November 10, 2025: aerial footage of four prefabricated substation modules being crane-lifted and loaded onto the convoy — departing Zhongxin General’s Sichuan facility for the Yichuan LNG energy project site in Yan’an, Shaanxi.
Project Snapshot
| Product | 4-module prefabricated smart substation |
| Client | Yichuan Minghan Energy Co., Ltd. |
| Application | LNG energy station, Yichuan County, Yan’an, Shaanxi |
| Main Transformer | SZ20-16000/35 · 16,000 kVA · 35kV/10kV · OLTC |
| Energy Efficiency | GB 20052-2024 Grade 2 · EU 548/2014 Tier 2 compliant |
| Modules | 35kV switchgear · 10kV switchgear · secondary equipment · reactive power compensation |
| Dispatch Date | November 10, 2025 |
| Project Status | In operation — SCADA confirmed April 26, 2026 |
| Delivery | Two weeks ahead of contractual deadline |
The Challenge: Tight Schedule, Constrained Site
When Yichuan Minghan Energy approached Zhongxin General for the electrical infrastructure of their LNG energy station project, the constraints were clear from the first conversation: the site was limited in available space for conventional civil construction, the programme was compressed, and the client needed to reach commissioning as quickly as possible.
Zhongxin General’s engineering team evaluated the requirements and recommended a prefabricated modular substation solution — a factory-assembled approach that transfers the bulk of the construction work from the project site back to the controlled factory environment, dramatically reducing on-site installation time and civil works costs.
The decision proved correct. By the time the four modules arrived on site, installation amounted to little more than positioning and interconnection. The overall project timeline was shortened by several months compared to a conventional substation build — and Zhongxin General completed delivery two full weeks ahead of the contractual deadline, generating direct cost savings for the client.
Four-Module Architecture
The substation is structured around four independent prefabricated modules, each factory-assembled and pre-tested before dispatch:
Module 1 — 35kV Switchgear Prefabricated Unit High-voltage incoming equipment, protection relays, and metering — the grid interface for the entire substation.
Module 2 — 10kV Switchgear Prefabricated Unit Medium-voltage distribution switchgear for load-side power distribution to the LNG facility’s electrical systems.
Module 3 — Secondary Equipment Prefabricated Unit Protection and control systems, communication equipment, fault recording, and remote monitoring infrastructure — the intelligence layer of the substation.
Module 4 — 10kV Reactive Power Compensation Prefabricated Unit Power factor correction for the LNG facility’s load profile — maintaining power quality and reducing reactive power charges.
Main Transformer: SZ20-16000/35
The substation’s main transformer is the SZ20-16000/35 — a three-phase oil-immersed on-load tap-changing power transformer stepping 35kV down to 10kV for distribution throughout the LNG facility.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | SZ20-16000/35 |
| Rated Capacity | 16,000 kVA |
| Voltage | 35kV / 10kV |
| Tap Changer | On-load (OLTC) |
| No-Load Loss (P₀) | ≤ 8.5 kW |
| Load Loss (Pk) | ≤ 63.3 kW |
| GB Energy Efficiency | Grade 2 (GB 20052-2024) |
| EU Equivalent PEI | 99.705% — exceeds EU 548/2014 Tier 2 (99.663%) |
The transformer meets China’s GB 20052-2024 Grade 2 energy efficiency standard. When evaluated against the EU’s Commission Regulation 548/2014 methodology, the unit achieves a PEI of 99.705% — approximately 0.04 percentage points above the EU Tier 2 mandatory threshold of 99.663%, confirming full compliance with EU market entry requirements for this transformer class.
All engineering, manufacturing, and on-site installation for this project were completed entirely by Zhongxin General — no third-party subcontracting for any phase of the project.
Site Installation and Commissioning
Project Status: In Operation
On April 26, 2026, the client sent through a screenshot of the substation’s SCADA real-time monitoring display — the full main connection diagram showing all circuits in normal operation. The image speaks for itself: the substation dispatched in November 2025 is running reliably, supporting the Yichuan LNG energy station’s continuous operations.
Related Case Studies
Prefabricated Modular Substation — Aktau Port, Kazakhstan → Five-module prefabricated substation delivered 4,500 km overland to a Belt and Road port on the Caspian Sea.
16,000 kVA OLTC Transformer — 35kV Industrial Zone → The same SZ20-16000/35 transformer class in a dedicated industrial substation application.
3× Prefabricated Box Substations — PetroChina Luntai, Xinjiang → Oilfield-rated box substations for the Tarim oilfield core zone — IP54, seismic Grade 9, -30°C to +55°C.
About Zhongxin General
Zhongxin General (Sichuan Zhongxin General Electric Energy Co., Ltd.) is a National “Little Giant” Enterprise manufacturing oil-immersed and dry-type power transformers, switchgear, prefabricated substations, energy storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure. Our transformer portfolio covers 30 kVA to 100 MVA, configurable to voltage classes including 6kV, 10kV, 35kV, 66kV, 110kV, 120kV, and 132kV, in both GB and IEC/ANSI standard configurations for domestic and international projects.
→ Contact Our Engineering Team → Browse All Case Studies
