WHAT IS A SWITCHGEAR
Switchgear is used in an electric power system it is the combination of switches fuses or circuit breaker it is mainly used to isolate and protect electrical equipment. It is used for regulating or switching the electrical circuit in the electric power system isolators, relay, switches, indicating instrument, control panels and lighting arresters are examples of the switchgear devices. It is directly linked to the supply system switchgear is placed in the power transformer in its high and low voltage side it is used for clearing faults testing and maintenance too. In a power system if a fault occurs heavy current will pass through the equipment and it will damage the equipment and the power distribution is interrupted too so to protect generator, transformer or other electrical equipment switchgear devices are used it mainly consists of relay and circuit breaker if there is any fault occurs in the system the relay will close the trip circuit of the breaker which disconnects the faulty section the healthy section will continue to supply the load and there will be no damage or interruption of supply.
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN A SWITCHGEAR
• ACB (air circuit breaker)
• Contactor
• SPP (single phasing preventer)
• Starter
• Switch fuse unit
• ELCB (earth leakage circuit breaker)
• MCCB (molded case circuit breaker)
• Relay
• Capacitor
• Isolator
• MCB (miniature circuit breaker)
• MPCB (motor protection circuit breaker)
• Change over switch
• HRC, HBC fuse ( high rupturing capacity fuse, high breaking current fuse)
SWITCHGEARS ARE MAINLY USED IN
• Power generation station
• Transformer station
• Distribution substations
• Commercial and industrial buildings
• Industrial plants factories
• Refineries, paper mills
• Places where electric energy is utilized or electric power is distributed to any number of zones
TYPES OF SWITCHGEAR
It is mainly classified into two types the outdoor type and the indoor type if the voltage is above 66kv the output switchgear is used below 66kv indoor type is used the indoor type is of metal clad and is compact because of the compactness the area used is reduced
CLASSIFICATION OF SWITCHGEAR
