The PLUTON VCHS (Supply and Exhaust Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Heating System) is a comprehensive environmental control solution purpose-built for metro traction substations. Rather than a standalone temperature controller, it is a fully integrated system that combines multiple actuating mechanisms—chillers, air conditioners, blowers, fan coil units, convectors, pumps, and damper valves—with a dense sensor network and an industrial PLC-based control architecture. Its core mission is to maintain the specified microclimate conditions required for reliable, uninterrupted operation of critical electrical equipment such as transformers, switchgear, and battery systems.

System Architecture & Key Components

• Actuating Mechanisms: The system orchestrates chillers, air conditioners, blowers, fan coil units, convectors, pumps, damper valves, and air supply units to manage air exchange and temperature across multiple substation zones.
• Environmental Sensors: A comprehensive sensor network monitors temperature, pressure, humidity, air pollution, and dry-running conditions. This multi-dimensional data allows the system to detect equipment anomalies and automatically adjust cooling or heating outputs based on real-time demands rather than fixed schedules.
• Control Cabinets: All control and protection equipment is housed in dedicated metal cabinets. Three cabinet types are available—for switchgear rooms, transformer halls, and accumulator battery rooms—each providing overload and short-circuit protection tailored to the connected loads.

Control & Monitoring System

• Industrial PLC with HMI: The core of the system is a panel-mounted industrial logic controller with a built-in display and buttons. Operators can monitor real-time conditions, adjust setpoints, acknowledge alarms, and switch between automatic and manual control modes directly at the cabinet front panel.
• Remote SCADA Integration: The control system communicates with the substation's remote SCADA master station, transmitting all system status signals, alarm conditions, and equipment states. This enables unattended operation with centralized oversight—critical for modern metro networks where substations are often unstaffed.
• Automatic Fire-Alarm Response: Upon receiving a fire alarm signal from the substation's fire detection system, the VCHS automatically trips all connected blowers, air conditioners, fan coil units, and convectors. This prevents the ventilation system from feeding oxygen to a fire, a mandatory safety interlock for underground substation environments.

Technical Specifications

• Temperature Control Range: +16 °C (winter minimum in service premises) to +35 °C (summer maximum in transformer halls); specific thresholds vary by room type per design specifications.
• Typical Summer Setpoints: Switchgear rooms max. +30 °C; battery rooms max. +25 °C; transformer halls and cable cellars max. +35 °C; service premises max. +27 °C.
• Typical Winter Setpoints: Service premises min. +18 °C; battery rooms, switchgear rooms, cable cellars min. +16 °C.
• Communication: Hardwired remote alarm (dry contacts) with optional GSM backup channel for SCADA connectivity.
• Standards Compliance: Designed to meet IEC requirements for traction power supply installations; cabinets available with GOST 11677 and NEMA compliance upon request.

Applications

• Metro and light rail traction substation environmental control
• Transformer hall cooling and ventilation with automatic oil/winding temperature-based control
• Switchgear room and battery room air conditioning and humidity management
• Retrofit and modernization of existing substation HVAC systems (see PLUTON SHAOT transformer cooling control cabinets for standalone transformer cooling applications)