Presentation on
DESCRIPTION AND
WORKING OF
OUTDOOR SWITCHGEAR
INTRODUCTION
Electricity is today’s lifeline; we can’t think life without electricity
at our doorstep. Now the time has come to supply a quality, reliable
and economical electricity at user’s disposal. One of the important
links between the user and the generator is the transmission of
electricity .
The pivot of reliable transmission of electricity concentrates on the
outdoor switchyards. Thus reliable, efficient and protected outdoor
switchyard with control gears and switchgears of pronounced
technologies and the ultramodern designs can improve the reliability
of the electricity.
This presentation represents an overview of description and working
outdoor switchgears.
It includes basic switchgears and their descriptions and features.
Generally following equipments are coming under this category-
Isolators
Load Break Switches
Earth Switches
Circuit Breakers
Basic Arrangement of S/W
Basic Arrangement
Isolator
Def: An Isolator is disconnecting switch which can isolate an
electric circuit when the circuit is to be switched on no-load.
Switching Isolators are capable of
i) Interrupting transformer magnetizing currents
ii) Interrupting line charging current; and
iii) Load transfer switching.
These are normally used in various circuits for the purpose of
isolation a certain portion when required for maintenance etc.
These are used in addition to circuit breakers. While breaking
the circuit, the circuit breaker is opened first and then isolators.
While closing the circuit isolators are closed first then circuit
breaker.
Types of Isolators
Isolator are classified as
1)Vertical Break Type
2)Horizontal break type
i) Center break type
ii) Double break type
3)Vertical Pantograph type
Isolators may be sub-divided into following categories:
1)Pneumatically operated
2)Motor operated
They can also be sub-divided as under:
1)Centre post rotating type
2)Both post rotating type.
Vertical Break Type
It has following main component
Moving contact with arm.
Fixed contact mounted on insulator post.
It has two set of insulators are mounted on a I section channel.
The I section channel is usually earthed.
Each insulator has fixed terminals for connecting it to
concerned lines.
The moving contact is operated by an operating mechanism
which is either pneumatically or electrical motor controlled.
Whenever isolator is required to be opened, operating
mechanism is operated by control, which in turn pushes the
moving contact upward, thus disconnecting the circuit.
Operating mechanism connected to moving contact through
another insulator.
Application: For 25KV,33 KV supply system. For railways
and traction system
Vertical Isolator
Horizontal Break Isolator:
It has 3 stack of insulator per phase. These insulators are
mounted on a galvanized steel channel or frame.
Two insulator stacks one at each end is fixed to base whereas
the central insulator stack is free to rotate around its own
vertical axis. It can rotate about its vertical axis through 90
degrees.
The fixed contacts are provided on the top of each side
insulator.
The central insulator and hence moving contact is operated by
an operating mechanism installed at the base, the operating
mechanism being controlled pneumatically or electrically.
When the insulator is to be opened, the central stack of insulator
is rotated through 90 and the contact bar swing horizontally and
produces double break.
Application: 11KV,220KV,400KV substations.
Horizontal Isolator
Pantograph Isolator
Its construction is very similar to locomotive
pantograph.
At the time of closing the linkage of pantograph are
brought nearer by rotating insulator column.
In closed position the overhead station bus bars
gripped by two arms of pantograph.
When isolator require to open, rotating insulator
column is rotated in opposite direction due to which
pantograph blades collapse in vertical plane and
isolation is obtained.
Application: 400KV system.
Pantograph Isolator
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
It is device capable of making and breaking an electric circuit
under normal and abnormal conditions.
Circuit breaker is an electromechanical device which can
i) Make or break the circuit either manually or by remote
control under normal conditions
ii) Break the circuit automatically under abnormal conditions.
iii) Make a circuit under abnormal conditions either by
manually or by remote control.
The circuit breakers used in three phase system are called triple
pole circuit breakers. For single phase application like single
phase traction system single pole circuit breakers are used. Each
pole of circuit breaker comprises one or more interrupts or arc-
extinguishing chambers. The interrupters are mounted on
support insulators .The interrupter encloses a set of fixed and
moving contact.
Basic operation
When fault occurs excessive current flows.
Increased current in secondary of CT increases the
torque to operate the relay coil.
As relay operates the trip circuit closes.
Energized trip coil actuates operation mechanism of
circuit breaker.
When circuit breaker arc is established.
This arc is extinguished by arc quenching
mechanism.
Faulty part is disconnected in this way.
Basic Principle
Types of Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breakers classifications are broadly made on:
A. Location of Installation:
i) Indoor Circuit Breakers
ii) Outdoor Circuit Breakers.
B. Current Interruption and arc quenching Methods :
i) Bulk oil circuit breakers
ii) Minimum oil circuit breakers
iii) Air blast circuit breakers
iv) Sulphur hexafluride (SF6)circuit breaker
v) Vaccum circuit breakers
C. Operating Mechanisms
i) Spring operated circuit breaker
ii) Solenoid operated circuit breaker
iii) Pressure operated circuit breaker
The circuit breakers can also be divided into two
broad categories on account of its operation, these are
i) Fixed trip type
ii) Trip free type
Air Blast Circuit Breakers
Air blast circuit breakers are further classified as follows
Axial blast type
Cross blast type
Radial blast type
Axial Blast type circuit breaker
In this type of breaker high pressure air is forced on the arc
through a nozzle at the instant of contact separation.
This blast sweeps away the ionized medium between the
contacts. After the arc extinguishes at current zero the chamber
is filled by high pressure air preventing restrike.
Air Blast circuit Breaker
Construction of ABCB
It consists of double 3 double arc extinction chambers each
mounted on hollow insulator assembly.
These assemblies are mounted on a air tank reservoir which
stores compressed air ( 20 to 30 kg/cm2).
Arc extinction chamber has pair of moving contacts.
The three arc extinction chamber are connected together by
isolator.
In air blast circuit breakers, the interrupters are insulated from
earth by means of porcelain Insulators, the number being
determined by the system voltage.
220 KV Air Blast CB
Operation of ABCB
When the fault occurs, trip circuit operates the operating
mechanism of circuit breaker.
The operating mechanism opens an air valve and allows
compressed air to flow through hollow insulators.
This high pressure air rapidly enters the double arc extinction
chamber. This high pressure air develops pressure on moving
contact and when it becomes more than spring pressure,
moving contact separates from fixed contact.
The arc struck between the moving the contact and fixed
contact. The arc is then swept away by incoming high speed
air through ongoing port.
It is possible till moving away from fixed contact. At the end
of contact travel the port I closed by moving contact and the
entire arc extinction chamber is filled by high pressure air.
This air has very high dielectric strength and it prevents
restricting of arc.
Air Blast CB working
Application
In high voltage AC system
12KV, 40 KVA;
22KV, 40 KVA;
145KV, 40KVA;
245KV, 40 KVA
Oil circuit Breaker
There are two types of oil circuit breakers
i) Minimum oil circuit breaker
ii) Bulk oil circuit breaker
Minimum oil circuit breaker
Construction:-
As the name suggest it utilizes minimums oil for arc
quenching and isolation. It has two separate
chambers/components.
Both the chamber are filled by mineral oil. In the upper most
chambers fixed contact and moving contact are installed
breaking actions takes place in this chamber.
The lower chamber is supporting chamber. Both the chamber
are separated from each other by a partition.
Minimum Oil CB
Operation of MOCB
In normal condition, the moving contact rested on the fixed
contact i.e. contact is in enclosed conditions.
When fault occurs, the operating mechanism actuates and
separates moving contact from fixed contact.
The arc thus struck.
This arc vaporizes the oil and gases are produced at a very
high pressure at a very high pressure.
Due to nozzle action of arc control device provided, the gases
leaves the arc control device with tremendous speed is then
filled by fresh oil.
In this way arc quenched.
Outdoor Minimum Oil CB
Minimum Oil CB
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) CB
This circuit breaker employs a new arc extinguishing
medium namely sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas. SF6
circuit breakers are generally outdoor circuit breakers.
It consist of
A. Reserve tank
B. Operating rod
C. High pressure reservoir
D. Blast valve
E. Blast tubes
F. Contacts
SF6 constructional features
Basic Principle of SF6
The circuit breaker utilizes SF6 gas at high pressure to quench
the arc.
Three breakers are mounted on common base tubes.
The operating mechanism is concerned through fiber rods to
moving contacts of each pole breaker simultaneously.
Movable cylinder provided for puffer action.
This circuit breaker is completely sealed and operates as a
closed system which means that no flame is emitted during
operation and the noise level is considerably reduced.
Operation of SF6 CB
When fault occurs, operating mechanism separates the
moving contact from fixed contact, through fiber rod.
The arc is thus struck.
During the arcing period, SF6 gas being good conductor of
heat removes the heat removes the heat of arc by radiation and
convection process.
As a result of this, diameter of arc also decreases accordingly.
At natural current zero, arc is quenched momentarily since
SF6 gas is electronegative and has low arc time constant,
dielectric strength of SF6 gas increase very rapidly and thus
prevents restriking of arc.
To accelerate rate of building of high dielectric
strength, puffer mechanism is used.
During contact separation , movable cylinder also
moves in such a way that SF6 gas in space between
moving chamber and fixed chamber get compressed.
This high pressure gas is made to folw from high
pressure zone to low pressure zone though
convergent and divergent nozzle.
This nozzle is located in such a way that the gas
covers the arc.
This helps in reducing arc diameter at current zero,
the space is filled by fresh SF6.
Thus it prevents restriking of arc.
SF6 working
Vacuum Circuit Breakers
As vacuum has high dielectric strength to any other
medium it is superior arc quickening medium.
When contact separates in a vacuum , an arc is
produced.
It constitutes plasma.
The amount of plasma is proportional to arc current.
At current zero vapor condenses rapidly thereby
building dielectric strength at much faster rate.
The rate of building of dielectric strength is so fast
that it does not allow the restrking of the arc.
Vacuum CB
Vacuum CB Constructional Feature
Lightning arrestor
Lightning, is a form of visible discharge of electricity between
rain clouds or between a rain cloud and the earth.
The possibility of Lightning discharge is high on tall trees and
buildings rather than to ground.
Heavy electrical system are protected from lightning by
metallic lightning rods extending to the ground from a point
above the highest part of the roof.
The conductor has a pointed edge on one side and the other
side is connected to a long thick copper strip which runs down
the building.
The lower end of the strip is properly earthed.
When lightning strikes it hits the rod and current flows down
through the copper strip. These rods form a low-resistance
path for the lightning discharge and prevent it from traveling
through the structure itself.
The lightning arrestor protects the structure from damage by
intercepting flashes of lightning and transmitting their current
to the ground.
Since lightning strikes tend to strike the highest object in the
vicinity, the rod is placed at the apex of a tall structure. It is
connected to the ground by low-resistance cables. In the case
of a building, the soil is used as the ground, and on a ship,
water is used.
It also carries a counter for counting the lightning occurance.
Lightning arrestor
GIS System
GIS i.e. Gas Insulated system is new concept in the
switchyard system.
This system is very cost and space effective.
In this system al the switchgears are enclosed in enclosures
containing SF6 gas.
These gas parameters are automatically monitored and
maintained.
As the SF6 gas takes care of all the operations there is no
possibility any kind of hazard and fault.
This system saves lot of space problem and it maintenance
free so very effective. But the only disadvantage is initial
cost of this system which may be compensated by its long
life reliability.
GIS SYSTEM
Conclusion
As it is required to maintain efficiency and
reliability’s of electricity; so as to maintain these
parameters upcoming technologies is the prime need
in field of transmission. So GIS system can be answer
to this requirement, which is cost effective, reliable,
maintenance free and sophisticated system. Only
drawback of this system is capital cost. But as in
today’s world large space is very costly affair, so in
future GIS system will be need of modern outdoor
switchyard.
