Regelstations

Regelstations, also known as regulation stations, are facilities within utility networks where automatic regulation of a physical parameter is performed to maintain safety, reliability, and service quality. They occur in gas, water, and electrical systems and act as control points between sources of supply and the networks that feed end users.

In natural gas networks, a regelstation regulates gas pressure and flow delivered from transmission pipelines to distribution networks. Equipment typically includes pressure regulators or reducing valves, relief devices, filters, meters, and shut-off valves. The station is monitored and controlled remotely through SCADA or similar systems, with instrumentation for pressure, temperature, and flow.

In water systems, a pressure-regulating or pressure-reducing station lowers incoming pressure to suitable levels for distribution. It maintains stable pressure in a district, prevents pipe damage, and ensures service quality. Typical components are pressure-reducing valves, check valves, isolation valves, storage reservoirs, and sensors for pressure and flow, often managed via centralized controls.

In electrical networks, regelstations may refer to sites that regulate voltage or power flow at regional interfaces. They can host equipment such as transformers with on-load tap changers, voltage regulators, capacitor banks, reactors, and protective relays, coordinated by SCADA or energy management systems to maintain voltage profiles and system stability.

Operation is generally automatic or semi-automatic, with local control hardware and remote supervision. Redundancy and safety interlocks are commonly implemented, and regular maintenance, testing, and calibration are required to meet standards and ensure reliability.