INTRODUCTIO

N
TO
SWITCHGEARS

INTRODUCTION
Switchgear is a generic term and
includes the entire range of switching
devices and their combination with
associated
control,
measuring,
protecting and regulating equipment.

INTRO-ctd
The assemblies of such devices and
equipment with associated interconnections, accessories, enclosures
and supporting structures, intended in
principle, for use in connection with
the
generation,
transmission,
distribution and conversion of electric
energy also form a switchgear.

INTRO-ctd
We are all familiar with low voltage
switches and re-wireable fuses in our
homes. A switch is used for opening and
closing an electric circuit while a fuse is
used for over-current and short-circuit
protection.
Every electric circuit needs a switching
device and a protective device. The
switching and protective devices have
been developed in various forms. Thus
switchgear can be taken as a general
term covering a wide range of
equipment concerned with the switching,
protection and control of various
electrical Equipments.

INTRO-ctd
Similarly, switching and current
interrupting devices play a significant
role in the modern electrical network,
right
from generating
stations,
transmission sub stations at different
voltages, distribution
sub-stations and load centres. The
switching device here is called a circuit
breaker.
The
circuit
breaker,
along
with
associated devices for protection,
metering and control regulation, is
called a switchgear.

INTRO-ctd
A

switchgear has to perform the

functions of carrying, making and
breaking the normal load current like
a switch. In addition, it has to perform
the function of clearing the fault
current for which sensing devices like
current
transformers,
potential
transformers and various types of
relays, depending on the application,
are employed.

INTRO-ctd
There also has to be provision for
metering,
controlling and data,
wherein innumerable devices are
used for achieving the switchgear
function.
Thus a switchgear can
include a circuit breaker, current
transformers,
potential
transformers, protective relays,
measuring instruments, switches,
fuses,
MCBs, surge arrestors, isolators and
various associated equipment.

NECESSITY
Switchgears are necessary at every
switching point in the power system for
the reasons mentioned above. There
are several voltage levels and fault
levels between the generating stations
and final
load points. Hence in the
various applications, the requirements of
switchgears vary depending on the
location, ratings and local requirements.
Besides the supply network, switchgear
is
required in industrial
works,
industrial
projects,
domestic
and
commercial buildings.

SWITHGEAR
CLASSIFICATION

Swithgears are broadly classified into;

Main Swithgears
Auxilliary swithgears
Main Switchgears are the equipment
concerned with the process of switching
and
isolating circuits in a power system.
These are Circuit Breakers, Isolators
(Disconnector or Disconnecting Switch),
Earthing Switches, Load Switches (Ring
Main Units) and Contactors

SWITHGEAR
CLASSIFICATION
Auxiliary Switchgears
are secondary or subsidiary
equipment which assist the main switchgear
equipment in the control, measurement, protection
and fault-clearing process. They includes protective
devices (such as protective relays, Lightning
arresters, feeder pillars and fuses), sensing devices
(ie instrument transformers), control /compensation
devices(series inductive reactors, shunt inductive
reactors, series capacitive reactors shunt capacitive
reactors) and auxiliary power supply devices like
tripping units (battery bank & charger)

Main Swithgears
Circuit breakers are mechanical
switching devices, capable of making,
carrying and breaking currents under
normal circuit conditions and also
making, carrying for a specified time
and breaking currents under specified
abnormal circuit conditions such as
those of a short circuit.
A circuit breaker is usually intended to
operate infrequently, although some
types are suitable for frequent
operation."

Main Swithgears
When a current is interrupted, an arc
is generated. This arc must be
contained, cooled, and extinguished
in a controlled way, so that the gap
between the contacts can again
withstand the voltage in the circuit.
Different
circuit
breakers
use
vacuum, air, insulating gas, or oil as
the medium the arc forms in.
Different techniques are used to
extinguish the arc.

Main Swithgears
Circuit breaker always trip the circuit but open
contacts of breaker cannot be visible physically
from outside of the breaker and that is why it is
recommended not to touch any electrical circuit
just by switching off the circuit breaker.
So for better safety there must be some
arrangement so that one can see open condition
of the section of the circuit before touching it.
Isolator is a mechanical switch which isolates a
part of circuit from system as when required.
Electrical isolators separate a part of the system
from rest for safe maintenance works.

ISOLATOR
An isolator - also called disconnector switch or simply
disconnector is basically a no-load switch design to
operate under no-load condition. They are generally
installed along with a circuit breaker and provide
isolation of a circuit for the purpose of maintenance,
especially on supply side of the circuit breaker. Isolator
opens only after the opening of the circuit breaker and
closes first before the C.B. Isolator is interlocked with
circuit breaker such that wrong operation is avoided.

ISOLATORcont
There are different types of isolators available
depending upon system requirement such as
Single Break Isolator
Double Break Isolator
Pantograph type Isolator

ISOLATOR

ISOLATOR

ISOLATOR

ISOLATOR

Pantograph Isolator

ISOLATOR
Rated Characteristics
Maximum voltage
Closing time
Dielectric Withstand
Ice Breaking Capability
Power Frequency
Mechanical Operations
Continuous current
Load interrupting current
Peak Withstand current
(peak Assym)
Short-time Withstand current
(sym)

ISOLATOR
Nameplate Data
Maker Name and
address

Type
Designation

number
Serial number

Frequency
Maximum Voltage
Continuous current
Allowable
continuous current
class

Peak withstand current

Short-time withstand
current
Short-time current
duration
Lightning impulse
withstand voltage (BIL)
Mechanical Operations
Load interrupting
current

Earthing switch
An Earthing switch is a device used to
discharged to earth any residual voltage
trapped on a line after its opening.
An Earthing switch is normally connected
between the line conductor and earth.
(Just before the isolator on line
conductor

Earthing switch
The sequence of operation while opening and
closing a circuit.
While Opening: (i) Open circuit breaker
(ii) Open isolator
(iii) Close earthing switch
While Closing: (i) Open earthing switch
(ii) Close isolator
(iii) Close circuit breaker

R.M.U
An R.M.U (Ring main Unit) is a load breaker switch (LBS)
capable of making and breaking current under normal condition.
They are capable of making but not breaking short circuit
current.
FUNCTIONS IN A POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Breaking rated current
Making rated current
Making specific short-circuit current
Carrying specific short-circuit current
Generally
1. Facilitates convenience looping distribution of electric
energy
2. Gives operational flexibility to the Distribution network
3. Improves voltage profile when the ring is fed at more than
one point.

CTs , VTs and Surge

Arrestors

Current Transformer
- step-down currents
for measurement, control & protection
Voltage Transformer - step-down voltages
for measurement, control & protection
Surge Arrestor /Lightning Arrester
discharge lightning and switching surges to earth
and control over voltages

OTHERS

Shunt reactor - control over voltages by providing reactive power

compensation
Neutral Grounding Reactor - Generally provided to Line
reactors to facilitate Auto-reclosing
Coupling capacitor or CVT - filter HF signals from high voltage
line & feed to PLCC equipment
Line(Wave) Trap - prevent high frequency signals from entering
in the other equipment.
Shunt capacitors - provide compensations to reactive loads of
lagging power factors
Series Capacitor- improve transmission capability
Direct stroke lightening
Protection (DSLP) - protect the outdoor substation equipment
from Direct Lightning strokes

Thank You

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

INTRODUCTION
HV circuit-breakers are among the most important equipment in
power systems. They are designed to use as interrupting devices
both in normal operation and during faults. It is expected that HV
circuit-breakers must be operated in any applications without
problems. Moreover, it is expected that they must be ready to be
operated at anytime, even after a long period of non-operating
time.
The main functions of HV circuit-breakers can be categorized
into four functions:
Switching-off operating currents
Switching-on operating currents
Short-circuit current interruption
Secure open and closed position

INTRODUCTION
Apart from the main functions, they are required to fulfil the
physical requirements as follows:
Behave as a good conductor during a closed position and as a
good isolator during an open position.
Change from the closed to open position in a short period of
time.
Do not generate overvoltages during switching.
Keep high reliability during operation.

INTRODUCTION
Components of HV circuit-breakers regarding basic functions
can be divided into five groups
1- Insulation:
The electric insulation of HV circuit-breakers is provided by a
combination of gaseous, liquid and solid dielectric materials. The
failure of insulation can lead to severe damage such as flashover
between phases, to ground or across the opening poles resulting
in major repair or replacement. In order to prevent such failures,
the insulation must be maintained and monitored.
2 - Current carrying:
The current carrying parts are significant components that assure
the flowing of current in the closed position. The failure of these
parts can lead to catastrophic events such as contact welding and
severe deterioration of the insulation system.

INTRODUCTION
3 - Switching:
During operation of HV circuit-breakers, they are subject to
electrical, thermal and mechanical stresses. It is required that
they should be able to make and break large amount of power
without causing failures.
4 - Operating mechanism:
The operating mechanism is a part used to move contacts from
open to closed position or inversely. The operating mechanism
failures account for a large proportion of total failures of HV
circuit-breakers.
5 - Control and auxiliary functions:
Control and auxiliary components are the parts controlled by
110-220 volts d.c. The signal is sent to the coil to move a latch or
open a valve leading to energy release of a mechanical drive.

CIRCUIT BREAKER TECHNOLOGY

High

voltage circuit breaker

technology has change over the
years. Most utility systems are
having mix population of bulk oil,
minimum oil, vacuum, air blast,
and SF6 circuit breakers
The SF6 circuit
breaker has
become the current state of the
art technology at transmission
voltages of 132Kv and above).

CIRCUIT BREAKER
TECHNOLOGY
However, SF6 gas has been identified as a
greenhouse gas, and safety regulations are
being introduced in many countries in order
to prevent its release into the atmosphere.
Vacuum circuit breaker has emerged as the
dominant technology in the medium voltage
range due to its superior features such as
long contact life, lack of maintenance
requirement,
low
operating
energy
requirement and high reliability.

Classification of Circuit
Breakers

There are quite a few ways to

classify
the
circuit
breakers.
However, the most general way of
classification is on the basis of
medium used for the arc extinction.
Other bases for the classification of
circuit breakers are summarized in
the flow chart on the next page.

Classification of Circuit
Breakers

Classification of Circuit
Breakers
Based on Voltage

On the basis of the voltage levels

for which they are used, the circuit
breakers are classified as listed in
table (with corresponding voltage
ranges of use).

Classification of Circuit
Breakers
Based on Location

Circuit breakers are, based upon

where they are located, classified
as, indoor and outdoor types.
Medium and low voltage breakers
are categorized as Indoor circuit
breakers,
whereas
the
circuit
breakers which have air as external
insulating medium are classified as
outdoor circuit breakers.

Classification of Circuit
Breakers
Based on External Design
Outdoor
circuit
breakers
can
be
identified as either dead tank or live tank
type circuit breakers, from the point of
view of their physical structural design.
In the dead tank circuit breakers, the
switching device is located, with suitable
insulator supports, inside a metallic
vessel at ground potential and filled with
insulating
medium.

Classification of Circuit
Breakers

In dead tank circuit breakers, the

incoming and outgoing conductors
are taken out through suitable
insulator bushings, and low voltage
type
current
transformers
are
located at lower end of both insulator
bushings, i.e. at the line side and the
load side as shown below.

Classification of Circuit
Breakers
In
live tank circuit breakers, shown

below, the
interrupter is located in an insulator
bushing, at
a potential above ground potential.
The live
tank circuit breakers are cheaper
(with no
current transformer), and require less
mounting
space.

Classification of Circuit
Breakers

Based on Interrupting Media

The interrupting media has been a
vital factor in the evolution of circuit
breakers. It dedicates the overall
design parameters of the breaker.
The choice of air and oil, as the
interrupting media, was predominant
till late 70s. but today, vacuum and
SF6
are
the
only
dominant
interrupting
technologies,
for
medium and high voltage segments
of circuit breaker design respectively.

arc extinction
The medium used for the arc extinction can
be:
Oil
Air
Vacuum
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
Accordingly, the circuit breakers may be
classified into following categories(which will
be treated in detail in the next presentation):
Oil Circuit Breakers
Air-blast Circuit Breakers
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) Circuit Breakers
Vacuum Circuit Breakers

Development of Circuit Breakers

RECAP

View of bulk oil circuit breaker,

Typical view of 36 kV MOCB and Cross-section of interrupting chamber

Vacuum interrupter

Thank You
Nagode.
Eseun.
Imeela.

Oil Circuit-Breakers
oil

circuit-breakers are the most fundamental circuit-breakers

which were first developed in 1900s. The first oil circuitbreaker was developed and patented by J. N. Kelman in the
United States. Oil has an excellent dielectric strength which
enables itself not only to be used as an interrupting medium
but also as insulation within the live parts. The interrupting
technique of oil circuit-breakers is called self-extinguishing,
since the oil can produce a high pressure gas when it is
exposed to heat resulting from arc. In other words, arc can be
cooled down by the gas produced proportional to arc energy.
During the arc interruption, the oil forms a bubble comprising
mainly hydrogen. It is found that arc burning in hydrogen gas
can be extinguished faster than other types of
gases