Transcend Design Generator (TDG) for Wind Substation Design

Transcend Design Generator (TDG) for Wind Substation Design

Introduction

The growing demand for renewable energy, especially wind power, has brought a surge in the need for efficient and reliable substations to support wind farms. Designing substations that effectively integrate wind energy into the grid requires precision, flexibility, and rapid execution. This case study explores how the Transcend Design Generator (TDG) was used to streamline and optimize the design process for a wind substation, providing efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings.

Background
Our client, a renowned renewable energy company, aimed to expand its wind energy portfolio by developing a new wind farm in southern India. The project required the construction of a 132 kV substation to integrate the generated wind energy into the national grid. Traditionally, substation design involves a long, manual process with significant risks of human error, leading to potential delays and higher costs.


Renowned renewable energy company sought an innovative approach that could:
-Accelerate the design process without compromising on quality.
-Optimize the substation layout for efficiency and reliability.
-Reduce costs associated with design changes and delays.


To achieve these goals, the renowned renewable energy company partnered with Transcend, utilizing their Transcend Design Generator (TDG) software, a cloud-based automated design tool specifically built to handle complex energy infrastructure projects.

Complexity of Wind Substation Design: Wind substations must be designed to accommodate varying power outputs from turbines, changing wind patterns, and potential grid fluctuations. This requires highly detailed planning and precise electrical configurations.

Time Constraints: The project had tight deadlines to ensure the substation would be ready in time to match the commissioning of the wind farm. Traditional design processes, which could take several months, were not feasible.

Cost Control: Any delays or errors in the design phase would increase the overall cost of the project. The client wanted to mitigate these risks through a streamlined, automated solution.

TDG is an advanced automated engineering software platform that generates detailed designs for substations and other energy infrastructure. It leverages a vast database of standardized design elements while remaining flexible enough to customize designs according to specific project needs.

Key Features of TDG for Wind Substation Design:

  • Automated Electrical and Structural Design: TDG automates the process of designing electrical configurations and substation layouts, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and efficiency standards.
  • Real-Time Scenario Analysis: The tool allows engineers to test different design scenarios in real time, optimizing the substation layout and electrical flows for maximum reliability and performance.
  • Customizable Parameters: TDG allows project-specific customization, such as wind turbine capacity, distance to grid, and terrain conditions, ensuring a tailored substation design.
  • Cloud-Based Collaboration: Multiple stakeholders, including engineers, project managers, and subcontractors, can collaborate in real time, reducing the back-and-forth of traditional design processes. 

Once a reowoned renewable energy company provided their project specifications, the TDG team set up the initial design parameters, including:

  • Capacity Requirements: The substation had to accommodate a 150 MW wind farm with the potential for future expansion.
  • Grid Integration Specifications: The substation needed to connect to a 132 kV transmission line with specific protection and control systems.
  • Site Conditions: The location’s geographic and environmental factors were considered, including terrain, wind speed variability, and proximity to other infrastructure.

TDG generated a preliminary substation design within a matter of days. The design included:

  • Detailed one-line diagrams of the electrical systems.
  • Complete 3D models of the substation layout, including transformer bays, switchgear, and control buildings.
  • Protection and control schemes customized for wind energy integration.
  • Bill of materials and cost estimates based on real-time data. 
  1. Significant Time Savings The TDG tool reduced the design time from months to just weeks. The ability to generate multiple design iterations quickly enabled reowoned renewable energy company to finalize the design within the project timeline, ensuring there were no delays in the construction phase.
  2. Optimized Substation Layout Through scenario testing and real-time adjustments, the TDG platform produced an optimal layout for the substation. This minimized land use and reduced material costs while maximizing operational efficiency. The electrical design also ensured minimal power losses during transmission, increasing the overall performance of the wind farm.
  3. Cost Reduction The automated design process helped eliminate human errors and reduced the number of required design revisions. The accurate bill of materials and cost estimates provided by TDG allowed reowoned renewable energy company to stay within budget. In addition, the optimized design led to a 15% reduction in overall construction costs, primarily due to efficient resource utilization.
  4. Increased Reliability The final substation design met all reliability and performance standards, ensuring seamless integration with the national grid. The protection and control schemes implemented by TDG minimized the risk of equipment failure and allowed for easy monitoring of grid performance.
  5. Future-Proofing TDG enabled the inclusion of design elements that allow for future expansion of the substation without the need for significant overhauls. This was crucial for reowoned renewable energy company long-term plans to scale its renewable energy capacity in the region.


Lessons Learned

  • Automation Drives Efficiency: Using an automated design tool like TDG significantly speeds up complex projects without sacrificing quality. Traditional methods of manual design and iteration are no longer sustainable in fast-paced renewable energy projects.
  • Scenario Testing Improves Outcomes: The ability to test different design scenarios in real time allows for better decision-making and optimal use of resources. This leads to designs that are both cost-effective and reliable.
  • Collaboration is Key: TDG’s cloud-based collaboration tools ensure that all stakeholders are aligned throughout the design process, reducing delays caused by miscommunication or misaligned objectives. 

Conclusion

The Transcend Design Generator (TDG) proved to be an invaluable tool in designing a wind substation for reowoned renewable energy company. The automation of design processes, coupled with real-time scenario testing and collaboration, resulted in a faster, more efficient, and cost-effective project.

With TDG, reowoned renewable energy company was able to meet its project deadlines, reduce costs, and create a substation design that will continue to support its wind farm's reliable operation for years to come.

As the renewable energy sector grows, tools like TDG will play an essential role in supporting rapid, sustainable expansion while ensuring efficiency and reliability in infrastructure development.