SWITCHGEARS

DEFINITION  For higher voltages (over about 66 kV),

A switchgear is composed of electrical
disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to
control, protect and isolate electrical equipment.
Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to
allow work to be done and to clear faults
downstream. This type of equipment is directly linked
to the reliability of the electricity supply.
Typically, switchgear in substations are located
on both the high- and low-voltage sides of large
power transformers. The switchgear on the low-
voltage side of the transformers may be located in a
building, with medium-voltage circuit breakers for
distribution circuits, along with metering, control, and
protection equipment. For industrial applications, a
transformer and switchgear line-up may be combined
in one housing, called a unitized substation (USS).
COMPONENTS
 Power conducting components, such as
switches, circuit breakers, fuses, and lightning
arrestors, that conduct or interrupt the flow
of electrical power.
 Control systems such as control panels,
current transformers, potential transformers,
protective relays, and associated circuitry,
that monitor, control, and protect the power
conducting components.
switchgear is typically mounted outdoors and
insulated by air, although this requires a large
amount of space.
 Gas-insulated switchgear saves space
compared with air-insulated equipment,
although the equipment cost is higher.
 Oil insulated switchgear presents an oil spill
hazard.
 Switches may be manually operated or have
motor drives to allow for remote control.
CIRCUIT BREAKER TYPES
 Oil Circuit Breakers
▫ Rely upon vaporization of some of the
oil to blast a jet of oil along the path
of the arc.
▫ The vapor released by the arcing
consists of hydrogen gas, forming a
bubble.
▫ This highly compressed gas bubble
around the arc prevents re-striking of
the arc after current reaches zero
crossing of the cycle. The oil circuit
breaker is one of the oldest type of
circuit breakers.
▫ The oil circuit breaker is one of the
oldest type of circuit breakers.

FUNCTIONS

 One of the basic functions of switchgear is

protection, which is interruption of short-
circuit and overload fault currents while
maintaining service to unaffected circuits.
 Switchgear also provides isolation of circuits
from power supplies.
 Switchgear is also used to enhance system
availability by allowing more than one source
to feed a load. Cutaway model of an oil-filled high-voltage circuit
breaker

 Air Circuit Breakers

HOUSING ▫ Air circuit breakers may use
compressed air (puff) or the magnetic
 Switchgear for lower voltages may be entirely
force of the arc itself to elongate the
enclosed within a building.
arc.
 SWITCHGEARS
▫ Circuit breakers are usually able to
terminate all current flow very
quickly: typically, between 30 ms and
150 ms depending upon the age and
construction of the device.
 Gas Circuit Breakers
▫ Gas (SF6) circuit breakers sometimes
stretch the arc using a magnetic field,
and then rely upon the dielectric
strength of the SF6 gas to quench the
stretched arc.
 Hybrid Switchgear
▫ Hybrid switchgear is a type which
combines the components of
traditional air-insulated switchgear
(AIS) and SF6 gas-insulated
switchgear (GIS) technologies. It is
characterized by a compact and
modular design, which encompasses
several different functions in one
module.
 Vacuum Circuit Breakers
▫ Circuit breakers with vacuum
interrupters have minimal arcing
characteristics (as there is nothing to
ionize other than the contact
material), so the arc quenches when it
is stretched by a small amount (<2–8
mm).
▫ Near zero current the arc is not hot
enough to maintain a plasma, and
current ceases; the gap can then
withstand the rise of voltage.
▫ Vacuum circuit breakers are
frequently used in modern medium-
voltage switchgear to 40,500 volts.
▫ Unlike the other types, they are
inherently unsuitable for interrupting
DC faults.
▫ The reason vacuum circuit breakers
are unsuitable for breaking high DC
voltages is that with DC there is no
"current zero" period. The plasma arc
can feed itself by continuing to gasify
the contact material.
 Carbon Dioxide Circuit Breakers
▫ Breakers that use carbon dioxide as
the insulating and arc extinguishing
medium work on the same principles
as a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) breaker.
▫ Because SF6 is a greenhouse gas
more potent than CO2, by switching
from SF6 to CO2 it is possible to
reduce the greenhouse gas emissions
by 10 tons during the product
lifecycle.
APPLICATION
The Ring Main Units are used in underground
cable distribution network at the load connection and
junction points of a ring-type distribution network.
Ring Main Units are also suited for use in the
following applications:
 Compact secondary substations
 Wind power plants
 Solar power plants
 Small industries
 Hotels, office buildings, residential housing
complex, shopping centers, business centers,
hospitals, airports etc.
ADVANTAGES OF USING SWITCHGEARS
The ring main unit is an innovative solution
that makes it easier to manage the numerous
challenges of electrical distribution. RMU is an all-in-
one solution and is safe, easy to install and
maintenance free switchgear helping the utilities
improve reliability & uptime of the network and
reduce the operational costs.
 Feature-Rich Compact Designs
▫ Ring Main Unit is an SF6 insulated
compact Switchgear equipped with
SF6 Switch disconnector and vacuum
circuit breaker. Its compact design
requires least possible space to install
and operate.
 Time and Cost Savings
▫ RMU is a complete switchgear and is
easy to install, saving installation and
commissioning time. Independent of
climate and resistant to
environmental conditions, the
operation and maintenance costs of
these units are also low.
 SWITCHGEARS
 Safety and Performance
▫ Modern compact design and latest
technology of the RMU ensure
complete safety, connectivity,
reliability, and efficiency.
 Smart Capabilities
▫ When fitted with Intelligent
Electronic Devices and
Communication capabilities the RMU
is easy to integrate with Distribution
Management System and in building
a Smart Grid solution.
PARTS OF CGM COSMOS SWITCHGEAR
 Tank:
▫ Busbar – Connects the single phase
bushings from the outside of the
cubicle to the breaking elements
within
▫ Switching Elements / Switch-
Disconnector – incorporates the
functions of switch, disconnector and
earthing switch in a single three
position unit
▫ Breaking Elements / Circuit-Breaker –
based on vacuum switch-
disconnector technology; the open
contact gap or across isolating
distance is ensured with the series
connection of a switch-disconnector
▫ Fuses – Kept horizontally in phase-
independent compartments and are
installed in a fuse holder carriage
▫ Fuse Holder Compartment – provides
insulation and sealing against
pollution, temperature changes and
adverse weather conditions. The
movement of the fuse striker is
transmitted to the tripping
mechanism from the inside
▫ Diaphragm – safely directs the output
of the gases in the event of an
internal arc
▫ Manometer – controls the pressure of
the insulating gas
 Driving Mechanism:
▫ Used to perform making and
breaking operations in the Medium
Voltage circuits
 Base:
▫ Cable Compartment – located in the
lower front section of the cubicle, has
a cover interlocked with the earthing
switch, allowing access to the MV
cables
 Other Parts:
▫ Ormalink – This connects the
different modules to one another
▫ Mimic Diagrams – includes the
position indicating the devices
▫ Bushings – the MV cables from the
outside are connected with this
SWITCHGEARS