Quality Management Plan For Construction of Electrical Substations

Design of a quality
management and
inspection plan in the
construction of electrical
substations
Abstract Summary
This document contains the design of a control the quality of its electrical projects.
System of Quality Control and Inspection This document contains the Design of a
in the Construction of Electrical Quality Management and Inspection Plan
Substations for the Instituto in the Construction of Electrical
Costarricense de Electricidad, especially Substations for the Costa Rican
for Strategic Business Unit Transmission Electricity Institute (ICE), especially for
of Electricity in its Expansion Process the Electricity Transportation Strategic
Network (UEN TE). The main objective of Business Unit in its Network Expansion
this work is to update and improve Process ( UEN TE). The main objective
existing construction specifications and of this work is to update and improve the
undertake the design of a system of existing construction specifications and
quality control and inspection for the design a quality management and
construction of electrical substations. inspection plan for the construction of
electrical substations.
In order to achieve the stated objective, a To achieve the stated objective, a series
series of interviews to engineering of interviews are carried out with different
professionals were carried out, as well as engineering professionals, as well as field
field visits to the electricity substations visits to electrical substations in the
throughout the country. This becomes the country. The above becomes the main
main source of information. source of information.
As a result of this work, the System of As a result of this work, the Quality
Quality Control and Inspection in the Management and Inspection Plan in the
Construction of Electrical Substations Construction of Electrical Substations is
was obtained, which consists of a series obtained, which is made up of a series of
of documents such as Electrical documents, which are: Construction
Substations Construction Requirements, Requirements in Electrical Substations,
Aspects of Building Design of Electrical Design Aspects in the Construction of
Substations and checklist for Building Electrical Substations and Checklists for
Electrical Substations . the Construction of Electrical Substations
With the design of the Quality

With the design of System of Quality Management and Inspection Plan, it is
Control and Inspection it is ensured that guaranteed that the UEN TE has the
the UEN TE has the necessary tools to necessary tools to control the quality of
its electrical projects.
Keywork; System, control, quality, construction, checklist.

inspection, electrical substations, Keywords: System, control, quality
inspection, electrical substations
construction, checklists
Design of a quality management
and inspection plan in the
construction of electrical
substations
PEDRO LUIS SUAREZ VARGAS
Final graduation project to opt for the Bachelor's degree in

Construction Engineering
December 2011
TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF COSTA RICA

SCHOOL OF CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
Content
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Summary..........................................................................................................................................2
Content.............................................................................................................................................4
Preface..............................................................................................................................................1
Gratitude.......................................................................................................................................2
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
General features............................................................................................................................8
Setting...........................................................................................................................................8
Physical layout..............................................................................................................................9
Yard equipment............................................................................................................................9
Busbars.......................................................................................................................................10
Control systems..........................................................................................................................11
Measurement systems.................................................................................................................11
Protection systems......................................................................................................................11
ground mesh...............................................................................................................................11
Auxiliary services.......................................................................................................................12
Civil works in an electrical substation........................................................................................12
Methodology..................................................................................................................................13
Results............................................................................................................................................17
Analysis of the results....................................................................................................................37
Conclusions....................................................................................................................................41
recommendations...........................................................................................................................43
Appendices.....................................................................................................................................45
Annexes..........................................................................................................................................50
References......................................................................................................................................57
Preface
When a product or service is acquired, it is throughout the country and the world. It has worked
expected that it will satisfy the expectations and on the creation of quality management and
requirements established by the person who inspection plans for all its construction works and
acquires it. When the above is achieved, it is said their administration, thus achieving a place of
that the level of quality desired by the client is importance at a Central American and global level.
reached. The Electricity Transportation Strategic
To achieve quality, the specifications of the Business Unit through the Network Expansion
product or service to be purchased must be Process is responsible for planning and developing
planned and organized, so execution and control the projects that are necessary to maintain the
systems are of great importance to meet the National Electricity Transportation Network in
requirements demanded by the client. optimal conditions, through the determination of
Quality management plans, regardless of new electrical substations. , which are built by
the way they are structured, compile all the external or internal agents of ICE. This is where the
requirements established by the client of a project importance of designing a quality management and
and ensure their compliance. In them all the inspection plan in the construction of substations
desirable interests in a product are normalized. In arises, since although this entity does not build its
the cases of construction or similar projects, it has own projects, it does ensure their proper execution.
been proven that each one has particular It is for this reason that quality
characteristics, so their execution is varied. management plans are of utmost importance for
With the help of normalization and this department, where in addition to planning, it is
standardization, we try at all costs, although necessary to have a tool that directs the builders of
understanding its heterogeneity, to classify each their projects towards the quality product that the
project within a single project, managing to satisfy UEN needs, in order to ensure the proper
the requirements demanded by the project owner, functioning of the National Electricity Transmission
in each of them equally. Network. But in addition to setting the guidelines to
Although customer quality aspects are obtain quality products, this requires an agile
considered mandatory, efficient tools are needed to inspection system that can verify the quality of the
verify them. Inspection systems fulfill this function, product, supporting the work carried out. It is
becoming a complement to quality management important to mention that these management plans
plans. When talking about quality, we must think must be efficient, agile, simple and updated, since
about inspection, since they are one and the same. they need to go hand in hand with technology and
With the globalization of recent years, the ICE provisions, so that over time they do not
topics of quality, control, standardization, inspection become meaningless tools and errors in carrying
and others are applied and practiced throughout the out new projects.
world. Costa Rica is not exempt from applying In order to carry out the aforementioned,
these concepts in all the products it offers. Lately, the main objective of this project is to update and
they have been the key to becoming competitive improve the existing construction specifications in
globally, which is why many industries, the Electricity Transport UEN and to design a
governmental and non-governmental institutions, quality management and inspection plan for the
have been gradually applying this practice. The construction of electrical substations. at the Costa
previous system has become the best way of Rican Institute of Electricity.
working, directing participants towards common • Eng. Mario Valerio B.
objectives and results.
The Costa Rican Institute of Electricity is We also thank all the professors who are
one of the government institutions that is at the part of the School of Construction Engineering, who
forefront. It has been working under high quality gave me part of their knowledge throughout my
standards, since its products are competitive degree.
DESIGN OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INSPECTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS 1
Special thanks to the following teachers
who helped me work on this topic:
Eng. Ana Grettel Leandro Hernández,

teacher guide of the graduation project.
Eng. Miguel Artavia A, reading professor of

the graduation project.
Gratitude
I first thank God and Our Lady of the Angels for allowing me to complete the Bachelor of Construction
Engineering, being fundamental pillars in all the years of study.
To all my family and loved ones who have been an important part of this achievement, I dedicate this
great goal to all of them.
To my tutors from the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity who were always collaborating with the
completion of the project, Eng. José Carlos López Mora and Eng. Juan Carlos Cárdenas Alvarado. Along with
them, I must thank the entire working group of the UEN Electricity Transport network expansion area.
In addition, to the following professionals who were part of the development of this project, the
gentlemen:
• Eng. Marco Calvo Araya.

• Eng. Guillermo Calderón Vega.
• Eng. Tony Mendez Parrales.
• Eng. Diego Rodríguez Solorzano.
• Eng. Silvio Pérez Águila.
• Tech. Edwin Molina Espinoza.
• Eng. Krissia Chavarría Vargas.
• Eng. Albert Ramírez Alpízar.
• Tech. Carlos Oviedo Núñez.
• Eng. Marietta Garita Guzmán.
• Tech. Sergio Coto Camacho.
• Eng. Guillermo Arroyo Gutiérrez
Executive Summary
Today the construction area is making great supervising the contracts of its electrical projects.
changes in its typical and rigid way of thinking, The UEN TE is a unit that does not build its own
influenced mostly by the globalization of the time. It projects, these are developed by external agents,
is for this reason that the Costa Rican Institute of so quality control and inspection of said works are
Electricity (ICE) does not escape these changes, so essential to achieve the desired results in its
in the same way, the Strategic Business Unit infrastructures.
Transportation of Electricity in its Network This Quality Management and Inspection
Expansion Process (UEN TE) as part of This same Plan in the Construction of Electrical Substations
institution experiences the same changes within compiles all the requirements that construction
itself. As stated above, a Quality Management and companies must follow to carry out the work
Inspection Plan in the Construction of Electrical established by the unit. In addition, the
Substations is designed for the UEN TE, in management plan manages to create current and
response to the constructive and organizational engineering tools for the unit to inspect and qualify
changes. its builders.
The previous management plan generates The main objective of this work is to update
an indispensable tool for the unit in the way of and improve the existing construction specifications
and to design a quality management and inspection
plan for the construction of electrical substations at
the Costa Rican Electricity Institute.
To achieve the stated objectives, a series
of interviews are carried out with professionals from
different areas of engineering (civil, mechanical and
electronic), as well as a field visit to different
substations, in order to review each of the
construction considerations raised. in the
Substation Construction Manual, which was the
only current regulatory document that the unit had
to establish certain construction parameters. For all
of the above, it was necessary to select the
interviewees and places of visits, because this unit
is divided into three main regions that cover the
entire country (Huetar Brunca, Chorotega and
Central). The information obtained in all the
interviews and visits carried out is analyzed and
consulted with the UEN TE, they are in charge of
making the decision of which observations,
comments and contributions are accepted to be
placed within the new management plan.
As a result of all the previous work, a series
of documents are created that form the Quality
Management and Inspection Plan in the
Construction of Electrical Substations, which are:
Construction Requirements in Electrical
Substations, Design Aspects in Electrical
Substations and Lists of Verification for Electrical
Substations (see appendices and annexes section).
As the main conclusion of this work, it is
determined that the Quality Management and
Inspection Plan is of vital importance for the UEN
TE, since it did not have a pillar of quality control
and inspection that would respond to the current
conditions of their projects, which generated major
problems in the quality of the electrical substations.
Introduction
Currently, the topic of construction inspection and The problem with the document focuses on its
contract administration is fashionable in many outdated nature, in addition to containing design
national and international companies. The and even contractual considerations, which should
administration of a contract is carried out in multiple not be contemplated in a construction document.
ways, according to the policies and facilities of each Another problem is that electrical
company, but in most cases, construction is substations have a series of electrical equipment
separated from the inspection and supervision of and systems that change rapidly in their
the project. Each of the parties to a project defends technologies, modifying the design and construction
its own interests and establishes its objectives. of the substations, as quickly as technological
The Strategic Business Unit Electricity changes.
Transportation through the Network Expansion Since the Substation Construction Manual
Process (UEN TE), is a unit of the Costa Rican is the only regulatory document applied to
Electricity Institute in charge of maintaining the companies contracted to build substations, it is
National Electrical System in optimal conditions, vitally important that it be complete, agile, modern
guaranteeing the transportation of electricity to each and updated.
of subscribers from the country and even from The need for the UEN TE lies in having an
abroad. This unit is responsible for planning and efficient quality management and inspection plan in
maintaining, but not for building; It has the accordance with current needs, since the
obligation to generate all the necessary contracts, regulations used until now are not sufficient to
so that third parties can build for the UEN TE, all achieve the desired quality. Both private companies
electrical substations and transmission lines and the service units of their own institution carry
necessary to guarantee the service, but as out inefficient and low-quality constructions for the
previously stated, it does not have the power to UEN TE.
build them, but only to supervise them. By having poor, outdated and unclear
Due to the above, the UEN TE contracts regulations, but compulsorily applied to the builders
other units within the same institution or private of their projects in their contracts, the unit has had
construction companies, for the construction of its many problems when managing and supervising its
electrical substations and transmission lines, constructions. What this department seeks is to
making this unit a client of its same institution and definitively eliminate problems with its partners and
even more so for external agents. . apply the new desired quality requirements.
As a client, this unit has well defined the With the development of this work, it is
type of work it needs in its projects, as well as the possible to create a quality management and
necessary requirements for its buildings to be of inspection plan for the UEN Transport of Electricity,
quality. leaving the unit provided with the necessary tools to
Currently, this unit has a document called face future contracts, which will be better every day.
Substation Construction Manual, which was created by carrying out quality control of the project more
in 2000 by a committee of the same institution and efficiently by the unit supervisors.
was modified in 2006 by professionals from the With the creation of institutional regulations
department. This document is considered an that standardize construction processes in
institutional standard and is applied in all electrical substations and checklists that guarantee an agile,
substation contracts in the country, but the reality is orderly and supported inspection, the aim is to
that it is not an institutional standard, but internal provide a solution to the quality problem of the unit.
regulations of the unit. The previous results will mark the quality of what is
The previous document includes all the wanted in the products, they will try to order and
requirements demanded by the UEN Transportation accommodate the construction processes, from the
to ensure quality in its electrical substations, taking field to its administration. In addition, the aim is to
into account civil, electrical and mechanical points. create a quality management and inspection plan
that supports the work carried out, for when the unit Institute.
has complaints or feels dissatisfied with the results
of the products. ^ It must be specified that the last specific objective
It should be noted that this document was could not be covered. In this matter, the
developed within the area of electrical substations, document is only written in the format
which involves civil, mechanical and electrical established by the institution to be
issues, which were studied and investigated in the accepted as a standard. The problem
work. present in this objective is that the results
The fundamental result of this work was the must be evaluated by a committee to be
creation of a quality management and inspection defined at the institutional level. After being
plan for the construction of electrical substations, evaluated and corrected by the committee,
made up of updated and current construction it will be accepted as a standard. Due to
specifications in the substations, a document that the influence of the time established to
specifically contains design criteria and a quality develop the project, all this standardization
control system. specific quality for the construction work cannot be carried out.
of electrical substations.
This project is carried out at the Costa In carrying out this work, a series of factors
Rican Electricity Institute, in the Electricity were presented that influenced the final result of the
Transportation Strategic Business Unit, in the document. The delimitations presented will be
Network Expansion Process, in the “Directed stated below:
Professional Practice” modality. The work consists
of the Design of a Quality Management and • Non-implementation of the Quality
Inspection Plan in the Construction of Electrical Management and Inspection Plan: due to the
development period of this work, there were no
Substations. projects that met the necessary characteristics
In order to develop the proposed work, the to implement the result, since the projects that
main objective of the project is followed, which is to the UEN TE has at the time of the work , are
ending.
update and improve the existing construction
specifications and design a quality management • Assimilate the electromechanical area of a
substation: the construction of
and inspection plan for the construction of electrical
Electrical substations involve a series of
substations at the Costa Rican Institute of
processes that encompass a series of
Electricity. .
electromechanical equipment, which are
The specific objectives set for such work
sometimes far from the civil training of a
are:
Construction engineer. The work presented
here is based on the quality control and
• Identify changes needed to upgrade inspection of these projects, so this
the Specifications
electromechanical part cannot be left aside,
constructive in substations
since it must be understood in order to apply
electrical.
civil criteria, thinking about the effects that will
• Determine variations that are being be had on that electromechanical part, since
implemented in the construction processes, both make up a product.
which are not contemplated in the
specifications. • Cancellation of visits and interviews: the main
• Recognize design criteria in the existing
source of information to carry out this work is
found in field visits to substations in the
specifications for the construction of different regions, in addition to interviews with
electrical substations and place them in a professionals on the subject.
new specific document for design.
For the interviews and appointments with the
• Design a quality management and different professionals in charge of both the civil
inspection plan that serves to verify and mechanical or electrical parts, there was a
compliance with construction specifications limitation in terms of their available time for
in the field.
meetings in which issues of the work were
• Establish the necessary procedures to going to be discussed, so they were canceled
convert the construction specifications of or postponed.
electrical substations into mandatory
regulations at the Costa Rican Electricity • Constructive differences of the three regions of
the country: the UEN TE is divided into three
regions, Huetar Brunca, Central and Chorotega contemplated in the work, nor are they reflected
Region. Due to the lack of normalization and in the document of Construction Specifications
standardization, the three regions have of Electrical Substations, since in the
different ways of building substations, so their environmental case, this issue is very studied
quality varies depending on the Region. This and analyzed by professionals from the Costa
creates a difficulty, since the balance point Rican Electricity Institute and government
must be sought in each specific region for the institutions, in this case, very strict
substations. Furthermore, moving to different environmental impact studies are always
regions of the country is a limitation for carried out that strongly regulate the
collecting information with interested parties. development of the project. The safety part in
the development of a substation is regulated at
• Protected information: in external organizations, the level of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute,
not belonging to the UEN TE, adequate so indirectly and without depending on the type
collaboration is not received, related to the of contract, this regulation is strongly applied.
visits made to them, since they try to safeguard
their interests. The previous two, being internal regulations of
the institution, are established and cannot be
• Lack of knowledge of existing regulations on changed.
the part of the professionals consulted: one of
the objectives set for the project is about
• Reference to national and international
regulations: many of the construction
updating the existing construction regulations,
processes and installation of equipment are
because when conducting interviews and visits referenced or carried out according to already
to many professionals, they are unaware of any established regulations, since there is no
regulations. This limitation makes visits and better way to carry out the work.
interviews more complicated to carry out and
consumes more time than established. • Lack of projects in substations with current civil
• Difference in professional criteria: in the visits
works: the lack of projects in the civil works
stage, within the time of project development,
and interviews carried out with professionals on means that field visits and the implementation
the subject, valuable information is obtained, of lists related to this topic are not positive,
which is considered in the development of this since that what is established in this project
work, but in many cases, there are differences cannot be practiced.
in criteria on the same topic. As a solution to
the previous problem, balance must be sought
• Non-implementation of the checklists: due to
in each aspect of quality and inspection the project execution time, the lack of civil
provided by the interviewees, to capture them works within that same time and the lack of
electromechanical training, the checklists were
in the documents that make up the quality and
not applied to electrical substation projects.
inspection management plan.
• General explanation of the construction details: This project creates a quality management and
due to the large number of construction inspection plan in the construction of electrical
processes and installation of equipment and substations, standardizing for the Electricity
systems that make up the development of an Transportation Business Strategic Unit (UEN TE)
electrical substation, it is about describing a the inspection and construction procedures in
construction process or installation of electrical substations, in such a way that the
equipment, from the basic points of desirable obtaining of quality products, turning checklists and
quality, since it is difficult to be able to capture reference documents into essential tools to ensure
in writing all the details to be considered in the this parameter.
work. Another important factor in not going into The construction specifications
great details is to leave a small door so that implemented in the construction of electrical
people have freedom when carrying out some substations are updated for the UEN TE, according
work, without departing from the quality to the construction practices and installation of
parameter, but so that the processes can electrical equipment and systems currently used.
continue to be improved. The variations found are analyzed and consulted
with experts, where they will subsequently be
• The environmental and safety part is not documented.
considered in electrical substations:
Similarly, the old construction specifications
environmental and safety issues are not
contain a mixture of construction and design
criteria, so these criteria are identified and classified
and placed in a new document, which will serve as
a basis for other professionals to generate design
regulations. Furthermore, according to the
interviews, visits and consultations carried out with
the different departments and professionals, design
criteria are found that are taken into account for the
document and the parameters to be established.
Theoretical framework
electrical power system • Thermal: the heat energy produced by
combustion is used in thermal machines
using coal, oil , natural gas and other
To carry out this theoretical framework , we take fuels . .
what was written by José Raull Mart í n and Carlos
F e lipe R a m í rez, in their books on Design of • Geothermal : the heat produced inside the
earth is used to generate steam of
Electrical Substations and High and E water , which will move
Substations . x tra High Voltage, respectively. In Electric generators .
addition, different internet sources are used.
• Wind power : the kinetic energy of the air
( generated by the wind ) is used in the
Electricity can be defined as the physical windmills . v i e n t of the
phenomenon caused by electrical , static or moving wind turbines .
charges and their interaction with each other .1 .
Decades ago, after electrical energy was • Biomes : living matter is used for the
generation of electrical energy .
discovered, it became the main source of energy
used by man to develop his multiple activities of When electricity is generated , it is at a
daily living. typical voltage of 13 . 8 kV or 21 8 0 A, therefore
For this reason, different nations around its increase in voltage ( kV ) and its decrease in
the world have taken on the task of creating their current ( A ) is necessary for its transportation.
own electrical power system. This system is used This topic is very important , since it has been
to transport electricity throughout the nation's demonstrated for a long time that it is able to
territory . Every electrical power system is made transport the e At long range voltages , the
up of three fundamental parts , which are : voltage must be increased and the current
reduced to obtain a smaller amount of power . é r
di das and transverse area of the conductive cable
.
This voltage increase ( from 13.8 kV /23 0
kV ) is typically effected at a location close to
the point of generation . tion , by means of
electric ubesta tions .
Electrical substation is the set of
electrical devices that form part of an electrical
power system , its function main ion is transf or
m a r l a s t n s i o n s and d e r i var c i r p o t e r c
i r u t s3 .
In this case , this type of electrical
Figure 1. Typical electrical power system. (Taken from substation is known as the elevator substation ,
www.elctrhiguita.blogspot.com ) and it increases the temperature . ens i ó n .
generation , transportation and consumption . Once the generation voltage is raised , the
electricity is transported by means of electrical
conductors (cables or bars). The conductors are
Electrical generation points are all those raised from the ground to great heights and
where energy sources ( non- electric ) are used transported through the territory, thanks to the
and transformed into electricity . , such sources transmission towers. Transmission towers are
can be established primarily as2 : typically structures made of steel elements, lattice
type and with an average height of 22.0 m from the
• Hydraulic : they take advantage of the ground.
kinetic and potential energy of river Once the conductor cables have been
currents , waterfalls or tides. brought to the points of interest (consumption
points), they must be connected to the circuit again;
1[online] www.univ er sidadperu.com [April 19, 2011] to an electrical substation (step-down substation). In
2[online] www.definicion.org [ Apr 19, 2011] 3Raull, J. Electrical Substation Design.
this substation, the transformation from high voltage substation from any failure. In addition, all the
to low voltage (230 kV/138 kV or 138 kV/34.5 kV) equipment contained in the substation is connected
will be carried out. to a general control system that manages all the
The electricity from these substations is substations of the electrical power system.
connected to the residential and industrial Electrical substations can be within the
distribution system of each country. In this system, electrical power system in different ways and their
small power transformers are used, depending on main function is to control the power flow of the
the intended use of the energy, for example, if it is system.
for residential use, the voltage must be transformed Of the different forms of connection, we
from 34.5 kV to 120 V or 240 V. In the case of have those that are connected to a generating
industries, they typically use voltages of 43.5 kV. station, where it will be responsible for increasing
The growth of the electrical power system the voltage through power transformers. Another
will depend mainly on the industrial and residential common type of connection is when the substation
growth of each country. This development will force is responsible for reducing voltage levels, so that the
the search for new electricity generation points, new connection of the electrical power system with the
transmission towers and substations; Therefore, the residential distribution system can be possible. A
electrical power system will grow over the years. final connection is when an electrical substation is
In many cases, transmission lines and needed to connect several distribution routes, which
electrical substations are designed in such a way are at the same voltage level.
that they can support these increases in demand, In a simple way, it can be said that an
without the need to build new projects, but over time electrical substation is a set of electrical circuits
this will not be enough and new options will have to through which electricity enters and leaves, all
be created. of electric transportation. connected to the same common point. It can be said
that the switch is the main element of the circuit,
complemented by power transformers,
disconnectors, lightning rods and others. In addition,
all circuits have their secondary control , protection,
communication and auxiliary services systems.
Setting
Configuration is understood as the arrangement ,
distribution or form of connection of the different
equipment in the yard of the electrical substation .
The different configurations are made to obtain
Figure 2. Unifilar of the electrical power system of Costa Rica. high degrees of reliability, safety and flexibility to
(Figure provided by Engineer Marlo Livio Arauz, UEN TE)
achieve adequate management, transformation and
Electrical substations distribution of electrical energy.
There are two main configuration trends ,
the European trend with bus connection, and the
American trend, with its connections in switches.
General features The different types of European
configuration are:
An electrical substation can be defined as a node
(point, where two or more elements have the same • Simple bar
connection) of the electrical power system, in this • Main bar and transfer bar
place, the electrical energy undergoes • Double bar
transformation in its voltage levels, which will be the • Double bar plus step disconnector
most appropriate for guarantee the transportation of straight
electricity to the different points of consumption or • Double b arra plus sectionalizer
distribution. Always ensuring product quality. transfer
To ensure system continuity, electrical • Double bar plus transfer bar
substations contain a large number of automated
control and protection systems, which protect the The different types of American
configuration are:
• Ring
• Switch and a half
• Double bar with double switch
• cross ring
Figure 4. Example of physical layout in an electrical substation.

(Taken from www.gecca.wordpress.com )
Yard equipment
Yard equipment is all the equipment and its
accessories within the electrical substation, which
are installed and connected to each other. They are
at the same voltage level and substation area.
The selection of equipment responds to
Figure 3. Typical power electrical system . ( Taken from different factors, such as: results of system studies,
www.gecca.wordpress.com )
applicable technical standards, national and
international experience in the use of equipment and
Physical layout standardization of the owner company.
An electrical substation is made up of
The physical arrangement of an electrical different equipment, the main ones include:
substation is understood as the name order of
the equipment .s that make up the patio of the • Power switches: they are interruption
substation , according to the type of equipment, capable of conducting,
configuration followed . interrupting and establishing current under
different conditions. Its main function is to
To select the physical layout of an connect or disconnect the electrical circuits
electrical substation , it is necessary to know and associated with it.
analyze different aspects , such as :
• Disconnectors: such devices can perform
• Setting selected for the several functions. Its main function is to
section the circuit, due to needs in the
su b ele ctric station
• Equipment to be used operation of the system or maintenance of
the equipment and lines associated with
• Nominal currents and short circuit them.
expected at the substation
• Minimum safe distances between • Voltage transformers: they have two main
drivers inside the substation functions. One of them is to transform the
• Available area of the land , its accesses
voltage of the electrical system and the
other is to serve as an insulator for the
and possible entry or exit of the protection and measurement systems
electrical transmission line
• Project cost
•
connected to high voltage circuits.
• Type of metallic and sectioning

Current transformers: these devices are
used to measure currents in electrical
structures
• Ease of maintenance and future
systems. These can be found in the
substation configuration, either as metering
es or e m o expansion of l ations or protection equipment.
• Environmental , historical , social and In measurement, these power measuring
instruments, energy meters and analog
other impacts.
systems.
In protection, they power protection relays.
• Lightning rods: these are devices whose
main function is to protect substation
equipment against surges, mainly those
produced by atmospheric discharges.
• Power transformer: this equipment is
considered the heart of every electrical
substation. It is an electromechanical
machine, whose function is to change the
magnitude of electrical tensions. It consists
of three main parts: active part, passive part
and accessories.
Busbars
Busbars are understood to be all the electrical
conductors used to make the connection between
the different circuits of the electrical substation.
These can be used in generating bars,
transmission lines, transformer banks, earth banks
and others.
It can be said that the busbar assembly is
made up of the following elements:
• Electric conductors
• Insulators: serve as electrical insulator
between structures and conductors, and
also as mechanical support for electrical
conductors.
• Connectors and fittings: used to connect
sections of conductors and attach them to
the insulators.
measurement, they are also connected to all the
auxiliary devices of the electrical substation.
In this system there are devices such as:
ammeters, voltmeters,
frequency meters and others.
All of the above devices are installed inside
the panels that are throughout the electrical
substation.
The main measurement areas are:
transformer banks, lines and cables, connecting
bars and distribution feeders.
Figure 5. Arrangement of bars in an electrical substation. (Taken
from www.portalelectricos.com ) Control such as: control
cables, executing
systems elements, alarm
devices, protection,
A control system is measurement,
defined as a set command, signaling
made up of devices and recording
or functions for devices.
measurement, All these
indication, recording, devices and elements
signaling, regulation, of the system are
manual and housed mainly in the
automatic control of panels, distributed
equipment and throughout the
protection relays, substation yard.
which verify, protect
and help govern a
control system.
power4 .
Measurement
The main systems
function of these
systems is to The measurement
supervise, control and systems in the
protect the electrical electrical substation
substation at all are the entire set of
times. This system devices connected to
must ensure the each other and
continuity of the secondarily to the
electrical system, in current and power
abnormal conditions transformers in the
or changes substation yard.
considered in the These transformers
operation of the are responsible for
electrical substation. measuring the
These different electrical
systems are located parameters of high
automatically or and low voltage
manually at the installations.
substation. Additionally, system
In this devices
system, there are
devices and elements
4Ramirez, C. High and Extra High Voltage Substations.
Protection resistance of the
mesh.
systems The main
functions of the
The protection ground mesh are 4 :
system in an
electrical substation is
the set of systems
• Protect
individuals
responsible for within the
permanently substation
monitoring all • Provide
electrical equipment means of
and other systems. Its dissipation of
electrical
function is to prevent current in the
any damage due to a ground
failure in the • Ensure the
substation. proper
The functioning of
network
complexity of this protection
system goes hand in equipment
hand with the
complexity of each • Minimize
substation, as well as communicati
the electrical ons
interference
equipment
used.
to be
• Avoid static
electric
The different discharges in
elements that are part explosive
of this system are: atmospheres
substation battery, • Protect the
control cables, power network
against the
switches, current and effects of
potential atmospheric
transformers, relays discharges
and others.
The mesh or
ground network
system is mainly
ground mesh composed of:
conductors (copper
The ground mesh cables), electrodes
system is responsible (rods stuck in the
for providing ground), electrodes
adequate protection for lightning rods and
to personnel and connectors (union
electrical equipment, elements between the
against any ground system).
dangerous voltage
resulting from a
ground fault.
The above Auxiliary
voltages come mainly services
from two factors, one
of them, the ground They are those
fault current, and the systems that are
other, the grounding made up of electrical
installations with construction and
different power design is done in
sources. These such a way to satisfy
sources can be direct the above issues.
current (batteries) or In an
alternating current electrical substation,
(transformers), both there are mainly the
at low voltage. following civil works:
These
systems are used to
• Earthworks
and terrace
energize all control, formation
protection, signaling, • Walls and
alarms, lighting, fire other slope
stabilization
and other systems. mechanisms
The main
parts of the auxiliary
•
facilities
Temporary
systems are: station • Foundations
services of equipment
(transformers, panels, and power
transformers
batteries and others),
lighting, fire protection
• Patio drains
and general areas
systems and air • Cable ducts
conditioning. • Ground
mesh construction
In
Rica, this type of
Costa
•
external
Internal and
access
service is derived routes
both from the same • Collection
pits and oil tank
current supplied by
the substation and
• Equipment
registration boxes
from the domestic •
buildings
Control
distribution network.
What is sought with
•
pipeline
Underground
this is to provide •
vaults
Self-service
continuity and
reliability to the •
lighting
Outdoor
system, since the
more power sources
•
enclosures
Goal and
there are, the greater • Beams and
these factors will be. columns of
major and
minor
structures
Civil works in • Among other
civil works.
an electrical
This type of
substation project is
characterized by the
The different civil
very small tolerances
works that an
that must be met in its
electrical substation
construction. The
has will depend
foundations of the
mainly on the
equipment and the
different elements
lattice structures are
that will make up its
the most delicate to
electrical design.
build, since the
Furthermore, its
differences in their
dimensions with mechanical and
respect to the plans electrical part in the
are millimeters. substation. Any civil
structure that is built
Electrical with minimal errors
substation projects will put the electrical
involve multiple and mechanical
branches of equipment of the
engineering, with project at risk.
mechanical and Among the
electrical being the most used materials
most demanding. It is in construction, we
for this reason that can have: sand,
the civil part has a stone, concrete, steel,
great challenge in concrete blocks, PVC
meeting the millimeter pipes, formwork and
demands of the other complementary
materials.
Ramirez, C. High and Extra High Voltage Substations.
Methodology
To achieve the development of this work, a series In the review of the Substation Construction
of procedures and activities were carried out that Manual, each of the construction requirements that
generate important and positive results for it. the UEN TE requests in its projects is known.
The work was carried out at the Costa According to the previous document and the
Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE), in the Strategic introductory meetings with the leaders of the unit,
Business Unit of the Network Expansion Process the problems that the unit faces today with respect
(UEN TE). As previously stated, this unit is to the administration of its projects are known and
responsible for maintaining and expanding the identified.
National Electrical Grid, so during the project, this According to the analysis of the
unit was managing several electrical substation construction requirements and understanding the
projects, in addition to planning many more. present problem, a solution is sought. Therefore, it
To begin the work, an introduction and is proposed to the unit that the best way to search
explanation of its organization was generated by for and investigate new variations and construction
the institution, in addition to a deep and detailed processes is through field visits to the different
explanation of the work to be expected from the substations and interviews with those involved in
UEN TE, rethinking the objectives, methodologies them. The UEN TE is made aware that the
and results. of supervised practice. Substation Construction Manual must be updated
The unit provides a theoretical and with the experience of past constructions, through
introductory explanation of the Electrical Power the contribution of criteria or lived experiences of all
System and the importance of substations within it, the people who participated in them.
in addition to a technical explanation of the meaning Once the source of information has been
of a substation, as well as an explanation by established to compile the demands and
professionals on the subject. of all systems, observations of the construction processes, we
equipment and other electrical devices within it. In proceed to plan the places and people to visit.
summary, the subject of electrical substations is When the above is done, the problem of the large
theoretically known in a basic way, from its civil, number of people and places to visit arises, since
electrical and mechanical parts. As an introductory this unit has personnel and infrastructure
complement, a visit is made to the Tejar Substation throughout the country, so the sources of
in Cartago, to finish feeding the theoretical information are limited, analyzing the limitations.
explanations. present and future. This is where the decision is
After an introduction to the environment made, to take on average, only one professional
and type of work to be carried out, we begin with an from each area (civil, mechanical and electrical)
identification of the construction processes present from each of the regions into which the country and
in the construction of an electrical substation. When the unit is divided (Huetar Brunca, Chorotega and
talking about construction processes, all the civil, Central ); Therefore, there would be at least 9
electrical and mechanical processes to be taken interviews with different professionals. In addition, it
into account to achieve the construction of buildings is decided to visit at least one substation in each
of this type are included. region.
Having clear the construction processes of What was established above is carried out
the substation, we begin with an investigation within in this way, since the quality control and inspection
the unit, to determine the documents that regulate system will be applied to each project equally,
quality in electrical substations. In this search, we regardless of the region. Therefore, the system
find the Substation Construction Manual, which is needs to be as general as possible and accepted
the main document that regulates the construction by everyone. By taking each of the regions into
of substations by this department. consideration, the aim is to get the greatest
possible contribution from each of them and thus Guanacaste.
create a document where no important • Garabito Auction: Miramar of
consideration is omitted. Puntarenas.
The people interviewed are the following: • Auction el Coco: Central Alajuela.
• Alberto L. Ramírez Alpízar: Mainly the Tejar substation was visited,

Electromechanical engineer, in charge of due to its proximity, in addition to being the only one
the maintenance area of the Central region at the time of carrying out the work, which was with
• Carlos Oviedo Núñez: Electromechanical current civil stages.
technician, in charge of maintenance at the In the visits made to the different electrical
El Coco Substation substations, the specifications of the current
• Diego Rodríguez Solórzano: Electrical Substation Construction Manual are compared with
engineer, in charge of the construction of what was carried out in the field. If any construction
the Tejar substation process or installation of equipment and systems
• Guillermo Arroyo Gutiérrez: Civil engineer, was found that was being carried out at the time of
in charge of substation projects at COE the visit, the due notes were made, as compared to
PySA the document and reality, then the changes found
• Guillermo Calderón Vega: Electrical were consulted with the professionals. previously
engineer, in charge of maintenance at mentioned.
substations in Tilarán. The interviews with the professionals
• José Carlos López Mora: Civil engineer, mentioned above were carried out in work sessions
supervision of projects in the Chorotega of approximately 3 hours, with each one completing
region by the UEN TE. a minimum of 4 sessions, so in total there would be
• Juan Carlos Cárdenas Alvarado: Civil 12 hours for each interviewee.
engineer, supervision of projects in the The Substation Construction Manual
Central region by the UEN TE. consists of three main parts, the civil, mechanical
• Krissia Chavarría Vargas: Construction
and electrical part; Therefore, each point of the
document was reviewed with the aforementioned
engineer, in charge of inspecting works in
Naranjo Projects and surrounding areas. people. It is worth clarifying that the points of each
part of the document are reviewed with the person
• Marco Calvo Araya: CAP construction specialized in it.
engineer, in charge of civil inspection in the In the sessions, each of the points is
construction of the Tejar substation. analyzed with the respective person, they give their
• Marieta Garita Guzmán: Electrical opinion, analyze and comment on each of the
engineer, substation contract administrator points, the result of each interview is documented to
at PySA. later be consulted with the contract administrators
• Mario Valerio B.: Civil engineer, in charge of the UEN TE. Once the interviewee's observations
are accepted, it will be added as a new technical
of substation projects at COE PySA.
• Sergio Coto Camacho: Electrical
specification to be considered in the construction of
substations. Any recommendation, observation,
technician, in charge of supervision in
substations at PySA. update, disagreement or elimination carried out at
• Silvio Pérez Águila: CAP mechanical
Specifications
analyzed with
existing techniques,
other people and
is
the
engineer, in charge of mechanical
inspection in the construction of the Tejar representatives of the UEN TE to have it taken into
substation. account in the new document. This
Similarly, we proceeded with each of the
• Tony Méndez Parrales: CAP electrical interviewees, where their comments are found in
engineer, in charge of electrical inspection this document. (see annexes 1, 2, 3).
in the construction of the Tejar substation.
It is important to clarify that the interviews
carried out are not made up of specific questions,
The substations visited were:
but rather the analysis of each of the topics and
• Auction Tile: Tijar of Carthage.
points established in the Substation Construction
• Auction Miravalles: Miravalles of
Manual (document that is in force).
The interviews and visits were carried out
according to the parts of the old document, first the before its implementation.
civil part and then the mechanical and electrical In addition, a lot of work is carried out to
part, generating the necessary information to create identify national and international regulations
the new specifications. related to civil, mechanical and electrical aspects;
At the time of beginning the drafting of the where in many of the construction processes of the
new construction requirements document, it was previous topics, reference is made to the
found that the civil part was very outdated and that regulations found, since it is determined that many
it also had more design requirements than works cannot be modified or standardized, since
construction requirements. Due to the above, this they were previously regulated. As an institutional
civil section of the document was strongly modified. standard, the General Technical Specifications for
The mechanical and electrical sections presented Concrete are used, with which a large part of the
this problem to a lesser degree. concrete work is regulated. Also many of the
When the work to prepare the new equipment installation and commissioning works
document on Construction Requirements in are regulated by their manufacturers.
Electrical Substations begins, the design aspects of Once the new document is written, the
the different parts present in the Substation proposal is presented to those in charge of
Construction Manual are compiled in another managing electrical substation contracts of the UEN
document. The above generates in this work, a TE, so that they can generate their comments and
document that contains design specifications accept the document.
related to substations. Also presented during the In the final stage of the new document of
interviews are some design considerations that the Construction Specifications for Electrical
professionals expressed in their observations, Substations, the document of Design
which were taken and reflected in this design Considerations for Electrical Substations is
document. obtained, which was carried out taking into account
In drafting the new document, several all the design considerations reflected in the current
decisions were made that generated important Substation Construction Manual and the aspects
changes, which are cited below: collected in visits and interviews.
As a complement to the previous results,
• The word inspection, contractor or verification lists or checklists are generated, which
administrator will be removed from the have as their main reference the document on
wording of the document. Construction Considerations in Electrical
• The document will be written in a general Substations.
way without imposing responsibility on any These lists generate, together with the
person. Constructive Considerations in Electrical
• Only construction specifications were Substations document, the entire quality
placed in the new document. management and inspection plan in electrical
• A logical constructive sequence was given substations.
to the new document. The lists are structured in such a way that
• The civil, electrical and mechanical areas they consider within them all the quality
were separated. requirements that the UEN TE together with the
• The typical construction processes of this processions of the different regions has established
in the new document.
type of building were identified and
documented. It is established that the best way to
• Storage considerations were specified for represent the construction specifications present in
civil materials. the new document is through questions, which are
• The desired products were graphically specific and direct, these have a no or yes answer.
These questions are formulated in such a way that
represented.
• Construction specifications were updated. they often tend to give a yes to things that should
not be done, so that when the inspection response
• The title of the document was changed so is compared or confronted with what is established
that its content was consistent with it. in the Constructive Requirements for Substations
document, Electrical, it is clearly seen that the
The changes made to the old document person in charge of building the substation is not
were consulted and accepted by the UEN TE complying with the quality parameters established
by the UEN TE. There is also the necessary space
for the inspector to write down any important
observations that he considers should be recorded.
In addition, the checklists are given an
order equal to that developed in the document, in
order to guide the inspector in the work to be
inspected with what is established in the reference
document. The lists are created in such a way that
they touch on all the points to be considered in the
construction or installation of structures and
equipment.
Each list is given a proper identification of it
and of each point to be evaluated, this to identify
and order the points to be inspected. As well as, the
spaces necessary to note the name or type of
structure and its identification on plans or their field.
It was decided to give the checklists a legal
character, the same as their reference document.
For the above, sufficient space is given to place the
name and signature of the project managers,
inspectors and quality managers, this for any claim
that the administration or inspector has about the
quality of the product to be acquired. It should be
noted that checklists will be generated for each civil,
electrical and mechanical issue present in the
construction of electrical substations.
An introductory wording is made to all the
checklists, in order to guide the people who will use
them, in addition to giving even more the order and
standardization sought.
As all the previous work is carried out, a
parallel investigation is carried out to determine the
internal procedures necessary to promote both
internal and institutional standardization of the
results of this work, to apply it as soon as possible
in new electrical substation projects. For this topic,
it was decided from the beginning to follow the
institutional format for drafting standards, an
essential requirement for standardization in the
institution.
Results
For the Electricity Transportation Strategic Business

Unit in its Network Expansion process (UEN TE), it
is important to have a series of documents that are
part of a quality management and inspection plan,
which allows it to establish and guarantee the
compliance with each and every one of the
requirements demanded by the UEN TE; in the
construction of its electrical substations.
Therefore, the main result of this work was
the Quality Management and Inspection Plan in the
Construction of Electrical Substations, which will be
used by the same unit and external agents, to
develop Electrical substation projects.
Currently, the UEN TE has the Substation
Construction Manual, which is the only current
document for the construction of this type of
buildings, and it is also the only document that the
department has to establish construction
requirements in the development of this type of
projects.
This document is an internal regulation of
the unit, which sets out the constructive
requirements for the construction of electrical
substations, in addition to design considerations,
sizing of structures, materials to be used, contract
clauses, technical specifications of unused elements Figure 6 . Cover of the Substation Construction Manual.
and others. . It has a construction sequence that is
not very logical and not in accordance with the
project to be built, and its writing uses contractual
characters assigning obligations and responsibilities
to them, within a document of construction
requirements.
The Substation Construction Manual is
created by an institutional technical committee,
where in 2000 it was established as institutional
regulations, and in 2006, as a necessity in its
projects. UEN TE officials update the same.
Below is the cover of the Substation
Construction Manual. This has several civil,
electrical and mechanical issues that arise in the
construction development of a substation. In
addition, a figure is presented as part of its index, to
observe the themes that are developed in its
content.
DISTUTO COSTARRICEVSE EE EIECTRICLDAD
To achieve the creation of the Quality
INDEX Management and Inspection Plan in the
INDEX....................................................................................
Construction of Electrical Substations, a series of
MANUAL A: SECTION I_____________________________
CIVIL WORKS IN SUBSTATION YARDS
..2
..8
interviews and visits were carried out in different
GENERALITIES __________________________________
1 EARTH MOVEMENT ........................................................ electrical substations and to several professionals in
A 1. 1 Removal of weeds and vegetation cover
A 1 2 Terracing and Leveling ______________________ the civil, electrical and mechanical areas.
A 121 Court
A 1 3 Gabion wall ............................................................ As a result of the visits and interviews
A 1 4 Reinforced concrete walls 10
TO 2 MINIMUM FACILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR. carried out, a series of observations are obtained
A 2 1 Room for concrete samples_________________
A 2 2 Warehouses for equipment
A. 2.3 Facilities for use by the Contractor __________
from the different interviewees. These observations
A 2 4 Storage Patio
A 3 INSTALLATION OF BASIC SERVICES
are presented in a general way in the following
A 3.1 Drinking Water_____________________________
A 3 2 Electricity
12
12 tables according to the civil, electrical and
A 3 3 Communication System
A 3 4 Outdoor Lighting ..................................................
mechanical areas. The tables below have the
4 ACCESS ROADS
A42 Internal access roads _______________________
subject of the observation in the first column on the
A 4 3 Public roads__________________....____________
A 4 4 Paving left and the names of the interviewees in the right
A4 6 Water steps . . ......
10
10
columns. If an X is found in the column of the
ON 5 FOUNDATIONS
A 5. 1 Foundations for Equipment in tension berry
................. 10
interviewee, corresponding to the row of an
A 5 2 Foundations for High Voltage Equipment_______________________
A5 3 Foundations for substation columns ___________________________ observation, it means that this interviewee made a
TO 6 WORKS ASSOCIATED WITH POWER TRANSFORMERS
A 6. 1 Foundation of the power transformer __________________________ comment on this topic. In this document you can
A 8. 2 Steel Rails
A 6 3 Anchor sockets ____22
____23
analyze and observe in more detail the interviews
A 6 4 Oil containment and channeling
A.6.5Oil collection tank _____________ ____23 carried out with the professionals mentioned in the
A.7 DOCTS, REGISTRATION BOXES AND BURIED PIPES FOR CABLES
tables and photographs (see annex 4) for a greater
A.7. 1 Construction of doubt................ 24
A.7.2 Cable baskets...............................
EE CONSINUCCTON MANUAL EE SUBSTATIONS PAG2133
24 understanding of them.
Figure 7 . Part of the index of the Substation Construction .20
Manual.
TABLE 2. CIVIL AREA INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWED
Krissia Chavarría V
José Carlos López

Marieta Garita G. –
Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
EARTH MOVEMENTS
• Construction permits x x x x
• Project soil studies x x x x
• Vegetative layer of the land x x x
• Use of the waste dump x x x x
• Mitigation of work effects x x
• Level tolerances x x x
• Excavations x x x
• Slope stabilization x x
• Machinery used x x x x
• Compaction tests x x x x
• Filling and compaction work x x x x
• Topographic survey x x x
•MINIMUM
Regulations
CONTRACTOR INSTALLATIONS
x x x
• Urban plans x x x x
• Basic construction plans x x
• Equipment warehouse area and storage x x x
yard
• Patio enclosure and ballast layer x x x
•INSTALLATION
Installation lighting
OF BASIC SERVICES
x x
• There are no observations x x

• Contains many design parameters x x
• Communications services x x
• Night lighting x x
• Installation of services x x
INTERVIEWED
José Carlos López
Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
ACCESS ROADS
• Contains many design parameters x x x x
• Dimensions of the accesses x x x x
• Apply regulations x x x
• Apply other alternatives x
• Define access x x
•FOUNDATIONS
Complementary elements
OF MAJOR AND MINOR
x
STRUCTURES
• Compaction and support capacity tests x x x
• Bolt placement x x x x
• Tolerances in layout x x x x
• Layout x
• Use of topography x x x x
• Second stage castings x x
• Forecast topic x x x x
• Similar major and minor structures x x
• Vegetative layer in structures x x

• Safety at work x x
•WORKS
Levels or yokes
ASSOCIATED WITH THE
x x x x
POWER TRANSFORMERS
• Rails on the transformer x

• Drainage normalization x x x
• Electrical provisions x x x x
• Oil collection tank x x x
INTERVIEWED
José Carlos López
Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
DUCTS, REGISTRATION BOXES AND
BURIED PIPES FOR CABLES
• Stripping x
• Slopes on the floor x x x
• Finishes x x x x
• Basket bolts x x x
• Fillings around it x x
• Masonry x x x
• Linearity x x
• Planned x x x x
• Drains x x
•DRAINS
Poor concrete layer
x x
• Drainage of slopes, waste dumps and x x x

others
• Construction methodology x x x
• Machinery x x x x
• Material separation x
•CIVIL
Planned
WORKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
x x x
LANDING SYSTEM
• Constructive sequence of the mesh and x x x x
complementary structures
• Report changes in construction x x
• Designer x x
• Planned x x
• Excavation dimensions x x
• Filling material to be used x x x
• Photographic records x
• Checking connections x x x
• There are no observations x
INTERVIEWED
José Carlos López

Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
MESHES, WALLS AND PERIMETER
FENCES
• Specification of the work to be carried out x x
• Finish x x
• Cutting, welding and laying of mesh pipes x x
• Mesh placement x x
• Structure design x x
• Gates x x
• Razor wire x x
•BUILDINGS
Wall joints
x x
• Type of foundations x x
• Type jobs x x x
• Wall finishes x x x x
• Roof adhesion tests x x
• Deck construction x x x
• Types and construction of ceilings x x
• Testing of water systems x x
• Water systems according to regulations x x
• Landing of metal structures x x
• Types of floors and ceramics x x x
• Color and paints x x
• No observations x
•AIRDoors, gates, windows and others
CONDITIONING SYSTEM
x x x
• Mechanical theme x x x
• Mezzanine and equipment separation x x
INTERVIEWEES
José Carlos López
Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
OWN SERVICE SYSTEM
• Transformer support structures x x
•DRINKING
Electromechanical topic
WATER WITHIN THE
x x
SUBSTATION AREA
• Keep away from buildings x x
• Normative x x
•GUARDHOUSE
No observations
x x
• Stay away from buildings. x x

•FINAL
No observations
CONFORMATION OF THE LAND
x x
• Follow what is established in earthworks x x x
• Tolerance in leveling x x
•FOURTH
No observations
STONE LAYER
x
• Material testing x x
•PARKLAND
No observations
x x
• Maintenance x x
•SIDEWALKS,
No observations
DRAIN CORD AND DIVITES
x x
• Design x x
• Planned x x
• Construction methodology x x
•CLEANING
No observations
OF THE WORK
x x
• Cleaning services x x
• No observations x x
TABLE 6. CIVIL AREA INTERVIEWS FOR MATERIALS
INTERVIEWED
José Carlos López

Krissia Chavarría
Pedro Suárez V.
V – José Carlos
Marco Calvo A.
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
CONCRETE
• Mix designs x x x x
• Dosages x x
• Ready mixed concrete x x
• Slump measurement x x x
• Additives in mixtures x x x
• Times between batches of concrete x x x
• Regulations x x
• Concrete testing x x x
• Testing of mix designs x x
• Mixing equipment x x
• Storage of aggregates and materials x x
• Aggregate testing x x x
• Storage and mixing areas x x x
• Tools to use in jobs x x
• Material, uses and formal work x x x x
• Form designs x x x
• Concrete curing x x
• Stripping x x x x
• Damage to concrete x x
• Cold and constructive joints x x x x
• Equipment and work in vibration x x
• Concrete placement x x x
• Casting link condition x x
• Mixture of types of concrete x x
• Chamfers on the edges x x
• Second stage castings x x x
• Finishes x x x x
INTERVIEWED
José Carlos López
Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
REINFORCING STEEL
• Control in assembly workshops x
• Regulations x x x
• Steel placement x x x x
• Overlaps and development lengths x x x
• Storage and conditions of steel in the field x x x x
• Excavation condition x x
• Steel welding x x
• Planned x x x
•MASONRY
Coatings
x x x
• Normative x x x x
• Refer MEIC x x
• Samples to batches of blocks x x
• Mortar design x x
• Mortar concisions x x
• Verticality tolerances on walls x x x x
• Constructive metrology of plasters x x

• Block placement x x
• Cell filling x x x
• Block modeling x x
• Finishes x x
•CONCRETE
Steel placement
PIPE
x x
• No observations x x x
• Normalization x x x
•PVC
Storage
PIPE
x
• Storage x
INTERVIEWED
José Carlos López

Pedro Suárez V.
Marco Calvo A.
– José Carlos
López M.
OBSERVATIONS
M.
GALVANIZED IRON PIPE
•CYCLONE
Storage
TYPE MESH
x
•CONCRETE
Storage
POSTS FOR PERIMETER
x
FENCES
•BARBED
Storage
WIRE
x
•COLD
Storage
LAMINATED STRINKED PROFILES
x
•WOODStorage
x
•ANGLE
Storage
AND STEEL SHEET
x
•PAINTINGS
Storage
x
• Storage x
TABLE 9. INTERVIEWS FROM THE MECHANICAL AREA
INTERVIEWED
Guillermo Calderon
Silvio Pérez Águila

Alberto Lauro –
Sergio Coto C.
Carlos Oviedo
OBSERVATIONS
Vega
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
CONTRACTOR
• Installation of equipment according to x x x
manufacturer
• Equipment storage x x x x
• Approval of materials, tools and equipment x x
• Landing of equipment and structures x

x x
• Screw marking
• Materials, tools and equipment from x x
manufacturers
• Storage structures x x x
• Equipment lifting x x
• Equipment spare parts x x
• Safety in structures x
• Work machinery x
•MAJOR
Construction methodology
STRUCTURES (BEAMS AND
x x
COLUMNS)
• Assembly of the structure x x
• Lead of the columns x x x
• Lead and other tolerances x x x
• Bolts x
• Screws x x
•BUSBARS
Finishes
x
• Construction sequence x
• Inhibitory compounds x
• Laying and placing bars x
• Landing x
• Equipment protection x
• Symmetry of the bars x
x
• Tensioned
TABLE 10. INTERVIEWS FROM THE MECHANICAL AREA
INTERVIEWED
Guillermo Calderon
Silvio Pérez Águila

Alberto Lauro –
Sergio Coto C.
Carlos Oviedo
OBSERVATIONS
Vega
POWER EQUIPMENT
• Installation, handling and storage x x x x
according to manufacturer
• Identifications x x x
• SF6 gas levels x
• Storage and assembly according to x
serial number
PROTECTION SYSTEM AGAINST
ATMOSPHERIC DISCHARGES

• Types of lightning rods x
• Installation, handling and storage x
• Thread tension guard x
•POWER
Landing
TRANSFORMERS
x x
• Installation, handling and storage x x

• Construction sequence and installation x
• Landings x
• Transformer rails x
• Transformer fixing x
• Cleaning substances x
• LIMAT x x
• Equipment checks x x
• Finishes x
• Planned x x
TABLE 11. INTERVIEWS IN THE ELECTRICAL AREA
INTERVIEWED
Diego Rodríguez S. –
Guillermo Calderon
Tony Mendez P.
Alberto Lauro –
Sergio Coto C.
Carlos Oviedo
OBSERVATIONS
Vega
GROUND MESH INSTALLATION
• Construction changes x x x x
• Construction sequence x x x x
• Damage repair x x x x
• Electrodes x x
• Connections in the mesh x x x x
• Machinery, materials and accessories x x x
• Equipment calibration x
• Connection methods x x x x
• Type of connection terminals x x x
• Land treatments x x
• Filling material x x x
• Mesh design x x x
• Mesh testing
• Storage of materials, equipment and x x
accessories
• Planned x x x x
•LANDING
Defects
x x x x
• Planned structures x x x x
• Landing of equipment in control rooms x
• Tests to the ground mesh system x
• Placement of conductors x x x
• Type of grounding cable x x x
• Grounding connectors x x
• Screens and cable jackets x x
• Stone in patio x x x
• Landing of equipment in the yard x x x x
• Basket landing x
• Normative x x
INTERVIEWED
Alberto Lauro – Carlos
Guillermo Calderon
Tony Mendez P.
Sergio Coto C.
Oviedo
OBSERVATIONS
Vega
ELECTRIC CANALIZATIONS
• Exposed pipes x
• Pipe sealing x x x
• Designs x x
• Normative x x
•ELECTRICAL
No observations
SYSTEM IN GENERAL
x
• Automatic switches x x x
• Design x x x x
• Normative x x x
• Transformer support structures x x x
•AIRService connections
CONDITIONING SYSTEM
x x
• Metal support structure x x x
• Installation of condensing units x
• Installation of evaporation units x

x
• Connecting pipes x
• Protections
• Control units x
•EXTRACTORS
No observations x
• Extractor characteristics x
• Design x
• Location x
• No observations x x
INTERVIEWED
Guillermo Calderon
Tony Mendez P.
Alberto Lauro –
Sergio Coto C.
Carlos Oviedo
OBSERVATIONS
Vega
CONTROL WIRING SYSTEM
• Typification x
• Basket characteristics x
• Moorings x
• Cable identification x x
• Design x x
• Pipe size x x
• Cable storage x
•CONNECTIONS
Placement and installation of cables
TO TERMINAL
x
BOARDS AND EQUIPMENT CABINETS
• Sealing of pipes and others x x

• Design x
• Fixing rails x
• Identification x x
•INSTALLATION
Galvanized materials
OF DIRECT CURRENT
x
EQUIPMENT
• Equipment painting x x
• Installation and placement of the battery x x
bank
• Design x
•INTERMEDIATE
No observations
BOXES
x x
• Identification x x x
• Sealing of pipes and others x x x
• Types of cables to use x x
• Cable installation x x
x
• No observations
INTERVIEWED
Alberto Lauro – Carlos
Guillermo Calderon
Tony Mendez P.
Sergio Coto C.
Oviedo
OBSERVATIONS
Vega
OPTICAL FIBER
• Identification labels x
• Design x
• Bending diameters x
• Trays x
•START
No observations
UP
x x
• General and electromechanical x x

verifications for all equipment
• General verifications for power x x
transformers
• General checks for instrument x x
transformers
• General checks for lightning rods x x
• Electromechanical tests on power x

transformers
• Electromechanical tests of x
disconnectors
• Ground mesh electromechanical tests x
• Own service transformers x x

x
• No observations
The Quality Management and Inspection processes; This is to avoid being repetitive in the
Plan in the Construction of Electrical Substations is writing.
made up of the following documents: The rest of the topics refer to the
construction requirements to be followed in the
• Construction Requirements for Electrical construction of different civil structures. As sections
Substations (see appendix 1). of this civil part, we have the following:
• Design Aspects of Electrical Substations
(see Appendix 2). • Technical considerations in typical
• Checklists for the Construction of Electrical
•
materials
Typical construction processes
Substations (see appendix 3).
• Basic civil works at the beginning of
The Constructive Requirements for construction
Electrical Substations document is the pillar of the • Civil works in the substation yard
entire Quality and Inspection Management Plan,
since it reflects all the necessary constructive The part of Mechanical Works Associated
requirements so that any person, company or with an Electrical Substation encompasses all the
organization can carry out the development of this requirements that are needed in the development of
Project Type. In addition, the Checklists and the the installation of equipment, metal structures, air
Design Aspects in the Construction of Electrical conditioning systems and other systems. In this
Substations document are derived and referenced section, other works already carried out are
from this document. The Construction mentioned many times in its writing, making
Requirements document is created with the help of reference to the corresponding points or sections.
interviews and visits, in addition to the contributions This is because, as in all construction, the
of its predecessor, the Substation Construction construction processes depend on each other.
Manual. Among the main sections present in this
The Construction Requirements document mechanical part are:
is divided into four main parts, which are:
• Ducts
• Civil Works Associated with an Electrical • Major and minor structures for substation
Substation equipment
• Plays Mechanical Associates to a • Busbars
Electrical Substation • Installation of electrical equipment and
• Plays Electrical Associates to a accessories in the substation yard
Electrical Substation
• Commissioning Tests The section on Electrical Works Associated
with an Electrical Substation presents all the basic
The document presents a series of requirements in the installation of electrical
sections at the beginning, which are: purpose, systems, it takes all the care that must be taken into
scope, applicable documents and others, this in account in said works. The main sections of this
order to facilitate the reader's understanding of the electrical part are the following:
document.
The section of Civil Works Associated with • General electrical system
an Electrical Substation is subdivided into several
titles and subtitles, which represent all the
structures, processes and materials used in the
construction of a substation. As a great
characteristic of this civil part, there is the section
on Technical Considerations in Typical Materials
and the section on Typical Construction Processes.
These two sections contain those materials and
construction processes, from the civil point of view,
that will be repeated in the construction of the
substation, thus, in the development of the topic
within the document, only reference will be made to
the section or point of interest of the materials and
• Ground mesh installation
• Protection systems against atmospheric
discharges
• Landing of accessories, equipment and
structures
• Electrical systems wiring
Construction Requirements for
The Commissioning Tests part contains all
those general verifications and tests to be carried Electrical Substations
out on all the equipment and systems of the
electrical substation. This is when the end of the
project is reached and the substation is tested to
put it into operation.
In each of the sections and sections of the
entire document, the structures and works are
subdivided as much as possible, but the aim is
always to ensure that its requirements are as open
and general as possible.
For the entire document on Construction
Requirements for Electrical Substations, a logical
constructive sequence is followed, in addition to
containing in its sections, sections and points
constructive considerations to take into account
when carrying out the work.
Furthermore, the document is written in
Figure 8 . Cover of the document on Construction
such a way that it is addressed to any person, Requirements for Electrical Substations.
company or organization that builds the project.
Within the document, there is a series of
figures from old electrical substation projects,
whose purpose is to illustrate and understand what CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR Version: 2
page
is written. Application
ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
Prepared by: Pedro Approved by: Effective as of:
Below is the cover of the Electrical for camDloN- Suarez Vargas General Director 1/1272011
2 UEN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Substation Construction Requirements document, INTRODUCTION..............................—-................................. _............................13
PURPOSE.......................................................................................................... 13
as well as a figure as part of its index. Reading the SCOPE................................................................................................................. 13
document on Construction Requirements for APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS....................................................................................

DEFINITIONS, TERMS. SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS............................. 15
14
Electrical Substations can be done in Appendix 1 of

this work, since its extension is too broad to be PART I. CIVIL WORK
ELECTRICAL
ASSOCIATETO A SUBSTATION
placed on this site. 1. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON TYPICAL MATERIALS

COSTA RICAN INSTITUTE OF code: TE-
ELECTRICITY UENTRICITY 28:20-N0-56-
TRANSPORTATION 002
Abstract.........................................................2
Summary.......................................................2
Content..........................................................4
Preface..........................................................1
Gratitude...................................................2
Executive Summary......................................2
Introduction..................................................4
General features........................................8
Setting.......................................................8
Physical layout..........................................9
Yard equipment.........................................9
Busbars....................................................10
Control systems.......................................11
Measurement systems.............................11
Protection systems..................................11
ground mesh............................................11
Auxiliary services...................................12
Civil works in an electrical substation....12
Methodology...............................................13
Results........................................................17
Analysis of the results.................................37
Conclusions................................................41
recommendations........................................43
Appendices.................................................45
Annexes......................................................50
References..................................................57
Figure 9 . Part of the index of the document on Construction

Requirements for Electrical Substations.
The Electrical Substation Design Aspects • Scope
document, which is part of the Quality Management • Responsible
and Inspection Plan, is a manuscript that contains • Checklist Application
all the design considerations present in the • List summary tables
Substation Construction Manual and also adds all
those comments to it. and design observations that The purpose of the previous sections within
interviewees cited in their meetings. the lists is to introduce the person who will use
This Design Aspects document is divided them. It seeks to establish in advance certain
into civil, electrical and mechanical areas, but with topics, objectives and ways of applying them.
the same topics contained in the Substation The lists contain a series of questions,
Construction Manual. This is so that new which are answered directly, with a “yes”, “no” or
professionals can be guided by it when delving into your comment. These questions refer to all the
the content. construction requirements established in its
A figure with its cover is presented below, reference document (Construction Requirements
since its content is too extensive to be placed in this for Electrical Substations).
place (see appendix 2). The checklists are divided in the same way
as their reference document. The purpose of this
division is to easily locate the inspector within the
reference document and the field work, applying in
the same way the checklists corresponding to the
work to be inspected.
The quality management and inspection
plan contains a checklist for each topic developed
in the Construction Requirements for Electrical
Substations document, for a total of 70 checklists.
As aspects to take into account within the
checklists, the following can be mentioned:
• Activity
• List number
• Reference document
• Item to inspect
• Element ID
• Project to inspect
• Parameters to verify
• Identification of inspected parameter
Figure 10 . Cover of the document on Design Aspects in

Electrical Substations.
As tools in the Quality Management and

Inspection Plan in the Construction of Electrical
Substations, there are Lists of
Verification for the Construction of Substations.

These lists contain an introductory
document, which is made up of the following
sections:
• Introduction
• Purpose
DESIGN OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INSPECTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
4
0
• Condition of inspected parameters Figure 11 . Cover of the document on Checklists in the
• Inspection Comment
Construction of Electrical Substations.
• Inspection date
• Person(s) responsible for the inspection
• Signature of the inspectors
• Lot number (for bills of materials)
• Delivery date (for bills of materials)
• Supplier (for bills of materials)
These lists must be filed every time an

inspection is carried out, so their proper order in the field
or office will be essential.
Below is a series of figures that represent the
cover, index and typical structure of the checklists. To
analyze the document Checklists for the Construction of
Electrical Substations (see Appendix 3), you can delve
into the contents of this document.
Analysis of the
results
Figure 12 . Checklists in the Construction of Electrical

Substations.
The results obtained with the design of a Quality Management and Inspection Plan in the
Construction of Electrical Substations are the comment, the problem begins to be stated, in this
product of the necessary requirements by the way the weakness found in the current document is
Electricity Transportation Strategic Business Unit in sought to be reinforced.
its Network Expansion process (UEN TE), to For the civil area interviews, it can be
guarantee the quality of its projects in electrical observed in detail in the tables (tables 1 to 8), how
substations, carried out by the unit's external the construction activities of earthworks,
agents. foundations of major/minor structures, works
As part of this work, the Substation associated with the power transformer and
Construction Manual was analyzed, which is the drainage, They are the activities with the most
only current document to establish construction observations. For the other construction processes,
parameters, by this unit, towards the builders of its the variation in observations is appreciated,
projects. especially in those civil issues that are shared with
The previous document became for the the mechanical and electrical area. These
UEN TE a tool against itself, since this document is variations are mainly due to a lack of training in
outdated in most of its topics. This outdated nature these topics on the part of civil or construction
causes the construction companies of the UEN TE engineers, as could also be present, the lack of
projects to take some type of advantage in terms of communication and organization between
the gaps found in the Substation Construction professionals from the different areas of
Manual document, thus failing to comply with many engineering.
quality construction aspects. that the unit needs, We can also see which jobs are most
since they are not established in the Substation important to the interviewees, which correspond to
Construction Manual. It is important to remember earthworks, foundations and drainage. These works
that the current manual is a mandatory document seem to be of vital importance, since they are
attached to the contracts that the UEN TE related to the substation yard and directly influence
establishes with its builders and that it is also the the mechanical and electrical work of the equipment
base document to carry out the inspection of works and systems to be in the yard. Construction
and qualify the products received by the unit. problems and lack of quality in the work in the
As one of the solutions to the above, a substation yard will cause delays, economic losses
series of field visits and interviews are carried out and complications in the projects.
with professionals dedicated to the construction, As can be seen in the civil interview tables
inspection and maintenance of electrical (tables 1 to 8), the other civil activities are those
substations. These field visits and interviews with that contain the fewest observations. As an
professionals on the subject seek to update the example of this, we have the construction work on
construction requirements of the current manual buildings ( MetalClad and Bucker ), which do not
and, at the same time, identify construction seem to have many construction requirements to
processes not established in the Substation update or improve by the interviewees, but which,
Construction Manual. like the substation yard, contain a series of
According to what is derived from the equipment. and electrical systems vital for the
interviews (see annexes 1, 2, 3), the tables present operation of the electrical substation. It is for this
in the results section of this work are created reason that poorly observed activities must be
(tables 1 to 14). In these tables you can see the reinforced, since all work or structure in the
observations made by the different people substation is vital for its operation.
interviewed; Although the tables only present the Within the civil interview tables (tables 1 to
main topic of the observation or comment, it can be 8), there are the results of the observations made to
seen how more than one interviewee has the materials to be used in the construction of a
observations on the same topic, but if the interviews substation, so you can see how the steel and
are analyzed in more detail (see annexes 1, 2, 3), it cement aggregates are the most commented, which
can be Observe the similarity of what the shows their importance in the project. For the other
interviewees said about the same situation. materials, it is observed that the majority of
The above clearly reflects that there are professionals do not have observations of them,
problems on the topic under investigation. When an which is why this issue must be reinforced in the
interviewee makes an observation about the new construction requirements.
construction requirements raised in the current For the interviews in the mechanical and
manual and other professionals make the same electrical area, it can be seen through their tables
(tables 9 to 14), how the topics of general Electrical Substations document is created with the
requirements for the contractor and the topic of purpose of safeguarding the design aspects found
power equipment are the ones that contain the and that are indirectly part of the Quality Control
most observations. . In the electrical area, the and Inspection System in the Construction of
greater agreement of observations by those Electrical Substations, since these aspects The
interviewed is considerably appreciated on the design results found in this research will be taken
subject of the ground mesh and grounding of by the UEN TE in the future to create an entire
equipment and structures. Other electrical topics regulation that standardizes the subject of electrical
that contain a large number of observations are the substation design.
topics of general electrical systems and In the interviews and visits carried out, the
intermediate boxes. design comments made by the different
The other electromechanical topics contain interviewees are appreciated. The interviews were
few observations, in addition to the fact that each formulated and directed towards the important
observation is very varied among those interviewed. construction points, but comments on design
As a result of the same interviews and field aspects were inevitable. The importance of
visits, variations in the construction process and obtaining as a result a document with design
installation of electrical equipment and systems considerations arises when it is determined (with
within the substations are determined (see annexes the help of interviews and visits) that the Substation
1, 2, 3). According to the results obtained, more Construction Manual was used as an aid on site to
constructive changes are determined in the civil provide solutions to problems that the plans and the
area, but in the electromechanical area, a greater design was not clearly established. The above
update of the requirements established in the shows that there are major design and plan
current manual (Substation Construction Manual) is problems for the construction of electrical
presented. substations.
The above is due to the fact that the civil As a solution to the problem of
area of the Substation Construction Manual was guaranteeing the quality product that the UEN TE
poorly supported by constructive requirements, but needs in its projects, the design of a Quality
contrary to the civil area, the electromechanical Management Plan in the Construction of Electrical
sections have well defined in their prose, the Substations was carried out with all the previous
constructive aspects to be considered in the works.
installation of equipment and electrical systems The system is made up of the document of
within the substation. The tables belonging to the Construction Requirements in Electrical
electrical and mechanical interviews reflect what Substations, which is the fundamental pillar of this,
was previously said, since you can see the few encompassing in it all the updated and current
observations made by the professionals on this quality requirements, which are used in the
topic and by further analyzing the interviews (see construction of substations. electrical.
annexes 1 and 2), it will be possible to verify that The purpose of the previous document is to
the majority Part of the professionals' comments direct the external organizations or companies in
refers to the updating of specific topics. charge of the construction of substations, for their
As part of the analysis and study of the proper development. In addition, an evaluation of
Substation Construction Manual (current the work is carried out with the help of the same
document), a large number of design specifications document, using it as support to express
established within this document are identified. disagreement with the quality of the products.
The civil area of the previous manual is the As a practical and legal tool for evaluating
section that presents the greatest number of design the construction requirements established in the
aspects. Its electrical and mechanical part also quality control and inspection system, checklists are
present these aspects but in smaller quantities. created. Therefore, a structure, equipment or
All design aspects, found in the Substation system is not considered satisfactory until it meets
Construction Manual, as well as in the interviews all the points established in the different lists. In
and visits carried out (see annexes 1, 2, 3), are addition, the lists help to evaluate a material,
established in the document on Design Aspects in structure, equipment or electrical system in a quick
the Construction of Electrical Substations (see and efficient way, without having the need to delve
appendix 2). into the writing of its reference document. Also with
The Design Aspects in the Construction of these lists, through the names and signatures of the
inspectors, as well as the date of the inspection, based, mainly, on establishing an evaluation
there is support for the conformity of the product, committee, where this group is made up of a series
which was evaluated by a series of professionals, of professionals around the topic of the standard
who, in the event of problems, In what was and they evaluate the proposal, making comments
inspected, the reason for the mishap can be and changes that they consider important. Once the
investigated. standard is accepted and modified by each member
The document on Design Aspects in the of the committee, it can be imposed as a mandatory
Construction of Electrical Substations must be standard at the institutional level.
added to the Quality Management and Inspection Due to the entire previous procedure, only
Plan, which in due course will be a finished the leaders of the UEN TE will be able to present
document and incorporated into this system. said Quality Management and Inspection Plan in
The Quality Management and Inspection the Construction of Electrical Substations to the
Plan in the Construction of Electrical Substations institution and the evaluation committee.
has two important limitations, one of which is that Furthermore, the time necessary to perform the
the management plan only applies to the procedure is outside the period established for
construction of conventional substations and not to professional practice.
other types, including gas-encapsulated
substations. SFG6 (GIS) which will begin to be
promoted in the country by the end of 2012, on
behalf of the UEN TE. This type of encapsulated
substation has never been implemented in the
country, but for the proper functioning of the Quality
Management and Inspection Plan, close updates
must be made so that all types of substations in the
UEN TE are covered.
The most important limitation of the Quality
Management and Inspection Plan is the non-
implementation of said system. For this purpose, it
must be applied completely and satisfactorily in the
construction of an electrical substation. This type of
project has an approximate execution period of 2
years, so for the purposes of this graduation
project, the implementation of the management
plan cannot be carried out, due to the execution
time of the work. Furthermore, in the period of
research and study of this topic, the projects by the
unit were in the final stages of their construction. It
is clear then that the document on Construction
Requirements in Electrical Substations and the
Checklists could not be implemented.
The documents of the Quality Management
and Inspection Plan in the Construction of Electrical
Substations were written following the internal
regulations for the preparation of institutional
standards. This is a regulation to follow so that any
new standard is accepted as such, but it is not
possible to establish the necessary procedures to
convert the construction specifications of electrical
substations into mandatory regulations in the Costa
Rican Institute of Electricity .
The above is due to the fact that in this
institution, an entire procedure is carried out to
accept a proposal or modification of some
institutional regulation. The previous procedure is
Conclusions
As fundamental conclusions of this requirements. For the current specifications

work has the following: of the electromechanical area, there is to a
large extent an update of them, since their
• Outdating is evident of the construction processes or installation of
construction specifications of electrical equipment and systems have not
electrical substations through of the changed much over time.
interviews conducted with professionals on
the subject and field visits. It is determined that the activities of
transportation, storage, lifting and
• It is determined that in the civil area, earth installation of the different materials,
moving activities, foundations of accessories, equipment and electrical
major/minor structures and drainage, are systems of a substation are strongly
the activities that were found with the established by their manufacturer. If what
greatest construction errors, in addition to is established by the manufacturer is not
the quality of the materials used in this complied with step by step, the different
area being of little importance for the elements mentioned above lose their
majority of the professionals consulted. In factory warranty, representing million-dollar
the mechanical area, the general losses to the project developer. Therefore,
requirements for equipment installation and what is established in the documents of the
work on power equipment are the Quality Management and Inspection Plan
processes with the most problems. For the in the Construction of Electrical
electrical branch, the ground mesh and the Substations are only basic requirements to
grounding of equipment and structures are follow.
the construction tasks that the interviewees
established as being most outdated. The Design criteria present in the current
ground mesh, along with the landing, were specifications and also in the interviews
the areas with and visits carried out for the development
more coincidence between the of the topic were identified. A great
interviewed. problem is determined around the design
issue, since the interviewees expressed
• HE they determined to through of their concern about the design
considerations that were not being taken
field checks and interviews, variations in
construction processes in electrical into account for this work. It can be
substation projects, which were not concluded that the problem in design is
contemplated in the current construction equal to or greater than that found in the
specifications. The above is strongly outdated construction activities of the
expressed in the specifications of the civil current specifications. Furthermore, a lack
area, since there is a section with few of information is evident in the construction
construction requirements and more design plans of electrical substations.
develop high quality products in the

• It is determined that the Quality Management construction of electrical substations in the
and Inspection Plan in the Construction of country. It is determined that the document of
Electrical Substations is a fundamental and Construction Requirements in Electrical
essential system to achieve the satisfactory Substations is the fundamental pillar of the
and engineering application of the new and aforementioned system, this document is the
updated construction requirements, this to
one that protects the quality in the development
of electrical projects by the Electricity
Transportation Strategic Business Unit.
Therefore, checklists are established as
complementary tools to the requirements
document. These become the practical part of
your reference document, in addition to being
the legal means to proceed with product quality
claims.
• It is determined that the approach to the

procedures to convert the Quality Management
and Inspection Plan in the Construction of
Electrical Substations into institutional
regulations can only be established by the
leaders of the UEN TE, so the author of the
plan management does not have the
authorization to carry out said procedure, in
addition to the fact that it falls outside the
period of application of professional practice.
recommendations
At the end of all the work previously outlined, the meaningless tools. As an important aspect
for carrying out updates, it must be
following recommendations are generated: considered that electrical substations
contain high-tech equipment and systems,
• Due to the number of regions into which which changes considerably over the
years.
the Electricity Transportation Strategic
Business Unit is divided, in addition to the With the design of the Quality Management
diversification of construction processes and Inspection Plan in the Construction of
that was found when carrying out this work, Electrical Substations, an intense change
more interviews and field visits to the is made in the way of supervising electrical
different regions must be generated. of the substation projects, but this change should
country, this in order to achieve an be only the beginning of a total change.
increase in the current construction Studies and analysis on contractual
specifications used in the construction of aspects, design and construction plans
electrical substations. This work will also must be generated by the UEN TE; which
facilitate the acceptance of regulations by will be within the same quality
the different regions, directly increasing the management and inspection plan.
standardization of construction processes
and installation of electrical equipment and As a suggestion to the department, the
systems. The above will also achieve the hiring of more personnel is proposed to do
identification and evaluation of the a better job of supervising the different
problems or weaknesses that are being projects managed by the unit, since it only
generated in the different regions of the has three people to supervise all the
UEN TE. projects in electrical substations and, in
addition, the electrical transmission lines.
• In addition to carrying out new searches for Without hiring more personnel, the quality
construction requirements, the compilation of supervision of
of design considerations that professionals
from the different engineering areas want
to express must begin in a more intense
way. This information collected will serve
as a basis for generating new regulations
around the subject. Furthermore, it is
important to remember that in addition to
design problems, there are many problems
related to the lack of detail and
specification of the construction plans.
• To guarantee the optimal and engineering

functioning of the Quality Management and
Inspection Plan in the Construction of
Electrical Substations, it must be
implemented on a trial basis before being
presented to the institution's standardizing
committee, to make the necessary
changes and ensure proper functioning. of
the same. Furthermore, after normalization,
it must be updated at least every two
years, this to prevent the management plan
from becoming obsolete and just being
Electrical projects will become
increasingly poor.
• An institutional change must be generated,

but even more so unity, to suppress
resistance to change, forming a pleasant
environment for the new modifications
that are to be implemented in the
institutional processes. In addition, a way
to streamline administrative processes
must be sought within the unit. Not being
open to change and hindering processes
generate a work environment that is
unproductive and full of errors. If you
want to have a change in the quality of
projects, you must start from within.
Appendices
The appendices present in this section represent

the main products of this work, which are shown
below.
Appendix 1
Appendix 1 contains the document on Construction

Requirements in Electrical Substations, which is
part of the Quality Control and Inspection System in
the Construction of Electrical Substations.
Appendix 2
Appendix 2 contains the Aspects in Electrical

Substations document, which is part of the Quality
Control and Inspection System in the Construction
of Electrical Substations.
Appendix 3
Appendix 3 contains the Checklists for the

Construction of Electrical Substations document,
which is part of the Quality Control and Inspection
System in the Construction of Electrical
Substations.
Appendix 1
Construction Requirements in Electrical Substations.
DESIGN OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INSPECTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
Appendix 2
Design Aspects in Electrical Substations.
Appendix 3
Checklists in the Construction of Electrical Substations.
48 DESIGN OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INSPECTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
Annexes
The annexes present here are the result of the different interviews carried out with professionals
in the civil, electrical and mechanical areas; which are presented below:
Appendix 1
Interviews carried out in the civil area with different professionals on the subject.
Appendix 2
Interviews carried out in the mechanical area with different professionals on the subject.
Annex 3
Interviews carried out in the electrical area with different professionals on the subject.
Exhibit
50
Civil area interviews – Electrical Substations
Append
ix 2
Mechanical area interviews – Electrical
Substations
Append
ix 2
Electrical area interviews Substations
Electrical
Append
ix 2
Photographs of field visits.
References
Arroyo, G. 2011. SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION

MANUAL: Civil area interview . San José,
Sabana. Personal communication.
Calderon, G. 2011. CONSTRUCTION MANUAL

OF
SUBSTATIONS: Electrical and
mechanical area interview . Guanacaste,
Tilarán. Personal communication.
Calvo, M. 2011. SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION

MANUAL: Civil area interview . Carthage,
Tejar. Personal communication.
Chavarría, K. 2011. MANUAL OF

CONSTRUCTION OF
SUBSTATIONS: area interview
civil . Alajuela, Naranjo. Personal
communication
Coto, S. 2011. SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION

MANUAL: Electrical and mechanical
area interview . San José, Sabana.
Personal communication.
Lopez, J. 2011. SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION

MANUAL: Civil area interview . San José,
Abstract 2
Summary 2
Content 4
Preface 1
Gratitude 2
Executive Summary 2
Introduction 4
General features 8
Setting 8
Physical layout 9
Yard equipment 9
Busbars 10
Control systems 11
Measurement systems 11
Protection systems 11
ground mesh 11
Auxiliary services 12
Civil works in an electrical substation 12
Methodology 13
Results 17
Analysis of the results 37
Conclusions 41
recommendations 43
Appendices 45
Annexes 50
References 57
SUBSTATIONS: Civil, electrical and

mechanical area interview . San José,
Pérez, S. 2011. SUBSTATION CONSTRUCTION

MANUAL: mechanical area interview .
Carthage, Tejar.
Personal communication
Ramirez, J. 1991. HIGH AND EXTRA HIGH

VOLTAGE SUBSTATIONS . Colombia:
Editorial Mejías Villegas SA
Ramirez, A. 2011. CONSTRUCTION MANUAL OF

SUBSTATIONS: Electrical and
mechanical area interview . San José,
Colima. Personal communication.
Raull, J. 1992. DESIGN OF ELECTRICAL

SUBSTATIONS . Mexico: McGraw - Hill
Editorial.
Abstract.........................................................2
Summary.......................................................2
Content..........................................................4
Preface..........................................................1
Gratitude...................................................2
Executive Summary......................................2
Introduction..................................................4
General features........................................8
Setting.......................................................8
Physical layout..........................................9
Yard equipment.........................................9
Busbars....................................................10
Control systems.......................................11
Measurement systems.............................11
Protection systems..................................11
ground mesh............................................11
Auxiliary services...................................12
Civil works in an electrical substation....12
Methodology...............................................13
Results........................................................17
Analysis of the results.................................37
Conclusions................................................41
recommendations........................................43
Appendices.................................................45
Annexes......................................................50
References..................................................57
SUBSTATIONS: Civil area interview .

San José, Sabana. Personal
communication.
Electrhygit. (2011). ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES: electronic
reference.
Retrieved April 23, 2011, from
http://elctrhiguita.blogspot.com
Global Engineering Corporate. (2011). SUBSTATIONS:

reference
electronics. Retrieved April 21, 2011, from
http://gecca.wordpress.com
Electrical holders. (2011). GENERAL PROVISIONS:

electronic reference . Retrieved April 19, 2011,
from www.portalelectricos.com
Peru University. (2011). TERMS ABOUT ELECTRICITY:

reference
electronics . Retrieved April 20, 2011, from
www.universidadperu.com .
Wordreference. (2011). DICTIONARY OF THE

LANGUAGE SPANISH :
reference
electronics . Retrieved April 19, 2011, of
www.wordreference.com/definition
OFFICIAL LAYOUT FOR TECHNICAL RESEARCH REPORTS 58

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Design of a quality

With the design of the Quality

Keywork; System, control, quality, construction, checklist.

PEDRO LUIS SUAREZ VARGAS

Final graduation project to opt for the Bachelor's degree in

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF COSTA RICA

Eng. Ana Grettel Leandro Hernández,

Eng. Miguel Artavia A, reading professor of

• Eng. Marco Calvo Araya.

Figure 4. Example of physical layout in an electrical substation.

• Type of metallic and sectioning

4Ramirez, C. High and Extra High Voltage Substations.

Ramirez, C. High and Extra High Voltage Substations.

• Alberto L. Ramírez Alpízar: Mainly the Tejar substation was visited,

For the Electricity Transportation Strategic Business

Figure 7 . Part of the index of the Substation Construction .20

José Carlos López

• There are no observations x x

• Compaction and support capacity tests x x x

• Similar major and minor structures x x

• Vegetative layer in structures x x

• Rails on the transformer x

• Drainage of slopes, waste dumps and x x x

José Carlos López

• Specification of the work to be carried out x x

• Cutting, welding and laying of mesh pipes x x

• Transformer support structures x x

• Stay away from buildings. x x

• Follow what is established in earthworks x x x

José Carlos López

• Storage of aggregates and materials x x

• Tools to use in jobs x x

• Material, uses and formal work x x x x

• Storage and conditions of steel in the field x x x x

• Verticality tolerances on walls x x x x

• Constructive metrology of plasters x x

José Carlos López

Silvio Pérez Águila

• Approval of materials, tools and equipment x x

• Landing of equipment and structures x

Silvio Pérez Águila

• There are no observations x

• Installation, handling and storage x x

• Construction sequence and installation x

• Landing of equipment in control rooms x

• Tests to the ground mesh system x

Alberto Lauro – Carlos

• Transformer support structures x x x

• Metal support structure x x x

• Installation of condensing units x

• Installation of evaporation units x

BOARDS AND EQUIPMENT CABINETS

• Sealing of pipes and others x x

Alberto Lauro – Carlos

• General and electromechanical x x

• General checks for lightning rods x x

• Electromechanical tests on power x

• Ground mesh electromechanical tests x