SWITCHGEAR FUNCTIONS

− Basics for new staff in the world of electrical

distribution

„ Get to know the functions of the E MV distribution structures

main devices used and where
they are used
D Transmission and distribution

C LV distribution structures

Switchgear B Switchgear technical characteristics

? environment

A Main switchgear functions

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- switchgear environment
Generator

Transformers

Power plant Overhead

lines
MV/MV
distribution
substation

Motors
Industrial
sites Under-
ground
cables

Office
buildings
MV/LV
distribution
substation

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SWITCHGEAR FUNCTIONS

E MV distribution structures

D Transmission and distribution

C LV distribution structures

B Switchgear technical characteristics

A Main switchgear functions

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- main switchgear functions

„ Isolation

„ Control

disconnector
„ Protection

contactor

circuit breaker

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- isolation

„ Separate and isolate

Disconnector

Power on …
… BUT no loads

„ Devices that can be combined with disconnectors

Switch- Disconnector- Circuit breaker-

disconnector fuse disconnector

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 - control

„ Switching on and off

CTclic
20 A

Switch Impulse relay Contactor Circuit breaker

Water heater

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- protection

Protection
of people

Protection
of property

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- long and Short Time
„ Long-Time or overload protection and Short-Time or short-circuit
protection

t (s)

Long-Time

Short-Time

0
I (A)

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 - overloads and short-circuits
„ Overload and short-circuit protection

t (s)

Overloads

NG125

0
Short-circuits I (A)
NG160
C60

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- overloads
„ Overload protection

t (s)

0
60 A I (A)
overloads

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- overloads (cont'd)
„ Overload protection
bimetal strip
t (s)

X (s) Y

0
60 A 120 A I (A)

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- short-circuits
„ Short-circuit protection

t (s)

Y
X (s)

I (A)
250 A
3000 A

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- insulation faults

„ Insulation fault protection

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- current hazards

„ Physiological effects of electric current on the organism

cardiac arrest

irreversible cardiac
fibrillation threshold

respiratory paralysis
30mA threshold
muscle
contraction
(tetanization)

very weak sensation

0.5mA

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- insulation fault detection principle

Tripping

Ia Is - If
Ia

Ir
Detect

If Residual current
measurement relay

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- Vigirex

1: current measurement toroid

2: Vigirex relay

3: MX or MN auxiliary release

1
2

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- earth leakage protection

„ Insulation fault protection

RCD = Residual Current Device

Solution
Solution A A Solution BB
Solution Solution CC
Solution

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- residual current devices
„ Table with technical characteristics of the devices

RCBO RCCB
(earth leakage module) (residual current CB)
I∆n (pick-up) 30 mA 30 mA
Rating 25 A 63 A
Un (Voltage) 230V 230V
Type AC Asi
Version I (instantaneous) S (Selective)

Solution A Solution B

30 mA Adjustable pick-up
0.03 A, 0.3 A, 1A, 3 A, 10 A.
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- lightning overvoltage

„ surges of several thousands of kiloamps,

„ very short duration.

kA

t
50 µs

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- solutions

„ Protection of private and industrial installations

Industrial building Private home

PF65 PF20 PRC’clic

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SWITCHGEAR TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

E MV distribution structures

D Transmission and distribution

C LV distribution structures

B Switchgear technical characteristics

A Main switchgear functions

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- electrical characteristics: current
„ In = Rated current

„ BC = Breaking capacity

In = 25 A
BC = 25 kA

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- electrical characteristics: current 2/2
„ Icu = Rated ultimate breaking capacity

„ Ics = Rated service breaking capacity

„ Icw = Rated short-time withstand current

„ Icm = Rated making capacity

Icu = 85 kA with Ue = 220/240 V

Ics = 100% of Icu

Icw
example of characteristic:
the device can withstand,
without tripping,
42 kA for 0.5 seconds
or 20 kA for 3 seconds

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- electrical characteristics: voltage

„ Us = Operating voltage
„ Un / Ue = Nominal voltage
„ Ui = Rated insulation voltage

„ Uimp = Rated impulse withstand voltage

Compact NS
Ue = 220 V / 240 V
= 380 V / 415 V
Ui = 750 V
Uimp = 8 kV

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LV DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURES

E MV distribution structures

D Transmission and distribution

C LV distribution structures

B Switchgear technical characteristics

A Main switchgear functions

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- different levels of an LV electrical installation

TGBT
Main LV switchboard

„ Level A

Tableau
Power de distribboard
distribution de puissance

„ Level B
Tableau divisionnaire
Subdistribution board

„ Level C

Tableau deboard
Distribution distribution

„ Level D

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- exercise on the levels of an LV electrical
installation

„ Level B 60 KA

Power
distribution A 400 A
board

„ Level C 45 KA

Sub-
distribution B
100 A
board

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- determination of circuit breakers A and B

„ Circuit breaker A
– NS 400H

„ Circuit breaker B
– NS 100H

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- different selection criteria

„ What are the characteristics for choosing a circuit breaker?

– Ie – Icu – Ics – Icm
– Ue – Ui – Uimp
– Fixed or withdrawable
– Standard
– Type of trip unit
– Number of poles
– Need for discrimination

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TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

E MV distribution structures

D Transmission and distribution

C LV distribution structures

B Switchgear technical characteristics

A Main switchgear functions

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- transmission and distribution

transmission

63kV to 400Kv

industrial
distribution
63kV
20kV/410V

63kV/20kV

public distribution

237V
20kV/410V

410V

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- transformer operating principle

Symbol magnetic circuit

secondary
winding

primary φ n2 U2

winding n1 i2

U1

i1

Step up Step down

input output input output

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- MV / LV transformers

20 kV / 400 kV 20 kV / 400V Industrial

20 kV / 400V Public 63 kV / 20 kV
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MV DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURES

E MV distribution structures

D Transmission and distribution

C LV distribution structures

B Switchgear technical characteristics

A Main switchgear functions

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- different levels of an MV installation

„ The possible sources are:

– Power transformers T1 and T2
– AC generator
– MV/MV transformer

AC generator
T1 T2

MV M
MV

MV LV

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 - characteristics of MV fuses

„ In = Rated current

„ I3 = Minimum breaking current

Striker possible
„ I1 = Current ≤ network
short-circuit current

„ Un = Rated voltage

„ Type = Fusarc, Solefuse…

„ With or without striker

„ Standard

„ Frequency

„ Indoor / Outdoor

Indoor Un = 7.2 kV
Example In = 250 A IEC = 282.1
I3 = 2200 A DIN = 43625
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- a few characteristics of MV circuit breakers

LF1 SF2

Rated voltage 7.2 & 12 kV 24 kV

Rated current 630/1250 A 630/1250/2500 A

Breaking capacity 31.5 kA 25 & 31.5 kA

Making capacity 80 kA 63 & 80 kA

SF2 circuit breaker

LF1 circuit
breaker

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- different selection criteria

„ What are the characteristics for choosing a circuit breaker?

– Upstream Scc = upstream short-circuit power

– U bb = voltage on busbars
– I bb = current on busbars
– Isc bbb = short-circuit current on busbars
– Ie = rated operating current
– Ith = rated thermal current
– Fixed or withdrawable
– Standard

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- end of the module

Thank you for your attention

and don't hesitate to discover