arranged, with respect to the enclosure 1, so that it is orientated in the same direction as the first and second bushings 40 and 41; in a fully equivalent manner, as shown in Figures 1-3, the third bushing 42 can be arranged so as to be orientated in the opposite direction with respect to the bushings 40 and 41.

The enclosure 1, which contains an insulating fluid, for example a gas, accommodates an interruption unit 4, to which the third connection terminal 2 is electrically connected, and a disconnection unit 5; said disconnection unit and said interruption unit allow to perform the necessary switching operations, in the manner described hereinafter. In particular, the interruption unit 4 comprises an interruption chamber 7 which contains a fixed contact 10 and a moving contact 9; in turn, the disconnection unit 5 comprises a first fixed contact 23, a second fixed contact 21 and a third fixed contact 24, each of which is connected to a corresponding connection terminal, designated by the reference numerals 13,11 and 2 respectively, and a first moving contact 33, a second moving contact 31 and a third moving contact 34, which can be coupled to the corresponding fixed contacts. Furthermore, the disconnection unit 5 comprises a fourth fixed contact 22 at ground voltage, which can be coupled to a

corresponding fourth moving contact 32, and a fifth fixed contact at ground voltage, not shown, which is located in the vicinity of said third moving contact 34 and can be coupled electrically thereto.

In the embodiment of the substation according to the invention shown in Figures 1-3, the two interruption and disconnection devices 150 associated with a same phase of the power supply line both have a first connection terminal 13 which is connected to a first bar (LI or L2 or L3), which belongs to the first set of three 200, and a second connection terminal 11 which is connected to a corresponding second bar (L1, L2 or L3), which belongs to the second set of three 300. The third connection terminal 2 of each one of the two interruption and disconnection devices 150 is furthermore connected respectively in input to the phase of the power supply line for a first device 150 and in output to a power transformer or to a second power supply line, not shown in the figure, as regards the second device 150. As shown schematically in Figures 1,2 and 3, the connections between the third terminal 2 of a first interruption and disconnection device 150 and the phase of the main power supply line, and between the power and/or distribution transformer (or a second power supply line) and the third terminal 2 of the second interruption and disconnection device 150, can be provided by using buried cables 100; alternatively, the connections can be provided by means of air-insulated bars according to a solution which is widely known in the art.

In this manner, each phase of the power supply line is connected to two bus bars (L1, L2, L3), of which a first bar belongs to a first set of three 200 and a second bar belongs to a second set of three 300; three pairs of corresponding bars (L1- LI, L2-L2, L3-L3) having mutually identical phases are thus provided between the two sets of three 200 and 300.

By virtue of the alignment of the two sets of three bars on the vertical plane 101, the interruption and disconnection devices 150, which must be connected

in pairs to two different bus bars, can be arranged in a mutually opposite configuration in a position which is substantially symmetrical with respect to said vertical plane 101; accordingly, the space required for these connections is reduced considerably with respect to known types of solution, thus allowing to have a substation whose overall dimensions are reduced considerably.

Another significant advantage of the substation according to the invention is the fact that the connections between each bus bar (L1, L2, L3) and the corresponding connection terminals of the interruption and disconnection devices 150 are provided by means of a system of connecting rods 50. In particular, each one of said rods 50 has, for example, a tubular body which is made of conducting material and has a first end which is connected to a bus bar (LI, L2, L3) and a second end which is electrically connected to the corresponding connection terminal and is mechanically rigidly coupled to the bushing that accommodates said connection terminal. Said connections can be provided by means of suitable junctions, or by using suitable terminals made of conducting material; an example of terminals which can be used in the substation according to the invention and of the execution of the connections between rods and bars and between rods and bushings is described in European patent application no. 98200212.3, whose description is to be assumed included herein by reference. Furthermore, the connecting rod 50 have a shape and dimensions by virtue of which they structurally support the two sets of three bars 200 and 300, at the same time maintaining the necessary dielectric distance between two adjacent bars.

In this manner, the rods 50 simultaneously act as an electrical connection element and as a structural component for supporting said bars; as shown in Figure 1, with this solution it is therefore possible to eliminate the bar supporting portal commonly used in known types of substation, with a consequent benefit from the economic point of view and from the point of view

of visual impact, which is reduced significantly.

Alternatively, if required by the application, it is possible to have a first set of three bars 200 which is supported only by the connecting rods 50, as described above, and to use a supporting portal 60 which is suitable to assist the rods 50 in supporting the second set of three bars 300, as shown in Figure 2; in this case the connection between the portal and the bars is provided by means of insulators 61.

Further advantages of the substation according to the invention lie in the use of the devices 150, which allow to combine in a single component the disconnection and interruption functions and to optimize the execution of electrical switching operations with a constructive architecture which is at the same time compact and effective. In particular, as shown in Figure 4, the moving contact 9 of the interruption unit 4 is connected to an actuation rod 6 which is in turn connected to an actuation and control device, schematically designated in Figure 3 by the reference numeral 62. Said actuation and control device allows to actuate the interruption unit 4 and can be constituted for example by a mechanical or hydraulic or oleopneumatic or electric actuator; in particular, it is possible to use actuation devices 62 for each phase or, according to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3, there is a single actuation device for all three power supply phases. Preferably, in the substation according to the invention, the actuation and control device comprises a rotary motor with a position sensor, for example a rotary servomotor with a position sensor. In this case, the connection between the motor and the moving contact occurs by means of a kinematic pair which is capable of converting the rotary motion of the motor shaft into a translatory motion of the moving contact. Examples of possible embodiments of this connection are described in International patent applications no. PCT/EP99/03372 and PCT/EP99/05363 whose descriptions are to be assumed included herein by reference.

In turn, the disconnection unit 5 furthermore comprises a rotary switching element which is constituted, for example as shown in Figure 4, by a rotating shaft 8 which is actuated by actuators which are schematically represented by the unit 9; said actuators can comprise an electric motor which is conveniently controlled, preferably a servomotor.

The use of a servomotor allows precise control of the position of the actuation element and to optimize both the execution times of the disconnection and interruption operations and the energy consumption that they entail.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first moving contact 33, the second moving contact 31 and the fourth moving contact 32 are electrically connected to the interruption unit 4 and are constituted, for example, by blades which have a profile shaped like a circular sector, are keyed on the shaft 8 and rotate rigidly with it. Said contacts are arranged so that each one couples to a corresponding fixed contact, designated by the reference numerals 23,21 and 22 respectively; said contacts are furthermore fixed to the shaft 8 with such a mutual angular position that the moving contact 32 cannot be coupled to the fixed contact 22 when the moving contact 31 and/or the moving contact 33 are coupled to the corresponding fixed contacts 21 and 23.

The disconnection operation related to the side for the connection of the bars and the devices 150 occurs by turning the shaft 8; accordingly, the moving contacts 31,32 and 33 rigidly coupled thereto couple/uncouple with respect to the respective fixed contacts 21,22 and 23 according to the operating requirements and with great practical flexibility. For example, it is possible to disconnect the connections with both sets of three bars or at only one set of three bars and keep the second set of three active.

In turn, the third moving contact 34, which can be for example of the piston or rack type, is preferably fixed to the enclosure of the chamber 7 and is actuated by a suitable known type of actuation system, not shown in the figures. In this

manner, by coupling-uncoupling the moving contact 34 with respect to the third fixed contact 24 or with respect to the fifth fixed contact at ground voltage it is possible to provide connection/disconnection on the side for connection between the device 150 and the transformer 104 and/or between the device 150 and the phase of the line.

Furthermore, it is possible to arrange inside each device 150 suitable instrument transformers, for example two current transformers 16 and a voltage transformer 17; in particular, the current transformers 16 can be arranged at the base of the first bushing 40 and of the second bushing 41, while the current transformer 17 is arranged at the base of the third bushing 42. In this manner, by integrating the primary components inside the interruption and disconnection devices 150 one obtains a compact substation which accordingly occupies even less space than known types of substation; furthermore, the necessary maintenance interventions are reduced significantly. According to another embodiment, not shown in the figures, it is possible to integrate the current and voltage measurement functions in a single component arranged at the base of one or more of the bushings.

According to a particular embodiment, not shown in the figures, the actuator of the disconnection unit 5 is constituted by the enclosure of the interruption chamber 7. In this case, the moving contacts 31,32,33 and 34 of the disconnection unit are keyed on the outer surface of the interruption chamber, which can rotate with respect to the enclosure 1 of the device. In this case also, the movement is imparted by actuators which comprise, for example a suitably controlled electric motor. By using this technical solution, the device used in the substation according to the invention is even more compact, since the space occupied by the disconnection unit is distributed within the enclosure 1 along the interruption chamber.

The substation thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and

variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

Thus, for example, it is possible to connect to one phase of the line the third terminal 2 of both devices 150 associated with a same phase, so as to have a substation with two inputs, and it is also possible to provide various configurations and other layouts for electrical connection between the various parts that compose the substation, as shown in Figure 3.

In practice, the materials and the dimensions may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.