LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

Module

01

Introduction of Switchgears

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage1of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

1.1

GENERALBACKGROUND Every electric circuit needs a switching device and a protective device. The switching and protectivedeviceshavebeendevelopedinvariousforms.Forexample,everyoneisfamiliarwith lowvoltageswitchesandrewirablefuses.Theswitchisusedforopeningandclosingtheelectric circuitandthefuseisusedforovercurrentprotection. Switches, fuses, circuitbreakers, isolators, relays, control panels, lightning arresters, current transformers, and various associated equipments. Switchgear is an essential part of a power systemandalsothatofanyelectriccircuit.Switchgearsarealsonecessaryateveryswitchingpoint inthepowersystem,seeFigure(1)).

Figure(1)LocationofSwitchgearsinaTypicalPowerSystem

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage2of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

Since,betweenthegenerationstationsandfinalloadpoints,thereareseveralvoltagelevelsand faultlevelshence,invariousapplications,therequirementsofaswitchgearvaryaccordingto: Location Ratings LocalRequirements. 1.2SUBSTATIONEQUIPMENT Ineveryelectricalsubstation,therearegenerallyvariousindoorandoutdoorswitchgear equipments.Eachoftheequipmentshascertainfunctionalrequirement(Table1). A CircuitBreaker is "a switching and currentinterrupting device". Basically, a circuit breakercomprisesasetoffixedandmovablecontacts.Athighvoltagesthesemayhninga circuit,whichatdomesticvoltagesistakenThecontactscanbeseparatedbymeansofan operatingmechanism.Theseparationofcurrentcarryingcontactsproducesanarc.Thearc isextinguishedbyasuitablemediumsuchasdielectricoil,air,vacuum,SF6gas.Thecircuit breakerservestwobasicpurposes: Switching during normal operating conditions, for the purpose of operation and maintenance. Switching during abnormal conditions, such as short circuits, and interrupting the faultcurrents. ProtectiveRelaysare"automaticdeviceswhichcansensethefaultandclosesitscontacts when the actuating quantity/quantities reach(s) certain predetermined values to send instructions to the associated circuitbreaker toopen". Every part of the power system is providedwithaprotectiverelayingsystemandanassociatedswitchingdevice. Isolators are "disconnecting switches which can be used for disconnecting a circuit under nocurrent conditions". They are generally installed along with the circuitbreaker. An isolatorcanbeopenedafterthecircuitbreaker. Earthing Switch is a switch which connects a conductor to earth so as to discharge the chargesontheconductortoearth.Afteropeningtheisolator,theearthingswitchcanbe closed to discharge the trapped electrical charges to ground. Earthing switches are generallyinstalledontheframesoftheisolators.

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage3of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

Table(1)VariousSubstationEquipment S.No. 1 Symbol 2 3 Isolator (disconnecting switch) Earthingswitch Equipment Circuitbreaker Function switchingduringnormal& abnormalconditions,interrupt thefaultcurrent disconnectingapartofthe systemfromliveparts,under noloadconditions dischargingthevoltageonthe linestoearth,after disconnectingthem 4 Surgearrester divertingthehighvoltage surgestoearthandmaintaining continuityduringnormal voltage 5 6 Potential transformer Current Transformer (CT) is a transformer whose current ratio is generally high (e.g. 500A/5A)anditsvoltamperecapacityisrelativelylow(e.g.50VA)ascomparedwiththat of power transformers. It is used for transforming the current to lower value for the purposeofmeasurement,protection,andcontrol PotentialTransformer(PT),Voltagetransformer(VT)isatransformerwhosevoltampere capacityislow(e.g.100VA)anditsvoltageratioisrelativelyhigh(e.g.132kV/100V).Itis used for transforming the voltage to lower value for the purpose of measurement, protection, and control. The protective relays are connected in the secondary circuits of CTsandPTs.
Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage4of12

Current transformer

steppingdownthecurrentfor measurement,protection,and control steppingdownthevoltagefor thepurposeofprotection, measurement,andcontrol

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

Lightning Arrester (surge arrester) is equipment connected between the conductor and groundtodischargetheexcessivevoltagestoearthandprotectthesubstationequipment fromoverovervoltages.

AutoReclosureisautomaticclosingofthecircuitbreakerafteritsopening.Itisprovided torestoretheservicecontinuityafterinterruptingatransientfault. Contactorisaswitchingdevicecapableofmaking,carrying,andbreakingelectriccurrent undernormalandoverloadconditions. HighRupturingCapacity(HRC)fuseisusedforovercurrentprotectioninlowvoltageand mediumvoltagecircuits.

1.3FAULTSANDABNORMALCONDITIONS Duringafault,thefaultimpedanceislowandaccordingly,thefaultcurrentsarerelativelyhigh.At thehighertSincethefaultcurrentsbeingexcessive,theydamagethefaultyequipmentandthe supplyinstallation.Duringthefaults,thepowerflowisdivertedtowardsthefault;andthesupply totheneighboringzonesisaffected. Faultscanbeclassifiedas: Theotherabnormalconditionswhichthesystemmaybesubjectedtoinclude:

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage5of12

SingleLinetoGroundFault LinetoLineFault DoubleLinetoGroundFault SimultaneousFault ThreephaseFault OpenCircuit,etc.

VoltageandCurrentUnbalance UnderFrequency Overvoltages TemperatureRise ReverseofPower PowerSwing Instability,etc.

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

1.4FAULTCLEARINGPROCESS The protective relays are connected in the secondary circuits of current and/or voltage transformers.Therelayssensetheabnormalconditionsandclosethetripcircuitoftheassociated circuitbreaker.Thecircuitbreakerthenopensitscontacts.Arcisdrawnbetweenthecontactsas they separate. The arc is extinguished by suitable medium and technique. After final arc extinction,ahighvoltagewaveappearsacrossthecircuitbreakercontactstendingtoreestablish thearc.Thetransientvoltagewaveiscalled"TransientRecoveryVoltage"(TRV). 1.5FAULTCLEARINGTIME: It is the time elapsed between the instant of fault occurrence and the instant of final arc extinction, in the circuitbreaker. It is usually expressed in cycles. One cycle of 50 Hz system is equalto1/50second.Thefaultclearingtimeisthesumoftherelaytimeandthecircuitbreaker time. 1.6PROTECTIVESCHEME Protectiveschemeisaselectedsetofprotectivesystemswhichprotectoneortwocomponentsof the power system against abnormal conditions, e.g. generator protection scheme, transformer protectionscheme,etc. Thepowersystemiscoveredbyseveralprotectivezones(Fig.2).Eachprotectivezonecoversone ortwocomponentsofthesystem.Theneighboringprotectivezonesoverlapsothatnopartofthe systemisleftunprotected.

Figure2
Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage6of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

1.7NEUTRALGROUNDING(EARTHING)ANDEQUIPMENTGROUNDING Theterm"Grounding"or Earthing"referstotheconnectionofaconductortoearth.Theneutral pointofageneratororatransformerisdeliberatelyconnectedtoearth. TheNeutralEarthinghasSeveralAdvantagessuchas: On the other hand, the "Equipment Grounding" refers to grounding of noncurrent carryingmetalpartstoearth.Itisusedforsafetyofpersonnel. 1.8OVERVOLTAGEANDINSULATIONCOORDINATION Overvoltagesurgesinpowersystemsarecausedbyvariouscausessuchas: Lightning, Switching, Resonance,etc. Itstabilizestheneutralpoint. Itisusefulindischargingovervoltagesduetolightningtoearth. Simplifiesdesignofearthfaultprotection. Grounded systems require relatively lower insulation levels as compared with ungroundedsystems.

The power system elements should withstand the overvoltages without insulation failure. The insulation level of a power system element refers to its values of power frequency and impulse voltagewithstand.Theprotectivemeasuresagainstovervoltagesduetolightninginclude: 1.9ELECTROMECHANICALRELAYSANDSTATICRELAYS Theelectromechanicalrelaysarebasedonthecomparisonbetweenoperatingtorque/forceand restrainingtorque/force.TheVAburdenofsuchrelaysishigh.Thecharacteristicshavelimitations. Eachrelayunitcanperformonlyoneprotectivefunction.Suchrelaysareusedforsimpleandless costlyprotectionpurposes.Forimportantandcostlyequipmentandinstallation,staticrelaysare preferred.Instaticrelays,sensing,comparison,andmeasurementsaremadebystatic(electronic) circuitshavingnomovingparts.Staticrelayshaveversatilecharacteristics,offerlowburden,and incorporateseveralprotective/control/monitoringfunctionsinonecompactunit.
Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage7of12

Useofoverheadgroundwires, Lowtowerfootingresistance,and Iseoflightningarresters(surgearresters).

Thesurgearrestersofferlowresistancetoovervoltagesanddivertovervoltagestoearth.

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

Recently (1980's), programmable static relays incorporating microprocessors have been introduced.Microprocessorbasedrelayshaveseveralsuperiorfeaturessuchas: Therangeofstaticrelaysisrapidlyspreading. 1.10SWITCHES Generally, switches are used only where necessary for isolation purposes. Switches for Heating, Ventilating,andAirConditioning(HVAC)systemsmustbeinstalledinconformancewithNFPA70. SwitchdutyisdefinedbyNEMAKS1,EnclosedSwitches.Generaldutyequipmentisused for nonessential applications and where equipment is subject to infrequent operation. Generaldutyequipmentisintendedforuseoncircuitsof240Vorless;therefore,heavy duty equipment is required for higher voltages. Heavyduty equipment is used for industrial application where reliability and continuity of service are prime factors and whereequipmentissubjecttofrequentoperation.Itisintendedforuseoncircuitsof600 Vorlessandwhereavailablefaultcurrentofmorethan10,000amperesarelikelytobe encountered. Fusible switches combine isolation with protection of a particular component of the circuit. Safety(disconnect)switchescanbefusedornonfusedunitsoperableupto600voltsand 1,200amperesofmaximumcontinuouscurrentandarenormallyusedformotorisolation orprotection. Otherswitchessuchasheavydutyswitchesoperableupto600voltsand1,200amperes ofcontinuouscurrentandloadbreakpressureswitchesoperableupto600voltsand5,000 amperesofcontinuouscurrentareonlyusedforapplicationwherecircuitbreakersarenot appropriate.
Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage8of12

Indication of operating values on demand and thereby no need for separate indicating instrumentsonpanel. A single relay can perform 10 or more dierent protective functions, thereby reducing numberofseparaterelaysandincreasingreliability. Internalmonitoringofownrelaycircuit. Memoryfunctione.g.arelaywhichhastrippedonafaultcanrememberandflashonthe displaythemagnitudeofcurrentandinstantoftimeatthetimeoftripping. Better properties and extended range of application for generation, transmission, distribution,andindustrialapplications.

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

Automatic transfer (and bypass/isolation) switches are designed to transfer power sources under load in order to feed a system, typically an emergency system, on critical loads.Thesedevicesaretestedtomeetbasicshortcircuittestingrequirements.Transfer switchesshouldalwaysbeevaluatedonthebasisofthe maximumavailableshortcircuit currents.

Theautomatictransferswitchmustwithstand: Theshortcircuitcurrentwithstandratingofthetransferswitchmustbeequaltoorgreater than the available shortcircuit current at the point of application. When properly coordinated with currentlimiting devices, automatic transfer switches can be used on circuits having available shortcircuit currents greater than their unprotected withstand shortcircuit current rating. Modern currentlimiting fuses, when properly sized, limit the shortcircuitcurrenttowithinthewithstandratingofatransferswitch. Transfer switches must withstand minimum shortcircuit currents at specified power factors,aslistedinU.L.Standard1008,untiltheovercurrentprotectivedevicesopen. Transfer switch manufacturers generally publish the withstand rating data for their products. When the available shortcircuit current exceeds the withstand rating of the transferswitch,currentlimitationisrequired.Properlysizedmoderncurrentlimitingfuses aheadofthetransferswitchlimittheavailableshortcircuitcurrenttowithinthewithstand rating of a transfer switch, thereby protecting the transfer switch. The transfer switch manufacturerwillmarktheequipmentwiththefuseclassandratingrequiredtoachieve thesehighershortcircuitratings. Themagneticstressesimposedbytheinstantaneouspeakcurrentavailable atthepointofapplication. ThethermalstressesimposedbytheavailableRMSshortcircuitcurrent.

1.10.1TYPESOFSWITCHESANDTHEIRAPPLICATION Thereareavarietyofswitchesusedinthetransmissionanddistributionofelectricpower. Theswitchesaredesignedforspecificpurposesandoperationalconditions.Ingeneral,the switchesaredistinguishedbythecurrenthandlingcapability;i.e.,continuous,loadbreak ornonloadbreak,andfaultcurrent. ADisconnectSwitchisoneusedfor;closing,opening,orchangingtheconnectionsina circuitorsystem,orforisolatingpurposes.Ithasnointerruptingratingandisintended

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage9of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

to be operated only after the circuit has been deenergized by some other means. A seriesconnectedcircuitbreakerorcircuitreclosershouldbeopenonallthreephases beforeadisconnectswitchisopenedorclosed. An Interrupter Switch can use either air or oil as its interrupting medium. Load interrupter switches are used to interrupt transformermagnetizing current, line chargingcurrent,capacitorcurrenttoisolatedbanks,andloadcurrentwithinthelimits oftheirrating.Theyarenormallyusedwherethecostofacircuitbreakerwithfault interrupting ability cannot be justified and where the use of airbreak switches is hazardous because of the danger of inconvenient and uncontrolled arcs. Load interrupterswitchesdifferfromcircuitbreakersandfaultinterrupterswitchesinthat theycannotinterruptoverloadorshortcircuitcurrents. A Grounding Switch is used to connect a circuit or a piece of apparatus to ground. Grounding switches are normally subdivided into two separate groups: manually operatedandhighspeed.Whereamanuallyoperatedgroundingswitchisinstalled,it is normally connected to an airbreak or disconnect switch. It is used to effectively ground a line after the airbreak or disconnect switch has isolated it. The manually operated grounding switch is generally interlocked with its associated switch so that the grounding switch cannot be closed until the disconnect switch is open. A high speedgroundingswitchhasastoredenergymechanismcapableofclosingtheswitch automatically, within a specified rated closing time. The switch is opened either manuallyorbyapoweroperatedmechanism.Highspeedgroundingswitchesareused toprovideprotectiontoadifferentialrelayedareaincoordinationwitharemotecircuit breaker. Normally, the arrangements are such that the differential relay detects the faultandinitiatestheclosingofthehighspeedgroundingswitchandresultsintripping theremotecircuitbreakertoclearthefault. 1. AirSwitches. Airbreak switches are normally mounted on top of their supporting structure. They are either manually operated by means of an operating handle or electrically operated by meansofamotoroperatedmechanism. They are used to perform various switching assignments such as isolating transformers, bypassingcircuitbreakers,andforlinesectionalizing(wheresmallamountsofmagnetizing orchargingcurrentsaretobeinterrupted).

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage10of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

2. OilSwitches Anoilswitchhasitsmaincontactssubmergedinoil.Oilactsasaninsulatortohelpquench the arc between the contacts. In addition, since the tank is airtight, the vaporized oil causedbythearcdevelopspressurewhichassistsinbreakingthearc.Ifthevoltageisnot very high, a threepole switch can be placed in a single tank. At higher voltages, three separate tanks are used to make it impossible for a phasetophase fault to occur. Oil switcheswillnormallyopenonlyloadcurrent.Aseparatetripcoilisnecessarytointerrupt overload or fault currents. Oil switches are generally used in capacitor switching, distributionsectionalizing,andtransformerprimaryswitching. 3. VacuumSwitches Vacuum switches are interrupters which use vacuum chambers for contact separation. Theyaregenerallyusedtointerruptload,capacitor,ortransformermagnetizingcurrents. Unlike oil switches, vacuum switches require virtually nomaintenance. They can be used forsubmersibleorpadmountoperation. 1.10.2SWITCHACCESSORIES Switch accessories are devices that perform a secondary or minor duty as an adjunct or refinement to the primary operation of a switch or to assist in the operation of a switch. Someaccessoriesthatarecommonlyassociatedwithswitchesareasfollows: Operating Mechanisms. The operating mechanism of a switch is a poweroperated or manuallyoperatedmechanismcompletewithanassemblyoflevers,mechanicallinkages, and interphase connecting rods by which the contacts of all poles are actuated simultaneously. Hook Sticks. A hook stick is a hook provided with an insulating handle (usually specially treatedwood)foropeningandclosinghookstickoperatedswitches.Whennotbeingused, hooksticksshouldbestoredinadrylocation. Interlocks. An interlock is a device applied to two or more movable parts, preventing or allowing a movement of one part only when one or more other parts are locked in a predetermined position. An interlock system is a series of these devices applied to equipmenttoallowoperationoftheequipmentonlyinaprearrangedsequence.Switches used only for isolating purposes must be interlocked to prevent opening of the isolating

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage11of12

LV,MV&HVSwitchgear

switchunderload,ortheswitchmustbeprovidedwithahighlyvisiblesignwarningagainst opening the switch under load. Interlocks are classified into three main divisions: mechanicalinterlocks,electricalinterlocks,andkeyinterlocks. 1.10.3AUXILIARYSWITCHES Auxiliaryswitchesarelowvoltageswitchesthatareattachedtotheoperatingmechanism ofgangoperatedswitches.Theopenorclosedpositionofauxiliaryswitchesisgovernedby the position of the main contacts. Auxiliary switches are used for electrical interlocking, remotepositionindication,orcontrolofelectricallyoperatedswitches. 1.11FUSES The only highvoltage fuses fitted in an HV switchboard are those which form a back up to a contactor(airbreakorvacuum)andthoseontheHVsideofavoltagetransformer.Allareofthe highrupturingcapacity(HRC)type. Thecontactorfusesareoftheopentypebutareembodiedinthecontactorunititself.Thisforms adequateprotectionsinceitisnecessarytoisolatetheunit,andinthecaseoftheairbreaktype towithdrawit,inordertogainaccesstothefuses. Wherefuses,whetherHVorLV,areusedinserieswithacontactor,theirpurposeistoprotectthe contactoritselfagainsthavingtoopenonafaultcurrentwhichisinexcessofitsrating.Fusesused inthismanneraretermed'backupfuses'andareselectedwithreferencetothecontactor'sown inversetimecharacteristic. VoltagetransformerHVfusesformpartoftheVTitself.TheVTcompartmentcanonlybeopened after isolation, after which the fuses are accessible. Although the VT fuses have a very small currentrating,theystillhavetobeabletobreakafullscaleshortcircuitcurrentifafaultshould developontheVTitself.

Module(01)IntroductionofSwitchgearsPage12of12