1.

EXPLAIN SWITCHGEAR AND SWITCHGEAR MAINTENANCE In an electric power system, switchgear is the combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to clear faults downstream. This type of equipment is important because it is directly linked to the reliability of the electricity supply. One of the basic functions of switchgear is protection, which is interruption of short-circuit and overload fault currents while maintaining service to unaffected circuits. Switchgear also provides isolation of circuits from power supplies. Switchgear is also used to enhance system availability by allowing more than one source to feed a load.

HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR

A section of a large switchgear panel, in this case, used to control on-board casino boat power generation.

TRAM SWITCHGEAR

You can prevent switchgear failure with proper maintenance.

When switchgear malfunctions, the consequences are often catastrophic. Damage to the switchgear itself can be extremely expensive, but that pales in comparison to corollary damage and the potential hazards to people. Thus, implementing an effective switchgear testing, inspection, and maintenance program is essential. Even switchgear labeled maintenance free requires periodic testing and maintenance. Develop a maintenance program. The many approaches to switchgear maintenance range from continuous online monitoring to do nothing (also called run-to-failure). Predictive and preventive maintenance programsincluding most of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) recommendationsfall in the middle of this range. Most real-world maintenance programs are a combination of these approaches. For instance, replacing indication lights only when theyve failed is an example of run-to-failure maintenance. On the other hand, maintaining disconnect switches on a periodic basiscleaning, lubricating, and exercising themis an example of preventive maintenance. Annual visual and thermographic inspections on bus connections and breakers are examples of predictive maintenance. Developed by the airline industry and later adopted by other industries, reliability centered maintenance (RCM) is another approach. RCM is a systematic and comprehensive method appropriate where equipment reliability is critical. It involves analyzing system criticality and component failure modes, evaluating those failure modes and the appropriate maintenance activities for each component and then determining what is the most appropriate and effective preventive maintenance activity for each component. RCM programs improve electrical system reliability, and experts credit RCM programs with improving safety and management of spare parts, decreasing repair costs, shortening outages, and reducing overhaul frequency. Manufacturer maintenance recommendations may or may not suggest maintenance frequency. The 2001 NETA standard provides a maintenance frequency matrix that gives recommendations based on the level of reliability required and the condition of the equipment.

The NFPA standard also includes suggested maintenance frequencies. They vary (typically from three months to six years) depending on system criticality and the environment in which the equipment is located. Because no manufacturer or standards-making body can presume to know how these conditions differ in your installation, its impossible for them to come up with a meaningful maintenance frequency. On one hand, you want to minimize the number of maintenance outages; on the other, you dont want a switchgear failure to occur. Part of maintaining switchgear is ensuring your protective devices operate in the right sequence. But how often must you verify that the settings and sizes are correct? Any time you have a change on the utility system or to your own system, you must confirm the short circuit withstand and interrupting ratings of your equipment are still adequate. A shortcircuit study determines the magnitudes of available short-circuit current at each of your switchgear locations. A proper study will identify any switchgear that available short-circuit current would overstress. Have your breakers tripped or fuses blown without a fault occurrence? Did the wrong device operate when a fault occur? A coordination study provides device settings so breakers and fuses in your facility can coordinate and operate selectively. That is, a fault near the end of your circuit will cause the nearest upstream breaker or fuse to operatenot your main breaker. If you dont know whether your system coordination is correct, do a coordination study long before the next maintenance outage.

Plan for the maintenance outage. The following steps will help you formulate a comprehensive maintenance action plan and in turn an effective switchgear maintenance program. Prior to the outage: Review your equipment history. What failures have occurred? Are you aware of any repair or refurbishment needs? Review the drawings and other documentation. Are the relevant drawings current? Do you have the correct instruction manuals? Perform visual inspections, thermal scanning, partial discharge testing, and other testing before the outage so you can take corrective action when it happens. Identify and order all materials required for the outage. Take lead times into account. Develop a specific work plan and schedule. Communicate this information to all involved personnel, and keep your end-users updated on the big picture. Conduct the tailgate safety meeting to be sure each person understands any dangers, special circumstances, and related work assignments. During the outage: Shutdown the switchgear and apply protective grounds. Follow lockout/tagout procedure. Barricade and put up warning signs as appropriate. Check and correct any drawing inconsistencies or connection questions. Perform inspections and cleanings. Disconnect as necessary for tests. Make any planned repairs, changes, or upgrades. Perform measurements and tests. Based on test results, make additional repairs. Concluding the outage: Re-connect and torque connections. Account for all tools and personnel. Make a visual check of all work. Remove grounds and then test to ensure you have no unintentional grounds. Energize switchgear and verify normal operation. Remove barricades and signs, and follow appropriate procedures to clear the lockout/tagout condition. After the outage: Interview crews about problems they may have encountered. Ask them for recommendations for improving response efforts during the next outage or preventing problems that occurred in this one. Prepare a report of maintenance outage and test results. Include trending and analysis of results and recommendations for future maintenance as appropriate. Making maintenance happen. Switchgear maintenance is usually considered a low priority by most management teams, who defer or ignore it until a failure occurs. At many facilities, the maintenance crews take only some of the easier steps. However, experience shows this is an economic dance with the devil. When you fail to conduct the proper maintenance, the risk of loss is high. But a solid maintenance program is much less costly than the impact of switchgear failure, which can include injury or death, lost product and production, as well as clean-up and switchgear replacement costs. When you give maintenance the thought and effort it deserves, you improve safety, reliability, uptime, and profitability.

2.

EXPLAIN TYPES OF SWITCHGEAR

A piece of switchgear may be a simple open-air isolator switch or it may be insulated by some other substance. An effective although more costly form of switchgear is gas insulated switchgear (GIS), where the conductors and contacts are insulated by pressurized sulfur hexafluoride gas (SF6). Other common types are oil or vacuum insulated switchgear. The combination of equipment within the switchgear enclosure allows them to interrupt fault currents of thousands of amps. A circuit breaker (within a switchgear enclosure) is the primary component that interrupts fault currents. The quenching of the arc when the circuit breaker pulls apart the contacts open (disconnects the circuit) requires careful design. Circuit breakers fall into these five types:

Oil

Oil circuit breakers rely upon vaporization of some of the oil to blast a jet of oil through the arc. The vapor released by the arcing consists hydrogen gas. This gas is very effective at cooling the arc so that dielectric properties are restored at current zero.

Air

Air circuit breakers may use compressed air (puff) or the magnetic force of the arc itself to elongate the arc. As the length of the sustainable arc is dependent on the available voltage, the elongated arc will eventually exhaust itself. Alternatively, the contacts are rapidly swung into a small sealed chamber, the escaping of the displaced air thus blowing out the arc. Circuit breakers are usually able to terminate all current flow very quickly: typically between 30 ms and 150 ms depending upon the age and construction of the device.

Gas

Sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker

Gas (SF6) circuit breakers sometimes stretch the arc using a magnetic field, and then rely upon the dielectric strength of the SF6 to quench the stretched arc.

Hybrid

A hybrid switchgear is one that combines the components of traditional air-insulated switchgear (AIS) and SF6 gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) technologies. It is characterized by a compact and modular design, which encompasses several different functions in one module.

Vacuum

Circuit breakers with vacuum interrupters have minimal arcing characteristics(as there is nothing to ionize other than the contact material), so the arc quenches when it is stretched by a small amount (<28 mm). At or near zero current the arc is not hot enough to maintain a plasma, and current ceases; the gap can then withstand the rise of voltage. Vacuum circuit breakers are frequently used in modern medium-voltage switchgear to 40,500 volts. Unlike the other types, they are inherently unsuitable for interrupting DC faults.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Breakers that use carbon dioxide as the insulating and arc extinguishing medium work on the same principles as an SF6 breaker. By switching from SF6 to CO2 it is possible to reduce the CO2 emissions by 10 tons during the product life cycle.

3. LOW VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR

Low Voltage Switchgear refers to switchgear which is rated for a voltage of 600V and below. Low voltage switchgear includes switches, fuse gear, enclosures, connection devices and cable distribution cabinets. The function of any switchgear is Electrical protection, electric isolation and local and remote switching.

The switchgear typically consists of a section in the front consisting of the circuit breakers, meters, protective relays. Behind the front section, is the bus section consisting of the busbar and behind it is the cable entry section where the cables are routed.

Low voltage switchgear can be broadly classified into two types, outdoor types and indoor types. Outdoor type switchgear differs from indoor type switchgear due to the presence of a weather-proofing enclosure. Bus bars are usually made of copper or aluminium. Modern low voltage switchgear products consist of integrated modules consisting of switchgear, metering and protective features. These integrated modules are driven by microprocessors.

This article is the first in a series of articles focusing on Low Voltage Switchgear

4.

EXPLAIN SINGLE PHASE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A single-phase electric power supply is the distribution of alternating current electric power where all the voltages of the supply vary in unison. Single-phase distribution is used when loads are mostly lighting and heating, with few large electric motors. A single-phase power supply has two hot legs or conductors, which have a sine wave that are 180 degrees apart. In electrical engineering, single-phase electric power refers to the distribution of alternating current electric power using a system in which all the voltages of the supply vary in unison. Single-phase distribution is used when loads are mostly lighting and heating, with few large electric motors. A single-phase supply connected to an alternating current electric motor does not produce a revolving magnetic field; single-phase motors need additional circuits for starting, and such motors are uncommon above 10 or 20 kW in rating. In contrast, in a three-phase system, the currents in each conductor reach their peak instantaneous values sequentially, not simultaneously; in each cycle of the power frequency, first one, then the second, then the third current reaches its maximum value. The waveforms of the three supply conductors are offset from one another in time (delayed in phase) by one-third of their period. When the three phases are connected to windings around the interior of a motor stator, they produce a revolving magnetic field; such motors are self-starting. Standard frequencies of single-phase power systems are either 50 or 60 Hz. Special singlephase traction power networks may operate at 16.67 Hz or other frequencies to power electric railways. In some countries such as the United States, single phase is commonly divided in half to create split-phase electric power for household appliances and lighting.

5.

EXPLAIN THREE PHASE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Three-phase electric power is a common method of alternating-current electric [1] power generation, transmission, and distribution. It is a type of polyphase system and is the most common method used by electrical grids worldwide to transfer power. It is also used to power large motors and other heavy loads. A three-phase system is usually more economical than an equivalent single-phase or two-phasesystem at the same voltage because it uses less conductor [2] material to transmit electrical power. The three-phase system was independently invented by Galileo Ferraris, Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolskyand Nikola Tesla in the late 1880s In a three-phase system, three circuit conductors carry threealternating currents (of the same frequency) which reach their instantaneous peak values at one third of a cycle from each other. Taking one current as the reference, the other two currents are delayed in time by one third and two thirds of one cycle of the electric current. This delay between phases has the effect of giving constant power transfer over each cycle of the current and also makes it possible to produce a rotating magnetic field in an electric motor. Three-phase systems may have a neutral wire. A neutral wire allows the three-phase system to use a higher voltage while still supporting lower-voltage single-phase loads. In high-voltage distribution situations, it is common not to have a neutral wire as the loads can simply be connected between phases (phase-phase connection). Three-phase has properties that make it very desirable in electric power systems: The phase currents tend to cancel out one another, summing to zero in the case of a linear balanced load. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the neutral conductor; all the phase conductors carry the same current and so can be the same size, for a balanced load. Power transfer into a linear balanced load is constant, which helps to reduce generator and motor vibrations. Three-phase systems can produce a magnetic field that rotates in a specified direction, which simplifies the design of electric motors.

6.

EXPLAIN PROTECTION AND CONTROL SYSTEM IN SWITCHGEAR

We all familiar with low voltage switches and re-wirable fuses in our home. The switch is used to manually open and close the electrical circuit in our home and electrical fuse is used to protect our household electrical circuit from over current and short circuit faults. In same way every electrical circuit including high voltage electrical power system needs switching and protective devices. But in high voltage and extra high voltage system, these switching and protective scheme becomes complicated one for high fault current interruption in safe and secure way. In addition to that from commercial point of view every electrical power system needs measuring, control and regulating arrangement. Collectively the whole system is called Switchgear and Protection of power system. The electrical switchgear have been developing in various forms. Switchgear protection plays a vital role in modern power system network, right from generation through transmission to distribution end. The current interruption device or switching device is called circuit breaker in Switchgear protection system. The circuit breaker can be operated manually as when required and it is also operated during over current and short circuit or any other faults in the system by sensing the abnormality of system. The circuit breaker senses the faulty condition of system through protection relay and this relay is again actuated by faulty signal normally comes from current transformer or voltage transformer. A switchgear has to perform the function of carrying, making and breaking the normal load current like a switch and it has to perform the function of clearing the fault in addition to that it also has provision of metering and regulating the various parameters of electrical power system. Thus the circuit breaker includes circuit breaker, current transformer, voltage transformer, protection relay, measuring instrument, electrical switch,electrical fuse, miniature circuit breaker, lightening arrestor or surge arrestor, isolator and other associated equipment. Electric switchgear is necessary at every switching point in the electrical power system. There are various voltage levels and hence various fault levels between the generating stations and load centers. Therefore various types of switchgear assembly are required depending upon different voltage levels of the system.

7. DRAW CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF SWITCHBOARD

Main Switchboard
The main switchboard, as the primary distribution center, distributes 450 volts, 3 phase, 60 cycle power. The 450 volt power is distributed to power panels throughout the ship and also to the emergency switchboard. Transformers at the lighting load centers step down the 450 volts to 120 volts. The lighting load centers distribute 120 volt power. There are three lighting load centers. Ships service lighting load centers no. 1 and no. 2 are normally fed from bus section no. 3.

The main switchboard is composed of three parts consisting of distribution panels at the right, three generator panels in the center, and distribution panels at the left (facing the front of the switchboard). Right side distribution and generator no.1 are connected to bus section 1, emergency switchboard feeder, machinery space lighting and generator no. 2 are connected to bus section 2. Left side distribution and generator no. 3 are connected to bus section 3. The three bus sections are normally connected together by removable disconnect bars.

8.

EXPLAIN OVERCURRENT AND EARTH FAULT RELAY TEST

In electricity supply, overcurrent or excess current is a situation where a larger than intended electric current exists through a conductor, leading to excessive generation of heat, and the risk of fire or damage to equipment. Possible causes for overcurrent includeshort circuits, excessive load, and incorrect design. Fuses, circuit breakers, temperature sensors and current limiters are commonly used protection mechanisms to control the risks of overcurrent

Equipment to be used for testing the protection system Mobile Workstation, Protective Relay Control Station, Transmission Grid A, Interconnection Module, Universal Fault Module, Power Supply, Faultable Transformer, Resistive Loads, Current Transformers, AC Ammeter, AC Voltmeter, Three-phase Overcurrent Relay, AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay, and Connection Leads. Testing procedure and observations Ensure that the Protective Relay Control Station is connected to a three-phase power source. Make sure that the DC Power Supply to the Protective Relay Control Station is turned off. Also, make sure that all fault switches on the Three-phase overcurrent relay and AC/DC current sensitive relay are set to O (off) position.

2. Make the following settings on the Universal Fault Module: TD1 time delay SST1 time interval SST2 time interval 1s 3s 10 s

(Note: These settings have already been done by the Lab technician) 3. Make sure that the Transmission Grid A, Interconnection Module, Universal Fault Module, Power Supply, Faultable Transformer, Resistive Loads (2), Current Transformers, AC Ammeter, and AC Voltmeter are installed in the EMS Workstation. See that the Power Supply is turned off and its voltage control knob is set to the O position. 4. On the Current Transformer module, make sure that all the switches are set to the I (close) position to short-circuit the secondaries of the current transformers. 5. Connect the equipment as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. 6. Make the following settings: On the Faultable Transformers Transformer T1 Fault switches (FS1 to FS3) - - - - - O Transformer T3 Fault switches (FS1 to FS3) - - - - On Transmission Grid A Switch S1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O O

Fig. 2 Connection diagram of the equipment in EMS Workstation

Fig. 3 Connection diagram of the equipment in the Protective Relay Control Station

On the AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay INPUT switch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AC MODE switch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OVER CURRENT On the Universal Fault Module INITIATE FAULT button - - - - - - - - released position FAULT DURATION switch- - - - - - - - - - - 0.3 30 s On the Current Transformer Module Current transformers CT1, CT2 and CT3 - - - O (open)

7. Set the current set point of the Three-Phase Overcurrent Relay to approximately 200% of the nominal full-load current of the power transformers, taking into account the transformation ratio of the current transformers. 8. Set the time delay of the Three-Phase Overcurrent Relay to approximately 5 s. Adjust the set point and hysteresis of the AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay to 100mA and 5%, respectively. 9. Turn on the DC Power Supply of the Protective Relay Control Station. 10. On Transmission Grid A, set switch S2 to O (open) position to open the contactor CR2. This will prevent operation of the protection system and allow the operation of the protective relays to be observed. 11. Turn on the Power Supply and set the voltage control knob to the 100% position. Set the primary line current (indicated by ammeter I1) should be approximately equal to the full-load current of the power transformers by adjusting the resistive loads. 12. On the Universal Fault Module, depress the INITIATE FAULT button to short-circuit one phase of the three-phase load. While doing this, observe the circuit currents and voltages as well as tripping indicator (red LED) on the Three-Phase Overcurrent Relay and AC/DC Current Sensitive Relay. Record the current and voltages in the blank spaces. (Note: You may have to initiate this fault a few times to record the circuit currents and voltages) I1 = . A I2 = A I3 = A

E1 = V

E2 =

Testing Procedure for Earth Fault Relay (EFR) 1. Record all particulars of relay to be tested and its working settings. 2. Check the auxiliary supply voltage connected to the relay corresponds to the rated auxiliary voltage stated on its name plate. 3. Connect output of the test set to input terminals of the ELR. Alternatively singlephase primary current can be injected into one of the conductors to induce a secondary current on the ZCT 4. Ensure that knob on test set has return to zero position. Then switch on test set. 5. Increase the output current on the test set gradually until relay picks up. Record the current in test form. 6. Connect a trip contact to timer stop terminals of the test set. 7. Switch on the test set, increase current to 2 times of setting current. Switch off the test set with control knob remaining in the same position.

8. Switch on the test set to inject current and start timer at the same time. After trip contact has operated, record relay operating time in test form. Switch off the test set. 9. Disconnect all wirings between test set and relay. Check that connection to relay is normalized.

9. EXPLAIN PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Preventive maintenance (PM) has the following meanings: 1. The care and servicing by personnel for the purpose of maintaining equipment and facilities in satisfactory operating condition by providing for systematic inspection, detection, and correction of incipient failures either before they occur or before they develop into major defects. 2. Maintenance, including tests, measurements, adjustments, and parts replacement, performed specifically to prevent faults from occurring. The primary goal of maintenance is to avoid or mitigate the consequences of failure of equipment. This may be by preventing the failure before it actually occurs which Planned Maintenance and Condition Based Maintenance help to achieve. It is designed to preserve and restore equipment reliability by replacing worn components before they actually fail. Preventive maintenance activities include partial or complete overhauls at specified periods, oil changes, lubrication and so on. In addition, workers can record equipment deterioration so they know to replace or repair worn parts before they cause system failure. The ideal preventive maintenance program would prevent all equipment failure before it occurs. Preventive maintenance can be described as maintenance of equipment or systems before fault occurs. It can be divided into two subgroups: planned maintenance and condition-based maintenance.

The main difference of subgroups is determination of maintenance time, or determination of moment when maintenance should be performed. While preventive maintenance is generally considered to be worthwhile, there are risks such as equipment failure or human errorinvolved when performing preventive maintenance, just as in any maintenance operation. Preventive maintenance as scheduled overhaul or scheduled replacement provides two of the three proactive failure management policies available to the maintenance engineer. Common methods of determining what Preventive (or other) failure management policies should be applied are; OEM recommendations, requirements of codes and legislation within a jurisdiction, what an "expert" thinks ought to be done, or the maintenance that's already done to similar equipment, and most important measured values and performance indications. In a nutshell: Preventive maintenance is conducted to keep equipment working and/or extend the life of the equipment. Corrective maintenance, sometimes called "repair," is conducted to get equipment working again.

10.

DEVELOP A REAL SERVICE LIST AND REPORT

Inspection Checklist Field Maintenance Report

Ident-Nr.: Type: Location / Operator:

General
Field Technician(s) Inspection call Troubleshooting Date________ Time in ________ Out __________ _____________________________________ 6 / 12 / 18 / 24 / 36 months Regular Service Regular service Repair of deficiencies Sample

Plant status
Counter Hours of operation _____________________ [h] Water: _____________________ [gaq Permeate _____________________ [gal] Accessibility Cover free from defects Check defect defect Level switch functional defect Air-lift pump Septic / first buffer Soloids Other:________________ Odor soapily MBR thick (MLSS>20) soapily Permeate yellow fecal Turbidity free of suspended solids suspended solids Color brown Odor odorless (fresh) musty I muffled acid Texture (optically) Smell actd without color slightly yellow thin (MLSS <10) aerobic thick (10< MLSS <20) septic /fecal extremely sanitary napkins fully functional Fat I Wax aerobic septic/fecal defect fully functional defect pressure increasing fully Air blower Submerged pump Yes Yes NO NO System operates System recovers defect solenoid valve defect pumping system Yes Yes NO NO

fully functional fully functional

fully functional fully functional

Samples (before service) TKN,NO3

pH-Value. Alkalinity, TSS. Turbidity, cBOD, COD,

Permeate flow before service ___________________ [gal/h] after service ___________________ [gal/h]

Carried out
Samples MBR Pumping Change of membranes Cleaning of MBR Coarse matter separation Buffer tank membrane modules Level switches Venting glass ___________ pumping system Disposal of solids Septic tank I buffer tank Yes NO Air Blower inspection tub aeration Septic tank Yes Septic tank NO Buffer tank ____ [pieces] Septic tank Buffer tank MBR before service Septic tank after service Buffer tank MBR Permeate

Functional check solenoid valves Active carbon filter

pumps & piping Permeation Check change of

aeration Alarm panel cleaning

Remarks: _____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________
BUSSE Innovative System GmbH

________________________
Customer/Operator

This Equipment Schedule is provided as an example only. Refer to Section 26 29 90B and Section Cover Sheet for details.

Equipment

Make

Model

Quantity

Power Transformer, Dry Type

Switchgear Enclosure

Low Voltage Air Circuit Breakers

Fused LB Disconnect Switchgear

Unfused LB Disconnect Switchgear

Fused NLB Disconnect Switchgear

Unfused NLB Disconnect Switchgear

Induction Disc Relays

Overcurrent Relays

Solid State Relays

Overhead Power Line Insulators

Overhead Power Line Connectors

Overhead Power Line Wooden Poles

Overhead Power Line Metal Tower Structure

Surge Arrestors

RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

The Bandsaw is not a high maintenance machine, and it is strongly suggested that a programmed maintenance schedule is developed for this equipment and that time is allocated specifically for maintenance purposes. The table below is offered as a guideline. To add another entry to the table, place your cursor in the bottom last column cell and go to Table > Insert > Rows below or above the placed cursor cell.

Machine ID: eg. B.S. wood/metal

Room ID: Daily Weekly

Maintenance Operation
Check Switch gear and examine for observable defects.

* * * * * * * * *
Daily or before use

Check Electrical wiring for visual damage. Check push sticks and similar are available and in good repair. Check guards for security and correct operation. Check availability and condition of personal protective equipment. Check condition of workspace/walk ways and ensure workspace is clearly defined. Check blade guides for correct operation.

Examine blade for cracks, deformities and broken teeth. Check inventory of spare parts to ensure spare blades etc. are available. Lubricate Machine according to manufacturers specifications.