Compare single-bus and double-busbar switchgear: cost, flexibility, reliability, maintenance, and which bus arrangement suits what facility. Here, we provide an overview of common substation busbar configurations—Single Bus, Main and Transfer, Double Breaker/Double Bus, Ring Bus/Ring Main, and Breaker and a Half. Designing a substation involves not only the visible equipment and ratings but also the less apparent factors—operational. Compared to double busbar switchgear, single busbar switchgear is definitely easier to use, readily understood by operators, requires less space, and the total cost of installation is less (equipment, site procedures, maintenance, spares holding and space). As we know it is impractical to connect multiple conductors at one point. Because it is cheap and simple. The figure just below shows a single bus bar with a sectionalizing arrangement. The scheme works best when the incoming and outgoing circuits are distributed evenly across the sections.
[PDF Version]