INTRODUCTION TO

SWITCHGEAR

PETER REY M. TUMOLVA, REE

 General
A great demand for electrical energy isa notable
feature of modern civilization. Most of this energy is
needed for lighting, domestic appliances, industrial
electrical machinery and electric traction. The
importance of electric supply in everyday life has
reached such a stage that it is desirable to protect the
power system from harm during fault conditions and to
ensure maximum continuity of supply.
 General
For this purpose, means must be provided to
switch on or off generators, transmission lines,
distributors and other equipment under normal and
abnormal conditions. This is achieved by an apparatus
called switchgear. A switchgear essentially consists
of switching and protecting devices such as switches,
fuses, circuit breakers, relays, etc.
 General
During normal operation, switchgear permits to
switch on or off generators, transmission lines,
distributors and other electrical equipment. On the
other hand, when failure (e.g. short circuit) occurs o
any part of the power system, a heavy current flows
through the equipment, threatening damage to the
equipment and interruption of service to the
customers. However, switchgear detects the fault and
disconnects the unhealthy section from the system. In
this way, switchgear protects the system from the
damage and ensures continuity of supply.
 Switchgear
The apparatus used for switching, controlling and
protecting the electrical equipment is known as
switchgear.
The switchgear equipment is essentially concerned
with switching and interrupting currents either under
normal or abnormal operating conditions.
Essential Features of Switchgear

1. Complete Reliability
With the continued trend of interconnection and the
increasing capacity of generating stations, the need
for a reliable switchgear has become of paramount
importance. This is not surprising because switchgear
is added to the power system to improve the reliability.
When fault occurs on any part of the power system,
the switchgear must operate to isolate the faulty
section from the remainder circuit.
Essential Features of Switchgear

2. Absolutely Certain Discrimination

When fault occurs on any section of the power
system, the switchgear must be able to discriminate
between the faulty section and the healthy section. It
should isolate the faulty section from the system
without affecting the healthy section. This will ensure
continuity of supply.
Essential Features of Switchgear

3. Quick Operation
When fault occurs on any part of 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 shut
down of the system.
Essential Features of Switchgear

4. Provision for Manual Control

A switchgear must have provision for manual
control. In case the electrical (or electronics) control
fails, the necessary operation can be carried out
through manual control.
Essential Features of Switchgear

5. Provision for Instruments

There must be provision for instruments which may
be required. These may be in the form of ammeter or
voltmeter on the unit itself or the necessary current
and voltage transformers for connecting to the main
switchboard or a separate instrument panel.
 Switchgear Equipment

Switchgear covers a wide range of equipment

concerned with switching and interrupting currents
under both normal and abnormal condition. It include
switches, fuses, circuit breakers, relays and other
equipment.
Switchgear Equipment - Switches

Switches
A switch is a device which is used to open or close
an electrical circuit in a convenient way. It can be used
under full-load or no-load conditions but it cannot
interrupt the fault currents. When the contacts of a
switch are opened, an arc* is produced in the air
between the contacts. This is particularly true for
circuits of high voltage and large current capacity.

*Generally, the load contains reactive elements

(inductance and capacitance). The sudden change in the
circuit due to breaking results in the production of large
induced emf (several thousand volts) which ruptures the
insulation of air between the contacts, causing a spark.
Switchgear Equipment - Switches

Play Video:
Electric Arc
Switchgear Equipment - Switches
Air-break switch
It is an air switch and is designed to open a circuit
under load. In order to quench the arc that occurs on
opening such a switch, special arcing horns are
provided. Arcing horns are pieces of metals between
which arc is formed during opening operation. As the
switch opens, these horns are spread farther and
farther apart. Consequently, the arc is lengthened,
cooled and interrupted. Air-break switches are
generally used outdoor or circuits of medium capacity
such as lines supplying an industrial load from a main
transmission line or feeder.
Switchgear Equipment - Switches
Isolator or Disconnecting Switch
It is essentially a knife switch and is designed to
open a circuit under no load. Its main purpose is to
isolate one portion of the circuit from the other and is
not intended to be opened while current is flowing in
the line. Such switches are generally used on both
sides of circuit breakers in order that repairs and
replacement of circuit breakers can be made without
any danger. They should never be opened until the
circuit breaker in the same circuit has been opened
and should always be closed before the circuit breaker
is closed.
Switchgear Equipment - Switches

Image of a disconnecting switch

Switchgear Equipment - Switches
Oil Switches
As the name implies, the contacts of such switches
are opened under oil, usually transformer oil. The
effect of oil is to cool and quench the arc that tends to
form when the circuit is opened. These switches are
used for circuits of high voltage and large current
carrying capacities.
Switchgear Equipment - Switches

Image of an oil switch

Switchgear Equipment - Fuses
Fuses
A fuse is a short piece of wire or thin strip which
melts when excessive current flows through it for
sufficient time. It is inserted in series with the circuit to
be protected. Under normal operating conditions, the
fuse element is at a temperature below its melting
point. Therefore, it carried the normal load current
without overheating. However, when a short circuit or
overload occurs, the current through the fuse element
increases beyond its rated capacity. This raises the
temperature and fuse element melts (or blows out),
disconnecting the circuit protected by it.
Switchgear Equipment - Fuses
In this way, a fuse protects the machines and
equipment from damage due to excessive currents. It
is worthwhile to note that a fuse performs both
detections and interruption functions.
Switchgear Equipment - Fuses

Image of a fuse
Switchgear Equipment – Circuit Breaker

Circuit Breaker
A circuit breaker is an equipment which can open
or close a circuit under all conditions (no load, full load
and fault conditions). It is designed that it can be
operated manually (or by remote control) under
normal conditions and automatically under fault
conditions. The circuit breaker essentially consists of
moving and fixed contacts enclosed in strong metal
tank and immersed in oil, known as transformer oil.
Switchgear Equipment – Circuit Breaker

Under normal operating conditions, the contacts

remain closed and the circuit breaker carries the full-
load current continuously. In this condition, the emf in
the secondary winding of current transformer (CT) is
insufficient to operate the trip coil of the breaker but
the contacts can be opened (and hence the circuit is
opened) by manual or remote control.
Switchgear Equipment – Circuit Breaker

When a fault occurs the resulting overcurrent in the

CT primary windings increases the secondary emf.
This energizes the trip coil of the breaker and moving
contacts are pulled down, thus opening the contacts
and hence the circuit. The arc produced during the
opening operation is quenched by the oil. It is
interesting to note that relay performs the function of
detecting a fault whereas the circuit breaker does the
actual circuit interruption.
Switchgear Equipment – Circuit Breaker

Play Video:
Circuit Break Operation
Switchgear Equipment – Circuit Breaker
Switchgear Equipment – Relays

Relays
A relay is a device which
detects the fault and
supplies information to the
breaker for circuit
interruption.
Switchgear Equipment – Relays

It can be divided into three parts:

1. The primary winding of a current transformer (CT)
which is connected in series with the circuit to be
protected. The primary winding often consists of
the main conductor itself.
2. The second circuit is the secondary winding of CT
connected to the relay operating coil.
3. The third circuit is the tripping circuit which consists
of a source of supply, trip coil of circuit breaker and
the relay stationary contacts.
Switchgear Equipment – Relays

Under normal load conditions, the emf of the

secondary winding of CT is small and the current
flowing in the relay operating coil is insufficient to
close the relay contacts. This keeps the trip coil of the
circuit breaker unenergized. When a fault occurs, a
large current flows through the primary of CT. This
increases the secondary emf and hence the current
through the relay operating coil. The relay contacts are
closed and the trip coil of the circuit breaker is
energizes to open the contacts of the circuit breaker.
Bus Bar Arrangements
 Bus Bar Arrangements

When a number of generators or feeders operating

at the same voltage have to be directly connected
electrically, bus bars* are used as the common
electrical component. Bus bars are copper rods or thin
walled tubes and operate at constant voltage.

*The term bus is derived from the word omnibus,

meaning collector of things. Thus, electrical bus bar is
the collector of electrical energy at one location.
 Bus Bar Arrangements

We shall discuss some important bus bar

arrangements used for power stations and
substations. All the diagrams refer to 3-phase
arrangement but are shown in single-phase for
simplicity.
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System
1. Single Bus Bar System
The single bus bar system has the simplest design and
is used for power stations. The generators, outgoing lines
and transformers are connected to the bus bar. Each
generator and feeder is controlled by a circuit breaker. The
isolators permit to isolate generators, feeders and circuit
breakers from the bus bar for maintenance.
Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System
Advantages
1. Low initial cost
2. Less maintenance
3. Simple operation

Disadvantages
4. The bus bar cannot be cleaned, repaired or
tested without de-energizing the whole system.
5. If a fault occurs on the bus bar itself, there is a
complete interruption of supply.
6. Any fault on the system is fed by all the
generating capacity, resulting in very large fault
current.
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System with Sectionalisation

2. Single Bus Bar System with Sectionalisation

In large generating stations where several units are
installed, it is a common practice to sectionalize the
bus so that fault on any section of the bus bar will not
cause complete shut down.
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System with Sectionalisation
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System with Sectionalisation

Advantages
1. If a fault occurs on any section of the bus bar, that
section can be isolated without affecting the supply
to other sections.
2. If a fault occurs on any feeder, the fault current is
much lower than with unsectionalized bus bar. This
permits the use of circuit breakers of lower capacity
in the feeders.
3. Repairs and maintenance of any section of the bus
bar can be carried out by de-energizing that section
only, eliminating the possibility of complete shut
down.
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Single Bus Bar System with Sectionalisation

It is worthwhile to keep in mind that a circuit

breaker should be used as the sectionalizing switch so
that uncoupling of the bus bars may be carried out
safely during load transfer. Moreover, the circuit
breaker itself should be provided with isolators on both
sides so that its maintenance can be done while the
bus bars are alive.
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Duplicate Bus Bar System
Duplicate Bus Bar System
In large stations, it is important that breakdowns
and maintenance should interfere as little as possible
with continuity of supply. In order to achieve this
objective, duplicate bus bar system is used in
important stations. Such a system consists of two bus
bars, a “main bus bar” and a “spare bus bar”. Each
generator and feeder may be connected to either bus
bar with the help of bus coupler which consists of a
circuit breaker and isolators.
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Duplicate Bus Bar System
 Bus Bar Arrangements
Duplicate Bus Bar System
Advantages
1. If repair and maintenance is to be carried on the
main bus, the supply need not be interrupted as the
entire load can be transferred to the spare bus.
2. The testing of feeder circuit breakers can be done
by putting them on spare bus bar, thus keeping the
main bus bar undisturbed.
3. If a fault occurs on the bus, the continuity of supply
to the circuit can be maintained by transferring it to
the other bus bar.
Short Circuit
 Short Circuit

Whenever a fault occurs on a network such that a

large current flows in one or more phases, a short
circuit is said to have occurred.
When a short circuit occurs, a heavy current called
short circuit current flows through the circuit. This can
be beautifully illustrated by referring to the figure
where a single-phase generator of voltage V and
internal impedance Zi is supplying a load Z.
Short Circuit
 Short Circuit

Under normal conditions, the current in the circuit

is limited by load impedance Z (as Zi is generally
small). However, if the load terminals get shorted due
to any reason, the circuit impedance is reduced to a
very low value, being Zi in this case. As Zi is very
small, therefore, a large current flows through the
circuit. This is called short circuit current.
 Short Circuit

It is important to make a distinction between a

short circuit and an overload. When a short circuit
occurs, the voltage at fault point is reduced to zero
and current of abnormally high magnitude flows
through the network to the point of fault.
On the other hand, an overload means that the
loads greater than the designed values have been
imposed on the system. Under such conditions, the
voltage at the overload point may be low, but not zero.
The currents in the overloaded equipment are high but
are substantially lower than that in the case of a short
circuit.
Short Circuit

Play Video:
Short Circuit
 Short Circuit - Causes

A short circuit in the power system is the result of

some kind of abnormal conditions in the system. It
may be caused due to internal and/or external effects.

Internal Causes
These are caused by breakdown of equipment or
transmission lines, from deterioration of insulation in a
generator, transformer, etc. Such troubles may be due
to ageing of insulation, inadequate design or improper
installation.
 Short Circuit - Causes

External Causes
These include insulation failure due to lightning
surges, overloading of equipment causing excessive
heating; mechanical damage by public etc.
 Short Circuit - Effects

1. The heavy current due to short circuit causes

excessive heating which may result in fire or
explosion. Sometimes short circuit takes the form of
an arc and causes considerable damage to the
system. For example, an arc on a transmission line
not cleared quickly will burn the conductor severely
causing it to break, resulting in a long time interruption
of the line.
 Short Circuit - Effects

2. The low voltage created by the fault has a very

harmful effect on the service rendered by the power
system. If the voltage remains low for even a few
seconds, the consumers’ motors may be shut down
and generators on the power system may become
unstable.

Due to these detrimental effects of short circuit, it is

desirable and necessary to disconnect the faulty
section and restore normal voltage and current
conditions as quickly as possible.
 Short Circuit Currents

Most of the failures on the power system lead to short

circuit fault and cause heavy current to flow in the
system. The calculations of these short circuit current
are important for the following reasons:

1. A short circuit on the power system is cleared by a

circuit breaker or a fuse. It is necessary, therefore,
to know the maximum possible values of short
circuit current so that switchgear of suitable rating
may be installed to interrupt them.
 Short Circuit Currents

2. The magnitude of short circuit current determines

the setting and sometimes the types and locations of
protective system.

3. The magnitude of the short circuit current

determines the size of the protective reactors which
must be inserted in the system so that the circuit
breaker is able to withstand the fault current.

4. The calculation of short circuit currents enables us

to make proper selection of the associated apparatus
so that they can withstand the forces that arise due to
the occurrence pf short circuits.
 Faults in a Power System

A fault occurs when two or more conductors that

normally operate with a potential difference come in
contact with each other. These faults may be caused
by sudden failure of a piece of equipment, accidental
damage or short circuit to overhead lines or by
insulation failure resulting from lightning surges.
Irrespective to causes, the faults in a 3-phase system
can be classified into two main categories:
symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults.
 Faults in a Power System

Symmetrical Faults
The fault which gives rise to symmetrical fault
current (i.e. equal fault currents with 120 degrees
displacement) is called a symmetrical fault.
The most common example of symmetrical fault is
when all three conductors of a 3-phase line are
brought together simultaneously into a short circuit
condition.
 Faults in a Power System

Unsymmetrical Faults
Those faults which give rise to unsymmetrical
currents (i.e. unequal line currents with unequal
displacement) are called unsymmetrical faults. The
unsymmetrical faults may take one of the following
forms:
a. Single line-to ground fault
b. Line-to-line fault
c. Double line-to-ground fault

The great majority of faults on the power system

are of unsymmetrical nature; the most common type
being a short circuit from one line to ground.