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Assemblies of switchgear and control panels (1)

Edvard

As s e mb lie s o f s witc hg e ar and c o ntro l p ane ls (o n p ho to SKEMA LV Switc hg e ars )

Where are these assemblies used?

Switchgear and control panels are f ound in power generating stations, transf ormer stations, distribution substations, commercial and institutional buildings, industrial plants and f actories, ref ineries, paper mills, metal smelters and any other place where electric energy is utilized or electric power is distributed to any number of zones. T here are a f ew common types of assemblies that cover almost any application. A broad classif ication according to the location of the switchgearassemblies is whether the gear is installed indooror outdoor. A f urther classif ication f or the indoor gearis standard ventilated indoor, indoor with drip hood, indoor f or location in sprinklers area, indoor in hazardous location, arcproof (type a, b or c) and indoor in corrosive environment. Outdoor switchgearcan also be f urther classif ied as whether it has an isle or not (walk in vs. nonwalk in types) with or without a working area. Another method of classif ying the switchgear is whether it is a bottomor top entry, the power and control cables are entering f rom the bottom or the top of the gear.

Devices in Swit chgear

The switchgear can contain as switching/interrupting device(s):a circuit breaker (c.b.), a switch/f use combination, a contactor/f use combination (f or motor switching), f or low v oltage (l.v.) assemblies: a switch or breaker in series with a contactor (f or motor switching).

Certain conf igurations come only as nondraw outconstruction, others as drawout. If special requirements f or the gear are needed, the special property can be used as a criteria f or def ining the gear , f or example, if dust tight enclosure is required due to the presence of dust (f ine or course) in the atmosphere this gear is designated as dust tight. For switchgear assemblies, as heat is generated f rom the high current f lowing, a dust tight enclosure is almost impossible thus a dust proof one is used, instead. T he major standards that govern the design, manuf acture and testing of these assemblies are: CSA, ANSI, IEC, EEMAC, NEMA. Switchgear assemblies and motor control centers (starters) lineups can be classif ied according to their voltage classes. T he l.v. equipment is rated in the range of 120/208V single or three phase to 750V AC. T he medium voltage ones are 2400/4160V to 44KV . T he enclosures f or all low voltage construction are metal enclosed. Some constructions include partitions and barriers to give a saf er operation over and above the standard construction. For medium voltage switchgear both construction types, metal clad and metal enclosed , are common. In this section the major components of the switchgear assemblies, motor starters and associated ancillaries will be given.

Major components
Low volt age swit chgear assemblies
The main components are: Molded case (MCB)or power (air magnetic) circuit breakers (drawout or f ixed) complete with or without integral overcurrent protection device (thermal magnetic, Solid state or microprocessor based) with or without zone interlocking provision Cradle (f or drawout versions only) Fixed potential and control power transf ormers Current transf ormers Interf rame and back barriers Main bus bars, run backs, bus risers and cable lugs (compression or mechanical) Protective f uses f or breaker control circuits, instrument compartments Circuit breaker accessories, breaker lif ting devices (integral with gear) Fused or unf used interrupter switches Protective and monitoring auxiliary relays Metering devices (ammeters, voltmeters, watthourmeters, wattmeters and digital metering packages D.M.P.) Control switches and indicating lights

Lo w vo ltag e c o mp o ne nts

Medium Volt age swit chgear

The main components are: Drawout circuit breakers (oil, air, SF6, vacuum ) Switching device(load break or disconnect) with or w/o f uses (power current limiting or power expulsion type) with or w/o blown f use indicator/actuator Instrument transf ormers Capacitor tripping device Relays Meters & instruments Main bus Control & indicating devices, jumpers, cable lugs, cable supports and potheads Barriers and shutters Instrument compartments Test switches and breaker accessories

Me d ium vo ltag e s witc hg e ar c o mp o ne nts

Low volt age mot or cont rol cent ers

For LV motor control centers the components are: Combination motor starters Instrument transf ormers Motor protection devices Main bus, cable entry compartments, vertical bus, control cables Push buttons, pilot lights Breaker or switch handle Mounting pans Programmable logic controllers PLC(processor module, I/O, network interf ace and other associated modules)

Lo w vo ltag e mo to r c o ntro l c e nte r c o mp o ne nts

Medium volt age st art ers

For MV starters the main components are: Contactors (vacuum and air) Fused control transf ormer Overload protection Current transf ormers Instrument compartments Meters Auxilliary relays Timers Control devices Multif unction motor protection relays Indicating lights Power f uses Surge arresters

Switchgear Cubicle Types

There are a few distinct types of switchgear cubicles and are listed hereafter: Incoming (main) cubicles

Transf ormer f eeders Bus tie (sectionalization) Generator exciter control Generator neutral cubicles Induction motor control cubicle Synchronous motor switching board Potential transf ormer cubicles (used in conjunction with isolated phase bus in generating stations). Other components that could be seen attached or connected to switchgear lineups either or not to f orm a unit substation are: power transf ormers, low voltage bus duct/medium voltage bus or cable duct runs. If the transf ormers are close coupled and installed indoor , then dry type transf ormers are used. If they are located outdoor and connected to the switchgear by nonsegregated bus duct or cable duct or by a throat (with o/d switchgear) than they are of the oil f illed type. Another type of transf ormers that can be f ound indoors is the cast resin coil type. Advertisement To be continued Resource:Unknown