The Power Grid Branch of the Central Southern China Power Institute (CSEPDI) began using Bentley Substation Solution, a new product that enables 3D design for electrical substations. The institute operates substations in the +/- 300kV to +/- 800 kV range which are the largest investments in the organization.

CSEPDI has designed substations at Jiangxia, Yulong and Qingdao using the new approach with the goal of reducing the size of the areas needed. Often larger areas are needed in the planning stages because of the inherit 3D needs in the process. Until now this has been conducted using 2D methods, necessitating the larger area to ensure the 3D aspects could be accomodated.

Using Bentley Substation Solutions, a 3D collaborative process was initiated that enabled designers and structural participants to work together. 3D reduces unnecessary design and helps to reveal clashes between infrastructure components quickly.

Reducing margins of clearance to standard sizes and aspects also increases design efficiency. The optimized switchyard has achieved between 1.7 and 2.1% reductions in physical land requirements and have also reduced the design time by about 20%.

These substations have provided CSEPDI with greater efficiency for large infrastructure that takes about 9 months from time of conception to completion.