Bairnsdale Substation REFCL

The Victorian Government has mandated the rollout of Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) installations across nominated Zone Substations across the AusNet Services network, including at Bairnsdale.

The Bairnsdale Zone Substation was established in the 1950s and supplies the town and surrounding areas including Lakes Entrance, Omeo, Bruthen and Nowa Nowa.

The station supplies 22,206 customers, via one large (20/33 MVA) transformer, three small (10/16 MVA) transformers and seven 22 kV distribution feeders. Key Project scope included:

• Demolition and removal of existing footings required for the installation of new concrete footings and bunded slab areas
• Two new Neutral Bus Kiosk footings & conduits
• Two No.1 Ground Fault Neutralisers (GFN) Arc Suppression Coil (ASC) environmental bunding, footings & conduits
• Modular REFCL Room Building footings, conduits & cable trenches
• 750 kVA Station Service Transformer footings, conduits and an ‘elephant trunk’ shaped duct system
• Removal of existing station service transformer and structures and footings and installation of a (1-off) No.3 750kVA Station Service
• Transformer footings, conduits and an ‘elephant trunk’ shaped duct system.