lOMoAR cPSD| 2950269

lOMoAR cPSD| 2950269

Components of LT switch gear:

Fuses: fuses are the simplest and cheapest device used for interrupting and
electrical circuit during fault or short circuit conditions.

Fuses can be used for low voltage of 400 V and high voltage of 66 KV.

Working of the fuse depend upon the heating effect of electric current.

A fuse consist of a metal conductor of small cross-sectional area.

Advantage

i. It is the cheapest form of protection available.

ii. It needs no maintenance.
iii. It interrupts in enormous short circuit current without noise, flame, gas
or smoke.
iv. The minimum time of operation can be made much smaller than that
with circuit breaks.

Disadvantages

i. Considerable time cost in replacing a fuse.

ii. The current time characteristics of fuse cannot always be consulated with
that of the protected device.
Various type of fuse unit are
1. Round type fuse unit
2. Kit-Kat type fuse unit
3. cartridge type fuse unit
4. HRC( High rupturing Capacity)unit
5. Semiconductor fuse units.

Round Type Fuse:

This type of fuse unit consist of procelain orbakelitebox and two separated wire
terminals for holdingthe fuse wire between them.

One of the terminals remain always energized and therefore for replacement of
fuse either the worker will have to touch the live mains or open the mains switch.
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Kit-Kat type fuse:

It consist of a porcelain base carrying the fixed contacts to which the incoming
and outgoing live or phase wires are connected & a porcelain fuse carrier is
separate part and can be taken out or inserted in the base without risk, even
without opening the main switch. If fuse holder or carries gets damaged during,
it may be replaced without replacing the complete units.
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Cartridge type Fuse:

This is fully enclosed type fuse unit it essentially consists of an insulating

containers of tube or bulb shape and sealed at its ends with metallic cap known
as cartridge enclosing the fuse element and filled up with gramlar or powder
materials known as filler there are various type of materials used as filles like
sand,, calcium, carbonate, quartz etc.

The powder in the fuse cartridge condenses and cools the vapor and quenches
the are there by interrupting the flow current.

Advantage:

i. Against fire risk it provides complete security.

ii. It is totally enclosed unit.
iii. This is available up to 660 V and current rating up to 800 A.

This type of fuse is available up to 660 V and current rating up to 800 A.

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High Rupturing Capacity (HRC) Fuse:

With very heavy generating capacities of the modern power stations, in case of
faults condition extremely heavy currents would flow into the fault and the fuse
clearing the fault would be required to with stand extremely high stresses in this
process fuses commonly known as HRC fuses designed and developed after
intensive research for use in medium and high voltage installation, are used for
such duties.

Their rupturing capacity is as high as 500 MVA up to 66KV and above.

Advantage of HRC fuse:

i. No maintenance is required.
ii. The operation sure & quick
iii. They do not deteriorate with time
iv. This fuse is follow inverse time characteristics
Disadvantage
i. They are required to be replaced after each operation
ii. Interlocking is not possible they lack delays in complete discrimination
These are of two types
a) Cartridge type HRC fuse.
b) Tetra chloride type HRC fuse.
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Semiconductor fuses: These are very fast acting fuses for protection of
thyristor and other electronic circuits.

MCB: (Miniature circuit breaker)

It is the protecting device, used to protect the circuit from over currents
and short circuit faults.

It consist of three parts:

i. Thermal trip unit, it is used for over load protection.

It consist of a bimetallic strip, consist of a two different metal, when
excess current flows through it, it will bend and connection will
open & hence trip the circuit.
ii. Magnetic trip unit, It is used for short circuit protection,
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It consists of magnetic coil, when short circuit access, heavy current

flows through the coil. Which energizes the solenoid magnetic
solenoid operation causes instantaneous opening of contacts, &
hence trip the circuit.
iii. Manual ON and OFF, one can manually ON and OFF the MCB with
the help of switch, present on the MCB.

Advantage
i. MCB automatically switches off the electrical circuit both during
over load & faulty condition.
ii. In case of fault MCB quick restoration is possible just by switching
operation.
iii. Handling MCB is safer than fuse electrically.
iv. Cost is very high.
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Types of MCB
Based on Magnetic tripping current
Type- B trips between 3 and 5 times of full load current
Type- C trips between 5 and 10 times of full load current
Type- D trips between 10 and20 times of full load current
Type- K trips between 10 and 15 times of full load current
Type- Z trips between 2 and 3 times of full load current

ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)

It is a device that provides protection against earth leakage, these are of

two type ie.
i. Current operated type
ii. Voltage operated type.
Current operated Earth leakage CB

It is used when product of operating current in Amperes and the earth

impedance in ohms not exceed 40.

A current- operated earth leakage CB is applied to a 3Φ, 3- wire circuit shown in

figure.

(In normal condition no earth leakage, i.e. no current flows through trip coil. In
case of any earth leakage, the currents are unbalanced and trip coil is
energized and thus the circuit Breaker is tripped.)
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Voltage- operated earth leakage CB:

It is suitable for use. When the earth impedance exceeds the valves applicable to
fuses or excess – current circuit beaker or to current- operated earth- leakage
circuit breaker such an earth- leakage trip in a 2 wire circuit shown in figure.

(When the Voltage between the Earth continuity conductor (ECC) and Earth
electrode rises to a sufficient valve, The trip coil will carry the required current
to trip the circuit breaker)
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Molded case circuit breaker (MCCB):

A molded case circuit Breaker, (MCCB) is a type of electrical protection device

that can be used for wide range of voltages, & frequencies of both 50 Hz and
60Hz.

The main distinctions between molded-case and miniature circuit Breaker are
that the MCCB can have current ratings of to 2500 amperes, and its trip setting
are normally adjustable.

An additional difference in that MCCB’s tend to be much larger than MCB’s.As

with most types of circuit breakers an MCCB has three main functions.

i. Protection against overload- currents above the rated value that last
longer than what is normal for the application.
ii. Protection against electrical faults during a fault such as a short circuit or
line fault, there are extremely high currents that must be interrupted
immediately.
iii. Switching a circuit on and off – This is a less common function of circuit
breakers, but they can be used for that purpose if there isn’t an adequate
manual switch.

Operating mechanism:
➢ Overload protecting is done by thermal mechanism, ie MCCBs have
bimetallic contact that expands or contracts in response to changes
in temperate which depends upon current.
➢ Fault protection is done by electromagnetic induction.
Type of MCCB by application

1. Main electric hider protection

2. Capacitor bank protection
3. Generator protection
4. Welding Application
5. Motor protection
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Type of Wires and cable:

The wires employed for internal wiring of building may be divided into
different groups

i. Conductor used
ii. Number of cores
iii. Voltage gradient
➢ According to the conductor material used is cables consist of there may be
divided in to two classes known as copper conductor cable and aluminum
conductor cables.
➢ According to the number of cores, the cable may be divided intoclasses
known as single core cables, twin core cables two core with ECC (Earth
continuity conductor)cables etc
➢ According to voltage gradient the cables may be divided into two classes.
i. 250/440 Volt cables &
ii. 650/1100 volt cables
➢ According to type of insulation the cables are of the following types
1. Vulcanized Indian Rubber (VFR) insulated cables
2. Tough rubber sheathed (TRS) or cab type sheathed (CTS) cables.
3. Lead sheathed cables
4. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cables
5. Weather proof cables
6. Flexible cords & cables
7. XLPE cables
8. Multi strand cables

1. Vulcanized Indian Rubber (VIR) Cables: These cables are

available in 240/415 volt as well as in650/1100 volts grades.VIR
cable consists of tinned copper conductor covered with a layer of
vulcanized Indian rubber insulation.
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Over the rubber insulation cotton tape sheathed covering is provided

with moisture resistant compound. (i.e. Wax or insulating material) to
make the cable moisture proof.

2. Tough Rubber Sheathed (TRS) or Cab Type Sheathed (CTS)

cables:
These cables are available is 250/440 Volt and 650/1100 Volt
grades and used is CTS (or TRS) wiring. TRS cable is nothing but a
vulcanized rubber insulated conductor with an outer protective
covering of tough rubber, which provides additional insulation and
protection against wear and tear.

3. Lead Sheathed Cables: These cables are available in 240/415 Volt

grade the lead sheathed cable is a vulcanized rubber insulated
conductor covered with continuous sheath of lead. The lead sheath
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provides very good protection against the absorption of moisture

and sufficient protection against mechanical injury and so can be
used without casing or conduit system.

4. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Insulated Cables: These cables are

available in 250/440 Volt and 650/1100 Volt grades and are used in
casing- capping, butter and conduit wiring systems.
In this type of cable conductor is insulated with PVC insulation.
PVC is harder than rubber, PVC cable does not require cotton taping
and braiding over it for mechanical and moisture protection.
PVC is preferred over VIR because-
i. PVC insulation has better insulating qualities.
ii. PVC insulation provides better flexibility.
iii. PVC insulation has no chemical effect on metal of the wire.
iv. This layer of PVC insulation will provide the desired insulation level.

5. Weather proof cables: These cables are used for outdoor wiring
and for power supply or industrial supply. These cable are either
PVC insulated or vulcanized rubber insulated conductors being
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suitably taped, braided and then compounded with weather resisting

material .
These are not affected by heat or sun or rain.
These are available in 240/415 V and 650/1100 V

6. Flexible cords & Cables: The flexible cord consist of wires

silk/cotton/plastic covered. Plastic cover is popular as it is available
is different pleasing colors.
Flexible cords have tinned copper conductors.
There wires or cable are used as connecting wires for such purpose
as from ceiling rose to lamp holder, socket outlet to portable
apparatus such as Radios, Fans, Lamps, Heater etc.
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7. XLPE cable: PVC and XLPE cables are built of insulation made of
polymer are substances consisting of long macromolecules built up
of small molecules or groups of molecules as repeated units.

Advantage:
i. Non hygroscopic insulation almost unaffected by moisture.
ii. Non-migration of compound allowing vertical installation.
iii. Complete protection against electrolyte/Chemical corrosion
iv. Good ageing characteristics.
8. Multi- strand cables: These cables have following advantages over
single solid conductor.
i. The multi-strand cables are more flexible and durable &
therefore, can be handled conveniently.
ii. The surface area of multi-strand cable is more, so heat
radiating capacity being proportional to surface area, is more.
iii. Skin effect is better as the conductors are tubular, specially is
case of high frequency.
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Importance of Earthing
Earthing means connections of neutral part of a supply System or the non-
current, carrying parts of electrical apparatus such as metallic covering of
cables, earth terminal of switch outlets, stay wires etc.

Earthing is provided-

i. To ensure that the current carrying conductor rises to a protection

with respect to general mass of earth than its designed insulation.
ii. To avoid electric shock to the human beings, &
iii. To avoid risk of fire due to earth leakage current through unwanted
path.

BATTERIES:

A Battery is a device which generator DC Voltage through chemical reaction.

Types of Batteries

Batteries are of two types

i. Primary Batteries
ii. Secondary Batteries
i. Primary Batteries: It transform chemical energy into electrical through
an irreversible chemical reaction.
These batteries cannot be recharged or easily restored by an electrical
process.
ii. Secondary Batteries: These are also known as storage batteries, are
rechargeable since chemical within the battery can be reversed by
applying current from outside.
Classification of secondary Batteries: There are three main types of
secondary (Storage) batteries commonly use, are
i) Lead acid ii) Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) ,& iii) Lithium ion (Li-ion)
Batteries
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Lead Acid Battery:

This is the oldest form of changeable battery The basis of working of the
battery are-
i) Voltage Rating: The emf of fully charged cell in a lead acid battery is
taken as 2.2 V which drops to 2.0V when the cell gets fully charged.

Capacity rating: The capacity of lead acid batteries is specified in terms of

ampere-hour (Ah) which defines the amount of charge delivered when
current of our ampere is delivered in one hour.

For example, 600Ah Battery will deliver 50A continuously if used for 12 hours.

Ah × Battery Voltage
Capacity in KWH =
1000

Advantage:
1) Large current capacity
2) It can be used for variety of applications.
3) Available in wide range of amp-hour ratings.
Disadvantage:
1) Life span is small ranges between (300-500)cycles
2) Careful disposal of acid is necessary.