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A Review on Switchgear Analysis and Common

Challenges Observed in Switchgear
Prof. Chennakeshava R Niharika Rao R*, M Karthik, Mohammed Shihab &
Dept. of Mechatronics Engineering Prajath Mahabala Rai
MITE Moodabidri, India Dept. of Mechatronics Engineering
MITE Moodabidri, India

Abstract— The digitization of manufactured goods has now components in a switchgear assembly: control components
become a phenomenon with the implementation of new sensor that conduct or disrupt the stream of electrical power, such as
technology and the growth of IoT instruments. People with switches, circuit breakers, fuses, and lightning, control
large, exorbitant machinery would like to keep a record of the systems for monitoring, controlling, and safeguarding of
assets' critical parameters. As a result, medium voltage
equipment, mainly switchgear diagnostics has become incredibly
power driving elements, such as control panels, current
valuable. On-site analyses and monitoring of circuit breaker transformers, future transformers, protection relays, and
drives, contacts, gas quality, gas density, and partial discharges related circuits. Security, which is the disruption of short-
could be achieved with varying degrees of tolerance and circuiting and overload fault currents while sustaining
operational efficiency. They are mounted in substations to operation to unaffected circuits Gts, is one of the most basic
supply energy to cities from electrical networks from overhead features of switchgear. Alienation of circuits from power
power lines or underground cables. Safety and efficiency are supplies is also provided by switchgear. Switchgear can also
major concerns in this equipment due to the high voltage and improve system availability by allowing several sources to
current flow. Thus, various types of sensors are used in the feed a load. Gas-insulated switchgear saves space compared
system to keep track of the system’s performance. This paper
presents a detailed examination of the Switchgear Study, its
with air-insulated equipment, although the equipment cost is
implementations, and the challenges observed. higher. An effective although more costly form of switchgear
is the gas-insulated As compared to air-insulated switchgear,
Keywords— Medium Voltage Switchgears, Gas Insulated gas-insulated switchgear takes up less room, but the cost of
Switchgear, IoT, Safety methods, Operational Efficiency, System the equipment is higher, pressurized sulfur hexafluoride
Performance. gas(SF6) is used to insulate conductors and contacts in
I. INTRODUCTION switchgear (GIS)[2]. The switchgear enclosure's mix of
devices allows them to interrupt fault currents of thousands of
Switchgears predate the invention of electricity. The volts. The primary component that interrupts fault currents is
first versions were very basic, with all elements directly a circuit breaker (located inside a switchgear enclosure).
attached to a wall. They were then installed on wood frames. When the circuit breaker breaks apart the contacts
The wood was substituted with slate or marble for fire safety (disconnects the circuit), the arc must be quenched with
purposes. Since the switching and measurement instruments caution. Gas (SF6) circuit breakers use a magnetic field to
could be connected to the front while the wire was on the extend the arc and then concentrate on the SF6 gas's dielectric
rear, this resulted in further modifications. The simplest type power to quench the extended arc. Since there is little to
of switchgear is a tumbler switch with an ordinary fuse, ionize other than the contact medium in circuit breakers with
which was used to operate and secure lights and other vacuum interrupters, the arc quenches as it is extended by a
appliances in houses, workplaces, and other places. A high- tiny distance (about 2–8 mm)[3]. The arc isn't hot enough to
rupturing capacity (H.R.C.) fuse and a switch can be used to hold a plasma at zero current, so the current stops; the void
control and secure higher-rated circuits. Moreover, on a will then tolerate the voltage spike. Current medium-voltage
high-voltage grid, though, such switchgear is unprofitable. switchgear up to 40,500 volts commonly uses vacuum circuit
Switchgear is made up of electrical disconnect switches, breakers. Since there is no "current zero" time for DC,
fuses, and circuit breakers that are used to operate, secure, vacuum circuit breakers are unsuitable for breaking high DC
and separate electrical devices in an electric power system. voltages. The plasma arc can be fed on its own by starting to
Switchgear is used to de-energize machinery so that it can gasify the contact material[4]. Today, the Medium voltage
perform maintenance operations on it, as well as to clear GIS mostly uses SF6, due to their efficient isolation and
faults downstream[1]. The efficiency of the power supply is thermal properties, as the insulation and the break-down
directly associated with this type of equipment. Arc energy medium. While SF6 has excellent properties, it also
can be stored and securely handled with oil-filled switchgear. represents the world's most dangerous greenhouse gas. Each
By the early twentieth century, it was almost clear that a year, only SF6 pollution led to a huge 0.5% of global
switchgear line-up would be a metal-enclosed structure with warming. Due to the extreme greenhouse effects of SF6, an
electrically operated switching components and oil circuit alternative approach to SF6 in switchgear is required.[5]
breakers. Today, air-blast, vacuum or SF6 equipment has
effectively replaced oil-filled equipment today, allowing
broad currents and input voltages to be safely controlled by
automatic equipment. There are two categories of

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II. TYPES OF SWITCHGEAR III. CIRCUIT BREAKER

The switchgear is available in three different types: LV The primary aspect that interrupts fault currents is a circuit
(Low Voltage), MV (Medium Voltage), and HV (High breaker (within a switchgear enclosure). The quenching of
Voltage). the arc as the circuit breaker takes apart the contacts
(disconnects the circuit) necessitates cautious construction.
A. Low Voltage Switchgear
As current reaches a predetermined safe amount, circuit
Low voltage switchgear refers to a power grid that operates at breakers and fuses trip. Other critical defects, such as
less than 1 kV. The secondary (low-tension) side of the unbalanced currents—for example, where a transformer
power distribution transformer also features low-voltage winding touches the ground—are not detectable. Circuit
switchgear. This arrangement of transformer and switchgear breakers and fuses, on their own, are unable to differentiate
is called a substation. Low-voltage switchgear is normally between short circuits and elevated levels of electrical
used for the feeding of LV-MCCs and low-voltage demands[9].
switchboards and other branch and feeding systems. It
supplies electricity to critical energy and process applications,
such as heavy industry, construction, mines and steel, IV. TYPES OF CIRCUIT BREAKER
petrochemical, pulp and paper, water, datacenter, and Circuit breakers/insulated Switchgears fall into these five
healthcare. The most common equipment includes switches, types: Oil circuit breaker, Air brake circuit breaker, Air blast
LV circuit breakers, HRC fuses, earth leakage (EL), circuit breaker, GIS / Sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker,
disrupting circuit breakers, offloading electrical insulators, Hybrid circuit breaker, Vacuum circuit breaker.
MCBs, and MCCBs.[6]
A. Oil Insulted Circuit Breaker
To blast a jet of oil down the direction of the arc, oil
B. Medium Voltage Switchgear circuit breakers depend on the vaporization of some of the
Medium voltage switchgear is a switchgear device that can oil. Arcing causes hydrogen gas to be emitted as a vapor.
handle voltages ranging from 3 to 36 kV. These are available Mineral oil is a more effective insulator than air. As current
in a variety of styles, including metal-enclosed outdoor type, carrying contacts in the oil separate, the arc in the circuit
metal-enclosed indoor type, and outdoor type without metal breaker is initiated at the time of contact separation, and the
enclosure. Vacuum, SF, and oil can all be used as disturbance oil is vaporized and decomposed into largely hydrogen gas,
mediums in this form of switchgear. The primary function of thereby forming a hydrogen bubble around the electric arc.
this form of the power network is to interrupt current flow in Since the current crosses zero crossings of the cycle, this
the event of a failure in the grid. This is capable of ON/OFF intensely dense gas bubble around the arc stops the arc from
service, short circuit current interference, capacitive current re-striking.[10]
switching, inductive current switching, and is used in a
variety of applications. Arc furnaces, medium-voltage
electrical transmission lines, SF6 gas-insulated, air magnetic, B. Air Insulted Circuit Breaker
gas-insulated, vacuum and electrical power generating Air Insulated Circuit Breaker (ACB) is an electrical device
stations are examples of applications [7]. used to provide Overcurrent and short-circuit protection for
electric circuits over 800 Amps to 10K Amps. To extend the
C. High Voltage Switchgear
arc, air circuit breakers may use compressed air (puff) or the
High voltage switchgear is a power system that deals with magnetic power of the arc itself. The elongated arc would
voltages greater than 36 kV. The arcing created during ultimately exhaust itself because the duration of the
switching operation is also very high due to the high voltage sustainable arc is determined by the available voltage.
level. As a result, extra caution should be exercised when Alternatively, the contacts are quickly swung into a shallow
building high-voltage switchgear. Since the high voltage enclosed chamber, blowing out the arc as the expelled air
circuit breaker (CB) is the most important part of HV escapes[10].
switchgear, it must have specific features for safe and stable
operation. High-voltage circuits with faulty tripping and
switching operations are very unlikely. caused due to the C. Gas Insulated / SF6 Circuit Breaker
friction in dielectric contact inside the circuit breaker which The gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) is a popular electrical
may lead to the destruction of the entire system or workplace equipment that uses sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as an insulator.
in the worst scenario, this light or sparks at the initial stage It is an efficient but more expensive type of switchgear.
will be sensed by the light sensor and this will switch on an Pressurized SF6 is used to insulate the conductors and
alarm informing the controller about the malfunction contacts. The GIS switchgear enclosure's mix of devices
occurring, thus avoiding any damage to the system. In case of allows them to interrupt fault currents of thousands of amps.
any emergency, the system can then be completely turned When using a magnetic field to extend the arc, gas-insulated
down thus helping the industry keep a better and constant circuit breakers depend on the dielectric power of the SF6 gas
check[8]. to quench the extended arc[10].

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D. Hybrid Circuit Breaker in industrial works, industrial projects, domestic and

The elements of a conventional air-insulated switchgear commercial buildings, in addition to power grid networks to
(AIS) and SF6 gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) technologies maintain safety in all fields.
are combined in hybrid switchgear. It has a lightweight and
VI. CHALLENGES OBSERVED IN SWITCHGEAR
modular architecture that combines many separate functions
into a single module[10]. Even though switchgear acts as a medium of protection
to various electrical devices, they themselves require to be
monitored constantly to avoid any malfunctions. The most
E. Vacuum Insulated Circuit Breaker common problems faced in Switchgears are increased heat,
Since there is little to ionize other than the contact medium increased pressure, and arc faults.
in circuit breakers with vacuum interrupters, the arc quenches
A. Temperature Rise
as it is extended by a tiny distance (about 2–8 mm). The arc
isn't hot enough to hold a plasma at zero current, so current Due to the extremely high voltage equipment present
bridges the gap, and can then endure the voltage spike. within the switchgear, the temperature has become a major
Current medium-voltage switchgear up to 40,500 volts concern. It is impossible to constantly track the switchgear
commonly uses vacuum circuit breakers. They are temperature conditions with repeated visits to the setup since
fundamentally unsuitable for interrupting DC faults, unlike the issues that have occurred can worsen if not addressed
the other styles. Since there is no ‘current zero' cycle for DC, immediately[11].
vacuum circuit breakers are unsuitable for breaking high DC
voltages. The plasma arc will self-feed by condensing. By B. Vacuum/Over Pressure
continuing to gasify the contact material, the plasma arc will
self-feed[10]. A small amount of pressure persists or escapes from
within the switchgear containers during the suction of air,
resulting in a significant decrease in switchgear performance.
V. APPLICATIONS OF SWITCHGEAR This could have an impact on future processes or may result
in an explosion due to the accumulation of pressure in the
To separate or de-energize devices, power stations used
undesired breach inside the system[12].
basic disconnectors, also known as open knife switches. With
the constant rise in power levels, manually opening such
disconnectors became unsafe, necessitating the use of geared C. Arc Flash/Arching
switches, which were then combined to form "Switchgear." It The medium between the opening contacts in a circuit
assists in protecting the appliances & electrical machines. breaker becomes heavily ionized during the opening of
The switch is used to manually open and close the electrical current-carrying contacts, allowing the interrupting current to
circuit in our home, while the electrical fuse protects the pass along a low resistive path even after the contacts are
circuit from overcurrent and short circuit faults. Similarly, physically isolated. An arc fault in switchgear triggers a long-
switching and protective equipment are required in any term power outage, equipment destruction, and a safety threat
electrical circuit, including high-voltage electrical control to workers, this forces us to take precautions, well before so
systems. However, in high voltage and extra-high voltage that any unwanted accidents can be prevented. Continuous
systems, this switching and defensive scheme get more monitoring of equipment and early detection of potential
difficult in order to safely and securely interrupt high fault failures can facilitate a more proactive and comprehensive
currents. Furthermore, any electrical power system requires a arc-flash prevention system[13].
weighing, controlling, and regulating scheme from a
commercial standpoint. The entire system is referred to as VII. CONCLUSION
switchgear and power system safety. Switchgear safety is The primary objective of this review is to brief about the
critical in today's power systems, from generation to Switchgear and the challenges observed in a switchgear.
transmission to delivery. The switchgear must carry, make, Electrical switchgear is a critical factor of electrical control
and split regular load currents in the same way as a switch systems worldwide, and it is used to both transmit and
does, as well as simple faults in the control grid. It also has selectively separate electrical loads. In particular, the
the capability of measuring and controlling the different unexpected temperature rise at a particular location could
parameters of electrical power systems. Circuit breakers, indicate corrosion or some other type of defect. Thermal
current transformers, voltage transformers, safety relays, effects are especially visible in medium voltage switchgear
measuring devices, electrical switches, electrical fuses, used in distribution networks, where electrical currents may
miniature circuit breakers, lightning arresters or surge rise to few thousands of amperes. As a result, maintaining
arresters, electrical isolators, and other related equipment are switchgear in good working order over the course of their
all used in the switchgear to ensure the protection of electrical long lives becomes crucial. Currently, switchgear bus
systems. Any switching point in the electrical power grid temperature monitoring is either carried out on a periodic
necessitates the use of electric switchgear. Between the basis by means of manual inspections using IR cameras or by
generating stations and load centers, there are different means of fibre optic systems that turn out to be too
voltage levels and hence various fault levels. As a result, expensive[14]. One of the key outcomes of the online
based on the system's voltage levels, different types of monitoring and diagnostic approach is a desire to improve the
switchgear assembly are needed. Electrical switchgear is used electrification system's maintenance strategy. As a result, a

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Applications Conference, 2004. 39th IAS Annual Meeting., Seattle,
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with the resources and knowledge to conduct the 10.1109/IAS.2004.1348706. Osaka, Japan, 2020, pp. 130-134, doi:
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