Switchgear

The apparatus used for switching, controlling and protecting the electrical circuits and
equipment is known as switchgear.
The switchgear equipment is essentially concerned with switching and interrupting
currents either under normal or abnormal operating condition. For circuits of higher
rating, a high-rupturing capacity (H.R.C) fuse in conjunction with a switch may serve the
purpose of controlling and protecting the circuit.

Fig: 132kv substation

Essential Features of Switchgear

The essential features of switchgear are:
1) Complete reliability: With the continued trend of interconnection and the
increasing capacity of generating stations, the need for reliable switchgear has
become of paramount importance. When fault occurs on any part of the power
system, the switchgear must operate to isolate the faulty section from the
remainder circuit.
2) Absolutely certain discrimination: When fault occurs on any section o0f
the power system, the switchgear must be able to discriminate between the faulty
section and the healthy section.
3) Quick operation: When fault occurs on any part the power system, the
switchgear must operate quickly so that no damage is done to generators,

Transformers and other equipment by the short-circuit currents. If fault is not

cleared by switchgear quickly, it is likely to spread into healthy parts, thus
endangering complete shutdown of the system.
4) Provision for manual control: Switchgear must have provision for manual
control. In case the electrical (or electronics) control fail, the necessary operation
can be carried out through manual control.

Fig: Control panel

3.3 Substation Equipment:
In every electrical substation, there are generally various types of indoor and outdoor
switchgear. The equipment is either indoor or outdoor, depending upon the voltage rating
and local conditions. Generally indoor equipment may be preferred for voltages up to
132kv. For voltage of 132kv and above, outdoor switchgear is generally preferred.
Table 3.1: Substation equipment and their Function

Equipment

Function

1. Bus-bar
2. Circuit Breaker
3. Isolator
4. Earthing Switch
5. Current Transformer
6. Voltage Transformer
7. Lightning Arrestor

Incoming and outgoing circuits connected to bus- bars.

Automatic switching during normal or abnormal condition.
Disconnection under no load condition for safety, isolation
and maintenance.
To discharge the voltage on dead lines to earth.
To step down currents for measurement, control and
protection.
To step down currents for measurement, control and
protection.
To discharge lightning over voltages and switching over
voltages to earth.

8. Shunt Reactor in EHV

To provide reactive power compensation during low loads.
substations
9. Series Reactors
To reduce the short circuit current or starting currents.
10. Neutral Grounding
To limit the earth current.
Resistor
To provide connection between high voltage line and power
11. Coupling Capacitor
line carrier current equipment
To prevent high frequency signals from entering during low
12. Line Trap
loads.
To provide compensations to reactive loads of lagging power
13. Shunt capacitors
factors.
To step up or step down the voltage and transfer power from
14. Power Transformer
one a.c. voltage to another a.c. voltage at the same frequency.
15. Series Capacitors

Compensation of series reactance of long lines.

132KV
Incoming lines

Earthling
Switch

132KV busbar

132/33KV

33KV busbar

Substation
Auxiliary

33KV outgoing lines

Fig3.1: layout of a substation

All these station and systems must have the flowing

1) Bus bar
2) Circuit breaker

3)
4)
5)
6)

Isolator
Earthling switch
CT and PT
Lighting arrester

11KV/400V
CT
PT
CB

400V
Busbar

Fig 3.2: Typical distribution system substation

3.6 Circuit breaker:

Fig3.3: Circuit Breaker

The Circuit Breaker is found in an electrical service panel and is an electrical device used
to protect the electrical wiring from an overloaded (over current) condition when
exposed to more electrical current than it is designed to handle.
Type of Circuit Breaker is usually identically according to the medium of arc extension
and classified as
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)

Bulk oil CB
Air blast CB
SF6 CB
Vacuum CB
Low voltage (less than 1000 VAC) types are common in domestic, commercial
and industrial application, include:

VII.
VIII. (a) MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker)rated current not more than 100
A. Trip characteristics normally not adjustable. Thermal or thermal-magnetic
operation. Breakers illustrated above are in this category.
IX.

Fig3.6: miniature circuit breakers

3.6.2 Bulk Oil Type Breaker:

In Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker oil serves a two-fold purpose, i.e., as means of extinguishing
the arc and also for providing insulation between the live parts and the metallic tank.
This is the oldest amongst the three types having been developed towards close of the
nineteenth century.

In its simplest form the process of separating the current carrying contacts was carried
out under oil with no special control over the resulting arc other than the increase in
length caused by the moving contact's as the power systems began to develop resulting in
higher voltages and higher fault levels, plain break type breaker could no longer keep
pace with the requirements. Various methods of controlling the breaking process were
investigated and developed.

Rated Value Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker

Type
Rated Voltage
Rated interrupting circuit
Frequency
Interrupting Time
Closing Time
Closing Control Voltage
Air Tank Capacity
Oil Capacity
Total Weight
Serial
Date

120-GTR-40
138KV
14.7KA
50HZ
3s
0.288s
DC110V
400
1400
23000KG
A00683
1981

3.6.4 SF6 circuit breaker: Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is an inert, heavy gas having
good dielectric and arc extinguishing properties.

In this circuit breaker, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is used as the arc quenching
medium. The SF6 gas is an electro negative gas and has a strong tendency to absorb free
electrons. The contacts of the breaker are opened in a high pressure flow of SF6 gas and
an arc is struck between them.

3.2.2 Working:
In the closed position of the breaker the contacts remained surrounded by SF6 gas at a
pressure of about 2.8 kg/cm2. When the breaker operates the moving contact is pulled
apart and an arc is struck between the contacts. The movement of the moving contact is
synchronized with the opening of a valve which permits SF6 gas at 14 kg/cm2 pressure
from the reservoir to the arc interruption chamber.

The high pressure flow of SF6 rapidly absorbs the free electrons in the arc path to form
immobile negative ions which are ineffective as charge a carriers. The result is that the
medium between the contacts quickly builds up high dielectric strength and causes the
extinction of the arc. After the breaker operation the valve is closed by the action of a set
of springs.

3.2.3 SF6 circuit breaker specification of plant:

Rated electrical parameters
a

.Type

LW11-145/2000A-40kA

b .Rated voltage

145kV

c .Rated current (loop)

2000A

d .Rated frequency

50Hz

e .Rated short time current

3s

f Rated Sequence

0-0.3s-co-180s-co

g .SF6 rated pressure

0.5Mpa20oC

h wind pressure(Max)

700pa

i Max working voltage

145v

j Short circuit breaking current 40KA

k .Closing lock pressure

27.8Mpa

l .Opening lock pressure

25.8Mpa

m .Opening time

40ms

n .Closing time

135ms

o .Main circuit resistance

70

p .SF6 water content

150ppm(V/V)

q .Power frequency withstand voltage

1) Phase to earth

275kV

2) Between phases

275KV

3) Phase to earth

275KV

3.6.5 Vacuum Circuit Breaker: Vacuum Circuit Breakers are specially suited in
industrial applications, where the Switching frequency is high combined with high
degree of pollution. The manufacturing range of M/s Driescher Panicker covers Vacuum
Circuit Breakers up to rated voltage of 36 kV. Current of a lesser value is chopped prior
to current zero, causing unduly high voltages, as may happen during interruption of no
load magnetizing currents of unloaded Transformers. The rapid build up of the dielectric
strength in the break enables the arc to be safely extinguished even if contact separation
occurs immediately prior to current zero the maximum arcing time for the last pole to
clear is stated to be 15 ms.

PROTECTIVE RELAY
3.7.2 Protective Relaying:
AC power system is covered by several protection zones. Each protective zone covers
one or two components of the system. The neighboring protective zones overlap so that
no part of the system is left unprotected. During the abnormal situation, the protective
relaying senses the condition and closes the trip circuit of the circuit breaker.
The protective schemes for large electrical equipment comprise several types of
protective systems. For low voltage equipment of relatively small ratings, fuses and
thermal relays are generally adequate. The protective schemes for large power system
equipment is generally designed with due regards to power swings, power system
stability and associated problems.
Types of Protective Relays:
1. Differential Relay
2. Directional Relay
3. Over current/ earth fault Relay
4. Frequency Relay
5. Trip Relay
6. Lockout Relay
7. Distance Relay
8. Gas accumulator Relay
9. Time Relay

3.7.3 Differential Protection Relay:

Differential protection is a very reliable method of protecting generators, transformers,

buses, and transmission lines from the effects of internal faults.

Figure 3.8: Differential Protection of a Generator

In a differential protection scheme in the above figure, currents on both sides of the
equipment are compared. The figure shows the connection only for one phase, but a
similar connection is usually used in each phase of the protected equipment. Under
normal conditions, or for a fault outside of the protected zone, current I1 is equal to
current I2. Therefore the currents in the current transformers secondary are also equal, i.e.
i1 = i2 and no current flows through the current relay.
If a fault develops inside of the protected zone, currents I1 and I2 are no longer equal,
therefore i1 and i2 are not equal and there is a current flowing through the current relay.

3.7.4 Differential Protection of a Station Bus: The principle of the differential

protection of a station bus is the same as for generators. The sum of all currents entering
and leaving the bus must be equal to zero under normal conditions or if the fault is
outside of the protected zone. If there is a fault on the bus, there will be a net flow of
current to the bus and the differential relay will operate.

Fig Single Line Diagram of Bus Differential ProtectionDifferential protection of three

phase protection
Differential protection of three phase transformers must take into account the change in
magnitude and phase angle of the transformed current.

Figure 3.10: Differential Protection for a Y-Y Connected Transformer

In these two connections, the primary and secondary currents are in phase, but their
magnitudes are different. The difference in the current magnitude must be balanced out
by the current transformer ratios.

3.7.6 Some part of the Relay panel of Khulna 110MW power plant:
the current to first operate it. The "returning ratio" or "differential" is the measure of how
much the current must be reduced to reset the relay.

Distance relay
The most common form of protection on high voltage transmission systems is distance
relay protection. Power lines have set impedance per kilometer and using this value and
comparing voltage and current the distance to a fault can be determined. The ANSI
standard device number for a distance relay is 21.
A very common example of a differential current relay is the ground fault current
interrupter (GFCI), or Residual-current device.

Digital protective relays

The functions of electromechanical protection systems are now being replaced by
microprocessor-based digital protective relays, sometimes called "numeric relays".

5.9 Buchholz relay:

Buchholz relays have been applied to large power transformers at least since the 1940s.
The relay was first developed by Max Buchholz (18751956) in 1921.

Buchholz relay is a gas- actuated relay installed in oil-immersed transformers for

protection against all kind of faults. It is used to gives an alarm in case of slow
developing faults or incipient faults in the transformer and to disconnect the transformer
from the supply in the event of severe internal faults. It is installed in the pipe between
the conservator and main tank as shown in fig11 below. This relay is used in oilimmersed transformers of rating above 750 kVA.

Fig 5.5: buchholz relay

5.9.1Construction:
Fig 5.6 shows the constructional details of buchholz relay. It consists of a domed vessel
placed in the pipe between the conservator and main tank of the transformer. The device
has two elements. The upper element consists of a mercury type switch attached to a

float. The lower element contains a mercury switch mounted on a hinged type flap
located on the direct path of flow of oil from the transformer to the conservator. The
upper element closes an alarm circuit during slow developing faults whereas the lower
element is arranged to trip the circuit breaker in case of seve re internal faults.

Fig5.6: Buchholz relay construction

5.9.2Operation
The operation of buchholz relay is as follows:

In case of slow developing faults within the transformer, the heat due to the fault
Causes decomposition of some transformer oil in the main tank. The products of
decomposition mainly contain 70 % of hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas being
light tries to go into the conservator and in the process gets trapped in the upper
part of the relay chamber. When a predetermined amount of gas gets
accumulated, it exerts sufficient pressure on the float to cause it to tilt and close

the contacts of mercury switch attached to it. This completes the alarm circuit to
sound an alarm.

If serious fault occur in the transformer, an enormous amount of gas is generated

in the main tank. The oil in the main tank rushes towards the conservator via the
buchholz relay and in doing so it tilts the flap to close the contacts of mercury
switch. This completes the trip circuit to open the circuit breaker controlling the
transformer.

Vacuum circuit Breaker:

Vacuum Circuit Breakers are specially suited in industrial applications, where the
Switching frequency is high combined with high degree of pollution. The manufacturing
range of M/s Dresher Picnicker covers Vacuum Circuit Breakers up to rated voltage of 36
kV. Current of a lesser value is chopped prior to current zero, causing unduly high
voltages, as may happen during interruption of no load magnetizing currents of unloaded
Transformers. The rapid buildup of the dielectric strength in the break enables the arc to
be safely extinguished even if contact separation occurs immediately prior to current
zero the maximum arcing time for the last pole to clear is stated to be 15ms.
Further the arc voltage developed in vacuum interrupter is low (say between 20 to 200
V) due to high conductivity of metal vapor plasma.
For their reasons the arc energy developed in the break is very small. High Switching life
is claimed on this account. Performance is claimed to be immune to pollution because of
interrupters being hermetically sealed.

VACCUM CIRCUIT BREAKER

PV2502X: M/S IDEAL ENTERPRISES
PORCELAIN CLAD VACCUM CIRCUIT BREAKER
CROMPTON GREAVES LTD
MEDIUM VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR DIVN
AMBAD, NASHIK

422010

CIRCUIT BREAKER TYPE

36PV25A

RATING TO

IE62271-100

SR NO:

39170VP

VOLTAGE:

3600V

CURRENT

1250AMP

FREQUENCY

50HZ

NO OF POLE:

l3

BREAKING CAPACITY

25 KA

MAKING CAPACITY:

62.5KAP

SHORT TIME CURRENT

25KA FOR 1SEC

DC COMPONENT

50% BIL: 70/170KVP

SHUNT TRIP

110 DC

CLOSING COIL

110VDC

Terminal Plate

Insulator (Ceramic)

Arc chamber (Metallic) (Condensing Shield)

Fixed Contact piece

Moving contact piece

Insulator (Ceramic)

Metal below

Moving contact Guide

Moving contact stem

Figure 4.2: Vaccum circuit breaker

CURRENT TRANSFORMER
The instrument current transformer (CT) steps down the current of a circuit to a lower
value and is used in the same types of equipment as a potential transformer. This is done
by constructing the secondary coil consisting of many turns of wire, around the primary
coil, which contains only a few turns of wire. In this manner, measurements of high
values of current can be obtained. A current transformer should always be short-circuited
when not connected to an external load. Because the magnetic circuit of a current
transformer is designed for low magnetizing current when under load, this large
increase in magnetizing current will build up a large flux in the magnetic circuit
and cause the transformer to act as a step-up transformer, inducing an excessively
high voltage in the secondary when under no load. CT's may be accommodated in one of
six manners:

Over Circuit Breaker bushings or in pedestals.

In separate post type housings.
Over moving bushings of some types of insulators.
Over power transformers of reactor bushings.
Over all or roof bushings.
Over cables.

TYPE IB-145THW1
CODE NAME 1FT.760.575.5
ITH 21-42KA

IDHN 54-108KA

INSULATION LEVEL 145/230/650KV

FREQUENCY 50HZ
SEC
TERMINAL
RATED RATIO

1S1-1S2

3S1-3S2

2S1-2S2
100-200/1A

1S1-1S3

3S1-3S3

2S1-2S3
200-400/1A

Class
Rated output, VA
SWRIAL NO

5p20
25
98LI2232-2

0.5
50

5p20
30
DATE

0.5
50
1-1999

3.10 Potential Transformer: Voltage transformers (Potential Transformer) are used

for measurement and protection. Accordingly, they are either measuring type or
protective type voltage transformers. They may be either single phase or three phase
units. Voltage transformers are necessary for voltage, directional, distance protection.
The primary of voltage transformer is connected to power circuit between phase and
ground. The volt ampere rating of voltage transformers is smaller as compared with that
of power transformer says used for various protective purposes

a. Type:

: ES 132

b. Serial number

: 7032-1

c. Device maximum operating voltage

: 145kV

d. Rated voltage

: 132V

e. Level

: 0.511/3P

f. Rated frequency

: 50Hz

g. Maximum output

: 2000VA

h. Technique standard

: IEC60044-2:1998

i.Total Weight

:450KG

3.11 Lighting arrester:

Lighting arrester is a protective device for electrical equipments which reduces excessive
voltage resulting from lightning to a safe level by grounding the discharge.
Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) have been used for power system protection since the mid
1970s. The typical lightning arrester also known as surge arrester has a high voltage
terminal and a ground terminal. When a lightning surge or switching surge travels down
the power system to the arrester, the current from the surge is diverted around the
protected insulation in most cases to earth.
Overhead lines are exposed to atmosphere in accordingly they may suffer from lighting
strikes which calls very high voltage to be induce in overhead lines. These induced over
voltages may cause rupture of overhead insulators or other power system equipment. In
order to protect them from failure of insulator due to over voltages lighting arrester are
employed such that over voltages met lighting arresters first before meeting any of power
system equipments.
PT
CT

CB
Busbar

OH lines
Isolator

Earthling
switch

Lighting
Arrester

Fig 3.17: Equipments of a power supply system

3.12 Bus bar:

A busbar in electrical power distribution refers to thick strips of copper or aluminium
that conduct electricity within a switchboard, distribution board, substation, or other
electrical apparatus. These are made up of copper and aluminum to which the terminal of
generators

1) Specialization of busbar:
In thus arrangement there are a number of sections which can be interconnected in each
other hence for repair maintained or fault in any of section to the shutdown is not needed

Section A
CB

CB

Section B

CB

CB

CB

CB

Figure 3.21: Specialization of busbar arrangement.

3.13 Isolator:
Isolator (disconnecting switch) operates under no load condition. It does not have any
specified current breaking capacity or current making capacity. Isolator is not even used
for breaking load currents. Isolators are used in addition to circuit breakers, and are
provided on each side of every circuit breaker to provide isolation and enable
maintenance. While opening a circuit, the circuit breaker is opened first, then isolator.
While closing a circuit, the isolator is closed first, then circuit breaker. Isolators are
necessary on supply side of circuit breakers in order to ensure isolation (disconnection)
of the circuit breaker from live parts for the purpose of maintenance. Automatic
switching of isolators is preferred.

3.15 Earthing switch:

Earthling Switch is necessary to earth the conducting parts before maintenance and
also to provide deliberate short-current while testing. There can be three types of

Earthling witches in metal-clad Switches manually operated automatic high speed

Earthling Switch, protective
Earthling Switch for Earthling the installation.
Earthing Switch:
1- Moving contact
2- Operating lever
The earth Switch is mounted direct on the enclosure. Earthing Switch has to satisfy
various requirements. For Earthing isolated sections of Switchgear for protection of
personal during maintenance and over-hauls or erection, the maintenance Earthing
Switches are employed. For earthing higher capacitances (cables, overhead line etc.)
high speed Earthing Switch are employed. Depending on the substation scheme, the
Bus-Bars may be earthed either by maintenance or high-speed Earthing Switches.
Special high speed Earthing Switches with interrupting capability are also available.
These are suitable for interrupting capacitive and inductive currents from parallel
overhead lines. In certain cases, Earthing Switches are fitted to the enclosure with
interposed insulation.
This enables various tests to be performed on the Switchgear or item of equipment,
such as testing the current Transformer of measuring the operating time of breakers,
without having to open the enclosure. During normal operation the insulation is
bypassed by a short-circuit-proof link. To check whether a point to be earthed really is
dead, the Earthing Switch can be equipped with a capacitive tap for connecting a
voltage test unit. This additional safety device reduces the risk of closing onto a live
conductor.

3.15.1 Earthing Materials:

1. Earthing grid: The copper bars themselves usually have a cross-sectional area of 95
square millimetres, and they are laid at a shallow depth of 0.25-0.5m, in 3-7m squares. In
addition to the buried potential earth grid, a separate above ground earthing ring is
usually provided, to which all metallic substation plant is bonded.
2. Connections: Connections to the grid and other earthing joints should not be soldered
because the heat generated during fault conditions could cause a soldered joint to fail.
Joints are usually bolted, and in this case, the face of the joints should be tinned.
3. Earthing Rods: The earthing grid must be supplemented by earthing rods to assist in
the dissipation of earth fault currents and further reduce the overall substation earthing
resistance. These rods are usually made of solid copper, or copper clad steel.
4. Switchyard Fence Earthing: The switchyard fence earthing practices are possible
and are used by different utilities. These are: (i) Extend the substation earth grid 0.5m1.5m beyond the fence perimeter. The fence is then bonded to the grid at regular
intervals. (ii) Place the fence beyond the perimeter of the switchyard earthing grid and

bond the fence to its own earthing rod system. This earthing rod system is not coupled to
the main substation earthing grid.

3.16 Insulation systems:

Insulation security has been rated very highly among the aims of good substation design.
Extensive research is done on improving flashover characteristics as well as combating
pollution.