Contents

1 Switchgear in a Network Context

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Single line diagrams Active and passive components Circuit breaker utilization Forms of medium voltage switchgear Basic circuit breaker design Auto reclosing

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2 2 2 3 5 8

Switchgear in an Historic Perspective

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Plain break oil circuit breakers Small oil volume circuit breakers Air blast circuit breakers Operating mechanisms SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers Puffer type SF6 circuit breakers

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13 18 19 23 23 25

Switchgear Rating and Specification

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Standards and factors affecting circuit breaker selection Rated voltage Ur Rated insulation level Rated short time withstand current (Ik) Rated peak withstand current (Ip) Symmetrical and asymmetrical rating Rated supply voltage of closing or opening devices (Ua) Rated supply frequency of closing or opening devices Stored energy operation Locking and interlocking devices Enclosure degrees of protection Gas leakage rates Testing for internal fault Switchgear ancillaries, measurement CTs, VTs

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29 30 31 33 34 34 35 36 36 36 37 38 40 44

Protection
4.1 4.2 4.3 Protection systems Cable terminations Substation and switch room layout and design

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47 55 57

Safety Policies
5.1 5.2 Principles of safety rules Operative training

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61 62

5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12

Personnel levels of competency Safety documentation Work on live systems or close to live systems Switching schedules Special precautions when working on switchgear Policies for operational and safety locking, safety notices and remote operation Switchgear operation case studies Substation inspection checklist Personal protective equipment (PPE) Fire protection in substations

63 63 64 65 69 73 74 74 75 77

Asset Management in a Switchgear Context

6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Overview Insulation deterioration Switchgear diagnostic techniques Substation battery condition and monitoring Switchgear maintenance procedures Problems that may be found during switchgear maintenance Defect management Examples of switchgear defects

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79 85 87 95 104 109 109 111

Maintenance of Circuit Breakers

7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 The importance of adequate maintenance LVCB on-site maintenance Maintenance of molded case circuit breakers Maintenance of low voltage circuit breakers Maintenance of medium voltage circuit breakers Electrical tests Sf6 breakers Summary

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115 116 117 120 121 125 126 128

Low Voltage Networks

8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 8.10 8.11 Introduction Air circuit breakers Molded case circuit breakers Arc chutes Thermal tripping methods Hydraulic tripping methods Precautions Applications and selective co-ordination Effect of point-on-wave occurrence- cascade systems IES 4 polarized release Time-current response curve

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129 130 130 131 131 132 135 136 139 141 142

8.12 8.13

Typical LV distribution systems Summary

143 143

Need for Protection

A.1 A.2 A.3 Need for protective apparatus Basic requirements of protection Summary

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145 145 146

Faults, Types & Effects

B.1 B.2 The development of simple distribution systems Faults - types and their effects

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149 151

Simple Calculation of Short Circuit Currents

C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4 C.5 Introduction Revision of basic formulae Calculation of short circuit MVA Useful formulae Cable information

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155 155 158 160 161

Case Study-Design of a Typical HV Switchboard Installation167

D.1 D.2 D.3 D.4 D.5 D.6 D.7 D.8 D.9 D.10 D.11 Preamble Standardization Inputs Design step-1: Basic equipment configuration Design step-2: Ratings of equipment and devices Design step-3: Control interfacing Design step-4: Board dimensions Design step-5: Space requirements Design step-6: Planning for other facilities Design review Conclusion 167 167 168 170 171 177 178 178 179 180 180

Case Studies of Circuit Breaker Related Failures

E.1 E.2 Case study 1: circuit breaker failure Case study 2: turbine outage

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181 182

Questions Answers

185 199