What is Switchgear ?
• Switchgear is the combination of switches,
fuses or circuit breakers(CB) used to
control , protect & isolate electrical
equipment.
• It is used de-energize equipment & clear
faults.
Different elements of switchgear
• Circuit breaker • Load Breaking Switch LBS
Air ckt breaker ACB • By pass and changeover
Vacuumed ckt breaker VCB
switches
Oil filled ckt breaker OCB
SF6 Ckt Breaker • Isolators(switches)
• Fuses
• MCCB (Moulded Case Ckt
Breakers)
• MCB
(Miniature Circuit Breaker)
• RCCB
Residual current circuit breaker
Function wise categories
• Automatic & Manual operation
{ example: Circuit breaker ,MCB , MCCB }
• Only automatic operation
Fuse
• Only manually activated / operated
Isolator, LBS
Voltage wise switchgear categories
• Low voltage Switchgear
up to 11KV
• Medium voltage switchgear
up to 66KV
• High Voltage switchgear
up to 400KV
• Extra High Voltage switchgear
up to 765KV
• HVDC Switchgear
Relays are electrical
switches that open or close
another circuit under certain
conditions.
Protective relays are devices which
monitor power system conditions and
operate to quickly and accurately isolate
faults or dangerous conditions. A well
designed protective system can limit
damage to equipment, as well as minimize
the extent of associated service
interruption.
Isolate controlling circuit from controlled circuit.
Control high voltage system with low voltage.
Control high current system with low current.
Logic Functions
Electromagnetic Relays (EMRs)
Solid-state Relays (SSRs)
◦ There is no mechanical contacts to switch the circuit.
Microprocessor Based Relays
Commonly used in power system monitoring and protection.
Electromagnetic Relays (EMRs)
◦ Simplicity
◦ Not expensive
Solid-state Relays (SSRs)
◦ No Mechanical movements
◦ Faster than EMR
Microprocessor-based Relay
◦ Much higher precision and more reliable and durable.
◦ Capable of both digital and analog I/O.
◦ Higher cost
Detect system failures when they occur and
isolate the faulted section from the remaining of
the system.
Mitigating the effects of failures after they occur.
Minimize risk of fire, danger to personal and
other high voltage systems.
Components of Power System Protection
Decides whether system
quantities are normal or
abnormal (Brain of the
System Protection)
Transducers
Power Circuit
(PT & CT) Relay
System Breaker
These devices change * If quantities are normal,
electrical quantities to no signal is sent to breaker
level relays can use, i.e., * If quantities are abnormal,
5 amperes, 115 volts signal is sent to breaker to
trip
Primary Relay: relay connected directly in the circuit
Secondary Relay: relay connected to the protected circuit
through CT & VT.
Auxiliary Relay: relay operate in response to opening or
closing of another relay.
Measuring Relay: It performs the measurement of
normal & abnormal conditions in the power system.
Electro Magnetic Relay: It operates on the principle of
Electromagnetic induction.
Static Relay(Solid-state relay): They use diodes ,
transistors , SCRs , Logic gates etc.
(Static circuit is the measuring circuit & no moving parts)
Microprocessor Based Relay: All functions of a relay can
done by using microprocessor . Relays are programmable.
µP can compare , compute and send trip signals.
Thermal Relay: It operates on the principle of Electro-
thermal effect.
Distance Relay: relay measures the impedance or
reactance or admittance.
Impedance Relay: relay measures the impedance of the
transmission line.
Reactance Relay: relay measures the reactance of the
transmission line.
Over-current Relay: relay operates when the current
exceeds a pre-set value.
Under-voltage Relay: relay operates when the voltage
falls a pre-set value.
Directional Relay: relay able to sense whether fault lies in
forward or reverse direction.
Polarized Relay: relay depends on the direction of the
current.
Differential Relay: it measures the difference b/w 2 actual
quantities.
Earth fault Relay: It is used for protection of element of a
power system against Earth faults.
Phase fault Relay: It is used for protection of element of a
power system against phase faults.
Negative Sequence Relay: relay uses negative sequence
current as its actuating quantity.
Zero Sequence Relay: relay uses zero sequence current as
its actuating quantity.
UNIT 5 Syllabus
Types of circuit breakers
1. Air Blast circuit breaker
2. Vacuum circuit breaker
3. Oil circuit breaker
4. SF6 circuit breaker
Comparison of Airblast,Vacuum,Oil,SF6
Testing of circuit breakers.
Types Of Circuit Breakers
Oil Circuit Breakers
Vacuum Circuit Breakers
Air Blast Circuit Breakers
SF6 Circuit Breakers
Presented by C.GOKUL,AP/EEE ,Velalar College of Engg & Tech , Erode
1. OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
It is designed for 11kv-765kv.
These are of two types
• BOCB (Bulk oil Circuit Breaker)
• MOCB (Minimum oil Circuit Breaker)
The contacts are immersed in
oil bath.
Oil provides cooling by
hydrogen created by arc.
It acts as a good dielectric
medium and quenches the arc.
Advantages:
Oil has good dielectric strength.
Low cost.
Oil is easily available.
It has wide range of breaking capability.
Disadvantages:
Slower operation , takes about 20 cycles for arc
quenching.
It is highly inflammable , so high risk of fire.
High maintenance cost.
2. VACCUM CIRCUIT BREAKER
It is designed for medium voltage
range (3.3-33kv).
This consists of vacuum of pressure
(1*10-6) inside arc extinction chamber.
The arc burns in metal vapour when
the contacts are disconnected.
At high voltage , it’s rate of dielectric
strength recovery is very high.
Due to vacuum arc extinction is very
fast.
The contacts loose metals gradually
due to formation of metal vapours.
Advantages:
Free from arc and fire hazards.
Low cost for maintenance & simpler mechanism.
Low arcing time & high contact life.
Silent and less vibrational operation.
Due to vacuum contacts remain free from corrosion.
No byproducts formed.
Disadvantages:
High initial cost due to creation of vacuum.
Surface of contacts are depleted due to metal vapours.
High cost & size required for high voltage breakers.
3. AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKERS
This operates using high velocity blast of air which
quenches the arc.
It consists of blast valve , blast tube & contacts.
Blast valve contains air at high pressure.
Blast tube carries the air at high pressure & opens the
moving contact attached to spring.
There is no carbonization of surface as in VCB.
Air should be kept clean & dry to operate it properly.
Advantages:
High speed operation as compared to OCB.
Ability to withstand frequent switching.
Facility for high speed reclosure.
Less maintenance as compared to OCB.
Disadvantages:
Little moisture content prolongs arcing time.
Pressure should be checked frequently for frequent
operation.
Risk of fire hazards due to over voltages.
It can’t be used for high voltage operation due to
prolonged arc quenching.
4. SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS
It contains an arc interruption chamber containing SF6 gas.
In closed position the contacts remain surrounded
by SF6 gas at a pressure of 2.8 kg/cm2 .
During opening high pressure SF6 gas at 14 kg/cm2 from its
reservoir flows towards the chamber by valve mechanism.
SF6 rapidly absorbs the free electrons in the arc path to
form immobile negative ions to build up high dielectric
strength.
It also cools the arc and extinguishes it.
After operation the valve is closed by the action of a set of
springs.
Absorbent materials are used to absorb the byproducts and
moisture.
Presented by C.GOKUL,AP/EEE ,Velalar College of Engg & Tech , Erode
Advantages:
Very short arcing period due to superior arc quenching
property of SF6 .
Can interrupt much larger currents as compared to other
breakers.
No risk of fire.
Low maintenance, light foundation.
No over voltage problem.
There are no carbon deposits.
Disadvantages:
SF6 breakers are costly due to high cost of SF6.
SF6 gas has to be reconditioned after every operation of the
breaker, additional equipment is required for this purpose.
Comparison of Circuit Breakers
