Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Electrical Power Systems Division The Underground distribution systems section
Number: 1
Padmounted switchgear:
General description of padmounted switchgear:
These switching assemblies can be classified into air insulated, oil sealed insulated, or SF6/load
break switches and vacuum fault interrupters. Typically, for the air insulated type when the
separable connectors are in place, the construction will have all energized parts enclosed in
grounded (shield) enclosure (dead front). Verification of the open switch (visible break) is
possible through Plexiglas viewing windows. The three phase gang operated switches in the
assembly are operated without having to open the cable compartment. The 600 A deadbreak
bushings are externally replaceable. The unit will have parking stands, replacement fuse storage
pockets, ground pads for grounding provisions, door retainers, latching (3 point) arrangement,
fuse viewing windows, lifting provisions, fault indicators and floor cover (if required). Fig. 1.3
shows the major compartments and mounting method on precast concrete pad.
Major components of oil filled padmounted switchgear unit:
The oil filled units will have a fill plug, a drain valve, the oil gauge, the cable entrance, the steel
tank, the spring operator, the mechanical interlock over the fuse compartment, grounding
provision, parking stands and the hinged cover.
Major components of SF6/vacuum units:
The major elements are: the heavy gauge enclosure, sealed switch compartment, operating
handle (for manual operation), fill valve/gas pressure gauge, electronic control package (pad
lockable), electronic load tap trip adjustments (knobs, push buttons), spring assisted switch
operator (with marked position indicator), provisions for padlocking, cable entrance bushings,
phase indication labels, parking stands, deadbreak elbow connectors, door latches, hinged doors
with stoppers, viewing windows, ground lugs, deep well low current (eg. 200 A) bushings,
mechanical trip and reset lever, provisions for door padlocking, motor operator/RTUs. The
motor/RTU installation would provide remote operation of the switches (from a control station)
or local operation (motor operated). With the availability of sensors/RTU in the pad mounted
switchgear assembly, the remote indication of the load levels and faults (currents) at the control
station may assist the operators in running the system more efficiently with less down times and
higher levels of supply continuity.
Production tests conducted on padmounted switchgear assemblies:
The production tests run on such assemblies are: continuity test (to assure correct internal
connections), hipot (dielectric), pressure test (to assure tank is sealed), the protective
(electronic o/c) device characteristics curve and leakage tests (if required).
Remote operation & indication of pad mounted switchgear:
To remotely operate and indicate with pad mounted switchgear and underground distribution
systems, the following elements are to be part of the switchgear unit: one set of three current
sensors on the load side of each interrupter (or switch), source side PT with 120 V (for example)
secondary voltage, radios/modems or the required communication equipment, connector for
remote antenna (if applicable), local interface in the controller (status, control switches,
displays), local communication port to allow setup/updating software/troubleshooting/report
generation using a laptop. Should ducts be, already, installed the use of fiber optics
communication network would be the most suitable (over other means of communications: RF,
PLC, ....., etc.). Fiber optics is immune to electromagnetic and radio interference, thus it can be
placed in ducts containing high voltage Cu or Al cables (i.e. 15, 27.6 kV). The elements that are
needed to build a fiber optic network beside the cable are the transceivers with the serial and
optical ports (LED transmitter and photodiode receiver), the RTUs, optical splitters, multiplexes
and modems.
Padmounted switchgear can be defined (specified) accordingly: the insulating material used i.e.
air insulated, oil or gas, the nominal voltage class, maximum operating voltage, the basic
impulse level, the current ratings for the different sides i.e. continuous current, load interruption
(resistive, inductive including no load transformer magnetizing and capacitive including cable
charging), momentary, fault close, the dimensions of the gear, the opening for the cable entry,
properties of steel work (like thickness gauge, surface treatment and finish), the weight and the
assembly voltage withstandability tests (A.C. and D.C.). The speed of operation (current time
curves) for the fuses or protective devices had to be specified.
Home of VePi