“ION_IN_SUTTCHSEAR From tine to tine questions have been raised on the subject of condensation in svitchgear. The folloving discussion is presented to define the conditions under vhich condensation can occur end thereby to develop means for prevention, A cubie foot of air ot a given tenpereture will retain known maximus amount of moisture, This is referred to as its saturation level, At 9 lever teupersture the maximum moisture content which can be retained is less, should gaturated air be subjected to even a slight drop in tenperature the excess moisture will be condensed out until equiltbriun is established at the new saturation level corresponding to the lower temperature. the reletive humidity of air is an index of the actual qumntity of moisture contained in the oir at a given ambient temperature compared to the saturation level et that sone teaperature. For every conbination of anbient tenpereture and relative hunidity there is # specific lover temperature at which condensation will cecur. ‘This ts known at the DEWPOINT. The attached family of curves con be used to determine the dev-point if the mbient temperature and relative hunidity are known. tn a switchgeer assenbly it is important that air ot high relative hunidicy is not trapped during @ period when surrounding anbient tenperature ts ‘falling pecause condensation is likely to occur. This 1s accomplished by causing the giz to circulate, ‘This cfreuletion 1s of the convective type and is pronoted by the heating losses in the current carrying seabers. Where cireule bredkers ‘are not continuously closed and carrying current to cause convective afr circulation, auxiliary heaters are provided. The usual sized heaters ore ‘such thet they axe adequate for most conditions. They provide from 5 degrees to 9 dogrees F rise in air tenperacure over outside ambient thus prosoting eireulstion,If the rate of. the enbient temperature drop is higher than the rate of change of the air circulating in the switchgear, the air within the switchgear nay impinge on surfaces which are below its dew point tenperature and localized condensation will occur, This condition is more spt to be confined to the outer ground valls ard covers which are in direct contact with the anbient enviroment. The losses incident to significant current flow in conducting menbers usually maintain these circuit elenents at temperature levels well above dew point. There are sone applications where the electrical circuits are open and not carrying current or where the current level is at such a mall percentage of the rated level that the tenperature rise of the current carrying parts over anbient is very minimal. This helps to slow down the circulation of air through the switchgear maicing the equipment more sensitive to moisture con- densation for a given rate £ drop in aabient tenperature. It also increases the possibility that the temperature of exposed conducting parte will be below dew point. Condensation may then occur right on the conducting mesbers. ‘Although it has not been rigorously proven, observations seem to indicate 25% of continuous rated current is the Level below which the incidence of moisture condensation ts nore apt to occur even with auxiliary heaters energized. Ie should be noted that the condicions wherein condensation can cccur are fairly well defined ond are thereby Limited in occurence. So long as the rate of drop in temperature is slover than the rate of circulation of air through the equipsent, condensation will not occur even where hunidity exists at high levels over extended tine intervals. This is borne out by the tens of thousands of air breakers operating in hundreds of installations in many types of climate and environment throughout the world which have had né condensation problems.Where such problens have occurred there are often contiguous efreunstances hich have had a significant bearing on the incident, Blocked ventilation openings ~- either ingress or egress -~ have caused problens. Rain water collecting in pools adjacent to ventilation openings or even under the franes of outdoor switchgear has caused excessively high hunidity conditions to exist continuously. Breakers left standing open for long periods in the connected position are more apt to develop problens than those continuously cerrying current, Bus errangenents wherein feeders in wore active use are concentrated at one end of an assembly while those on much lover duty are concentrated at the opposite ené can be more susceptible to difficulty. Cable troughs which collect ground water or cable vaults which are’continuously damp can be the source of high humidity air even in locales where the normal atmospheric humidity te fairly average. These conditions of themselves do not cause condensation but they ineresse the risk that condensation will occur. qo avoid the problens which can occur due to condensation in switchgear aeverel important steps must be taken. Some of these are within the province of the supplier - designer; others by théir nature are the responsibility of the user, The designer mus Provide adequate ventilation openings. Entrance and exhaust openings are both required. Eliminate,wherever possible, oreas where dead air can accumslate. cs Eliminate,wherever possible, pockets in which water can collect. If pockets cannot be avoided provide drainage means. a. Provide means for promoting air circulation for all nomal operating modes under usual atmospheric conditions. e. Have available provisions for unusual operating conditions when they are specified.