Peter John L.

Langit
201813896

Switchgear and Ventilation

The collection of electrical disconnect switches, fuses, circuit breakers, and

other devices needed to regulate, safeguard, and isolate electrical equipment
is called switchgear in a substation.

Goal:
The safe and dependable operation of electrical substations depends on
switchgear. It enables users to regulate the amount of power flowing through
the system, isolate malfunctioning parts or equipment for upkeep, and guard
against overloads and short circuits damaging the system.
Parts:

Circuit breakers are automatically or manually operated devices that guard

against overcurrent damage to electrical circuits.

Disconnect switches: Offer a way to separate equipment for upkeep or when

there is a problem.
Fuses are safety devices with a metal filament that melts when too much
current passes through it, breaking the circuit.

Relays: Control devices that trip circuit breakers or initiate other processes in
response to anomalous conditions in the electrical system.

Busbars: Conductors that link different switchgear components together.

Switchgear Types:
For voltages greater than 33 kV, high voltage (HV) switchgear is utilized.
Switchgear with a medium voltage (MV) is often used for voltages between 3.3
and 33 kV.
Switchgear with low voltage (LV) is utilized at voltages of up to 1 kV.

How it works:

Protective relays provide signals to switchgear that are used to detect

anomalous conditions like overloads and short circuits.

The protective relay isolates the malfunctioning area from the rest of the
network when it detects a failure by sending a trip signal to the circuit breaker.

Disconnect switches that are operated manually enable equipment isolation

for upkeep or repair.

Design Points to Remember:

Safety: Workers in and near substations are protected by switchgear, which is

designed with their safety in mind.
Dependability: To reduce downtime and guarantee a steady supply of
electricity, it must be extremely reliable.
Compactness: To maximize space within substations, modern switchgear
designs strive for compactness.
Ease of Maintenance: To guarantee fault-free operation and prompt
restoration following malfunctions, accessibility and ease of maintenance are
essential.

In conclusion, switchgear serves as the foundation of electrical substations

by offering the control, security, and isolation features required to preserve a
steady supply of electricity while guaranteeing the security of both people and
machinery.
Reference.
https://www.ascopower.com/us/en/resources/articles/what-is-
switchgear.jsp#:~:text=Switchgear%20Definition&text=In%20the%20event%
20of%20an,%2C%20maintenance%2C%20and%20fault%20clearing.

Substation ventilation is important to maintain safe working conditions and

ensure electrical equipment's reliability.
General Considerations

Ventilation should be kept to the minimum required.In addition, ventilation

should never cause sudden temperature changes that could cause the dew
point to be reached. Therefore, natural ventilation should be used whenever
possible. Heating may be necessary if the application may be turned off for a
period of time; this to maintain minimum air flow. If forced ventilation is
required, the fans must run continuously to avoid temperature fluctuations.

If forced ventilation is not sufficient to ensure indoor use of the switch, or if

the installation environment is a hazardous area, indoor operating conditions
must be completely separated from outdoor conditions in the HVAC unit.

Goal:

Heat Dissipation: When electrical equipment operates, heat is produced by

transformers, switchgear, and other parts. To avoid overheating, which can
deteriorate equipment and lower efficiency, proper ventilation aids in the
dispersal of this heat.

Air quality: Fresh air is guaranteed via ventilation, which aids in the removal of
pollutants, gases, and moisture that can deteriorate insulation and impact
the dependability of electrical components.
Safe Operation: Enough ventilation lowers the possibility that overheating-
related equipment malfunctions or fails, posing a risk to safety or causing
power outages.
Parts:

Natural Ventilation: To facilitate natural airflow, substation buildings can have

apertures, louvres, or vents.
Forced ventilation: To improve heat dissipation and air quality management,
fans or blowers are used to actively circulate air throughout the substation.
Planning considerations:

Airflow requirements: Calculated based on the heat dissipation properties of

the equipment and ambient temperature conditions.

Ventilation paths: Ensure that airflow paths are designed to efficiently reach
all substation equipment, including transformers, switches, and control
panels.
Temperature Control: Keep temperature within acceptable limits to extend
the life of the device and ensure reliability.

Moisture Control: Avoid moisture, which can cause insulation degradation

and equipment failure.
Air Filtration: Filters can be used to remove dust and impurities from incoming
air, improving air quality and protecting sensitive equipment.

Types of ventilation systems:

Natural ventilation systems: Rely on passive airflow through openings and
vents.
Forced ventilation systems: Use fans or blowers to actively circulate air
through the substation.
Combined systems: Uses both natural and forced ventilation to optimize
airflow and heat dissipation.

Safety and standards:

Power plant ventilation systems must meet safety standards and regulations
to ensure safe working conditions for workers and reliable operation of
electrical equipment.

Proper maintenance and periodic inspections are essential to ensure that

ventilation systems function properly and meet operational requirements.

In summary, it can be stated that ventilation of substations is essential to

maintain a safe operating temperature, to control air quality and to ensure the
reliability of electrical equipment. It plays a crucial role in preventing
equipment from overheating, reducing the risk of failure, and ensuring
continuous power supply.
Reference

https://www.electrical-
installation.org/enwiki/Ventilation_in_MV_Substations#:~:text=Substation%2
0ventilation%20is%20generally%20required,ventilation%20can%20drasticall
y%20increase%20condensation.