HT LT SWGR

SWITCH
A switch is simply a means of opening or closing the current path in an electric circuit. There is no special opening condition for short circuit or other fault. It is operated manually.

FUSE

A fuse is used for over current and short circuit protection. Fuse has the major drawback of replacement after every use.

CIRCUIT BREAKER
The circuit breaker is a piece of equipment which can do any one of the following tasks: Makes or breaks a circuit either manually or by remote control under normal conditions Breaks a circuit automatically under fault conditions Makes a circuit either manually or by remote control under fault conditions

CIRCUIT BREAKER

A circuit breaker is a switching i.e. current interrupting or making device in switchgear.

SWITCHGEAR
It is the generic term including the entire range of switching devices and their combination with associated control, measuring, protecting, and regulating equipment.

FUNCTIONS OF SWITCHGEAR
Carrying the normal load current Making or breaking the normal load current Clearing the fault current (for which sensing devices like CT, PT, and various relays are employed)

COMPONENTS OF SWITCHGEAR

Circuit Breaker Current Transformer (CT) Potential Transformer (PT) Protective Relays Measuring Instruments

COMPONENTS OF SWITCHGEAR

Switches Fuses Surge Arresters Isolators Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB)

SWITCHGEAR REQUIREMENTS
There are several voltage levels and fault situations between the generating stations to the final load points. Hence switchgear requirements may vary depending upon following factors: Location Ratings Local Needs

LOW VOLTAGE SWITCHGEARS

Switchgears for low voltage applications are rated up t0 1500 V.

LV Switchgears

Oil Circuit Breakers (OCB) Air-Circuit Breakers (ACB) Switch-Fuse Units (SFU) Off-Load Isolators

LV Switchgears
HRC Fuses Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers(ELCB) Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB) Moulded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCB)

MEDIUM VOLTAGE SWITCHGEARS

Switchgears for medium voltage applications are rated in between 3.3 kV to 33 kV.

MEDIUM VOLTAGE SWITCHGEARS

This type of switchgears is mainly used for the distribution of electrical energy, connected to various electrical networks.

HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHGEARS

The high voltage switchgears range from 66 kV to 800 kV.

SWITCHGEARS CONSIDERATIONS

While using switchgears in a power system certain considerations must be kept in mind.

SWITCHGEARS CONSIDERATIONS

1.Location of the equipment

Indoor Outdoor

SWITCHGEARS CONSIDERATIONS
2. System Parameters System Earthing Frequency Insulation Level Ambient Conditions Ratings (both normal and short circuit ratings)

ERECTION OF SWITCHGEARS
It includes: Placing the equipment on foundation Assembly of loose supplied parts Mechanical and electrical interconnections Connections of control and power circuits

SWITCHGEAR COMMISSIONING
Commissioning is done to carry out predefined checks and tests. Testing is necessary to ensure that the installation work meets the specified requirements and safety norms.

Switchgear classification
By the current rating. By interrupting rating (maximum short circuit current that the device can safely interrupt)
Circuit breakers can open and close on fault currents Load-break/Load-make switches can switch normal system load currents Isolators may only be operated while the circuit is dead, or the load current is very small.

By voltage class:
Low voltage (less than 1,000 volts AC) Medium voltage (1,00033,000 volts AC) High voltage (more than 66,000 volts AC)

By insulating medium:
Air Gas (SF6 or mixtures) Oil Vacuum

Switchgear classification
By construction type:
Indoor (further classified by IP (Ingress Protection) class or NEMA enclosure type) Outdoor Industrial Utility Marine Draw-out elements (removable without many tools) Fixed elements (bolted fasteners) Live-front Dead-front Open Metal-enclosed Metal-clad Metal enclose & Metal clad Arc-resistant

Switchgear classification
By operating method:
Manually-operated Motor-operated Solenoid/stored energy operated

By type of current:
Alternating current Direct current

By application:
Transmission system Distribution.

Main functions of switchgear

Electrical protection Electrical isolation of sections of an installation Local or remote switching

Electrical protection against

Isolation

Control

Overload currents Isolation clearly indicated by an Short-circuit authorized failcurrents proof mechanical Insulation failure indicator A gap or interposed insulating barrier between the open contacts, clearly visible

Functional switching Emergency switching Emergency stopping Switching off for mechanical maintenance

Electrical protection
The protection of circuits
Against overload; Against short-circuit currents

The protection of persons

Against insulation failures.

The protection of electric motors

Against overheating

Isolation
To separate a circuit or apparatus from the remainder of a system which is energized. An isolating device must fulfil the following requirements:
All poles of a circuit, including the neutral must be provided with a locking system in open position must comply with a recognized national or international standard

Isolation
To separate a circuit or apparatus from the remainder of a system which is energized. An isolating device must fulfil the following requirements:
All poles of a circuit, including the neutral must be provided with a locking system in open position must comply with a recognized national or international standard

Switchgear control
Functional control This control relates to all switching operations in normal service conditions for energizing or de-energizing a part of a system or installation, or an individual piece of equipment, item of plant etc.

Switchgear control
Emergency switching An emergency switching is intended to deenergize a live circuit which is, or could become, dangerous (electric shock or fire).

Switchgear control
Maintenance operations on the power system
This operation assures the stopping of a machine and its impossibility to be inadvertently restarted while mechanical maintenance work is being carried out on the driven machinery.

Basic relay circuit scheme

Equipment

CT

RELAY

CB

Trip Coil of Breaker

Battery

Supply from source

 Main Parts of a Circuit Breaker :

* Fixed Contact

* Movable Contact * Operating Mechanism

* Arc extinguishing medium

 Fault clearing process : During any Fault.. * Fault impedance will be low, so fault current will increase and relay senses this increase in current. * Relay contacts closes and sends trip signal to circuit breaker and the trip coil of the circuit breaker will get energized. * Operating mechanism of the circuit breaker will operate and separate the contacts. * Arc will be initiated between the contacts and it is extinguished by suitable methods.

 Arcing phenomenon :
- When a fault occurs, heavy current flows through the contacts of the circuit breaker before they are opened by the protective system.

- At the instant when the contacts begin to separate, the contact area decreases rapidly and current density (I/A) increases and hence rise in temperature. -The heat produced is sufficient to ionise the medium between the contacts. This ionised medium acts as conductor and an arc is struck between the contacts.
- The potential difference between the contacts is very small and is sufficient to maintain the arc.

- The current flow depends upon the Arc resistance.

 Few definitions :
Breaking Capacity Max fault current at which a CB of breaking a circuit. is capable

Making Capacity Max current a CB can withstand if it closing on existing Short circuit. Restriking Voltage After the arc has been extinguished, the voltage across the breaker terminals does not normalize instantaneously but it oscillates The transient voltage which appears across the breaker contacts at the instant of arc being extinguished.

Recovery Voltage Power frequency voltage which appears across the breaker contacts after the arc is finally extinguished and transient oscillations die out.

 Events/Timings during fault clearing process :

Fault clearing Time

Relay time

Circuit breaker Time Closure of Trip Circuit

Final arc Extinction

Relay time

Instant Of Fault
Closure of Trip Circuit

to

Circuit breaker Time

to

 Various types of CBs :

(i) Miniature CB (ii) Air Break CB (iii) Air Blast CB (iv) Oil CB (v) SF6 CB (vi) Vacuum CB

Bulk Oil CB Minimum Oil CB

 Air Break CB :

 Air Blast CB :

ABCB- Principle of arc quenching

 Bulk Oil CB :

 Minimum Oil CB :

 SF6 CB :

1. Op mechanism

8. Puffer cylinder

2. Interrupter
3. Support 4. Op rod 5. Linkage 6. Terminals

9. Nozzle
10. Fixed position

11. Fixed contact

12. Moving contact 13. Gas inlet

7. Filters

400kV Circuit Breaker

Advantage of SF6

* Inert gas with high dielectric strength.

* Colour less and odour less. * Non-toxic and non- inflammable. * Sf6 is blown axially to the arc, hence it removes the heat by axial convection and radial dissipation. As result the arc dia reduces and comes to zero at current zero. * Gas pressure in the chamber is at 5 ksc. * SF6 is filled at a pressure of 12 ksc in the tank and maintained by means of an individual or a common compressor. * The decomposition products of arcing are not explosive hence no chance of fire.

 Vacuum CB :

Advantage of vacuum CB
* Used up to 66 KV. * Vacuum is of the range of 106 to 108 torr. * Vacuum is highly dielectric, so arc cant persists. * Separation of contacts causes the release of metal vapour from the contacts, the density of vapour depends on the fault current. * At current zero the vapour emission will tends to zero and the density will becomes zero and dielectric strength will build up and restriking will be prevented. * No emission to atmosphere, hence pollution free. * Non- explosive and silent operation. * Compact size.

Disadvantages
* High initial cost. * Surge suppressors (R or RC combination) are to be connected at load side for limiting switching over-voltage while switching low pf loads.

MOVING PORTION (Mechanism cover removed)

MECHANISM AND ITS OPERATION :

GEAR BOX

CLOSING COIL
TRIPPING COIL

MOTOR CLOSING SPRING

LIMIT SWITCH
MECHANISM SHAFT

TRIPPING SPRING

SAFETY INTERLOCKS:
The various interlocks provided on the breaker ensure that(A)
i) ii) iii) (B) i) ii)

VCB Truck cannot be racked in inside the panel unless:

Door is closed . Breaker is in tripped condition. Plug & socket are engaged properly. VCB Truck can not be racked out from panel unless: Door is closed. Breaker is tripped . Door cannot be opened unless the breaker is in tripped condition . Breaker can be closed only in SERVICE or in TEST position.

AUTO RECLOSURE
Over 80% of the faults are transient in nature. Designed to carry out one or two fast closing operations followed by automatically locked open.

AUTO RECLOSURE

FEATURES OF ISOLATORS
OPERATES UNDER NO LOAD CONDITION INTERLOCKED WITH BREAKERS AND EARTHSWITCHES MOTOR DRIVEN AND HAND DRIVEN LOCAL AS WELL AS REMOTE OPERATION POSSIBLE ISOLATES SECTIONS FOR MAINTENANCE USED TO SELECT BUS BARS SELECT CT FOR BUS BAR PROTECTION

400kV Isolator

Isolator

FEATURES OF EARTH SWITCHES

USED TO GROUND SECTIONS REQUIRED FOR MAINTENANCE GROUND INDUCTION VOLTAGES INTERLOCKED WITH BREAKERS AND ISOLATORS CAN OPERATE FROM LOCAL ONLY MOTOR DRIVEN AS WELL AS HAND DRIVEN SAFETY DEVICE

Source Isolator Isolator Load

CB

Earth S/W

Lightning Arrestors

 Purpose : - To discharge the high voltage surges in the power system due to lightning to the ground. Apparatus to be protected : * Overhead linesEarth/Ground wires * HV equipmentLAs * Substation...Lightning Masts, Earth wires

 Types :
Rod gap LA :
* Gap length is such that the break-down occurs at 80% of the spark voltage

Insulator

* After the surge, the arc in the gap is maintained by the normal supply voltage.

Rod gap Equipment body

400kV Surge Arrester

Metal Oxide surge arrestor

The gapless arresters are based on metal oxide (MO) resistors, which have an extremely non-linear V/I characteristic and a high energy-absorption capability. They are known as metal oxide surge arresters, MO arresters for short.

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