Lecture-02

Isolators
Lecture delivered by:
Mrs. Nikita T
 Objectives

At the end of this lecture, student will be able to:

• Discuss the functions of horizontal and vertical brake isolators

• List the applications and types of isolators

• Describe the operation and working principle of pantograph

isolators

• List the operating instructions for isolating switches

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Topics

• Isolators

• Types of isolators

• Operating Instructions

• Ratings of isolators

• Applications of isolators

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Isolating Switch

• An isolator is a simple switchgear device with limited

applications and basically used to visibly isolate a section of
electric circuit or installation from the rest. It is also known
as ‘disconnector’ or isolating switch’
• Isolation is required during power source identification,
changeover, busbars selection or maintenance
• Isolators must have capabilities to carry continuous rated
current during normal conditions.
• They are not automatic devices and do not have current-
breaking capacity. Before operating the isolator, load is to be
switched off: this is the reason why isolators do not have
current-breaking capacity

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 Isolating Switch
cotnd…

However, considering the technical necessities isolators need to

have current- breaking capabilities for the following
I. Breaking of cable charging currents
II. Breaking of transformer magnetization currents. i.e.
unloaded but charged transformer
III. Breaking of line charging currents. i.e. disconnecting lines
open at other end
• Isolators are available for each level of voltages up to 1000 kV and
for continuous current carrying rating up to 4 kA.
• Isolators have also been developed for making current capacity
up to 100 kA for short durations and for thermal capacity of 50
kA for one second

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Types of isolators

• Horizontal CentraI Rotating Double Break Isolator Vertical Break Isolator

• Pantograph Isolator
1. Knife blade indoor isolator
2. Sliding contact indoor isolator
3. Centre post-rotating outdoor isolator
4. Double pole-rotating outdoor isolator
5. Rocking or tilting isolator
6. Single break isolator

• Applications of Isolating Switches

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Horizontal CentraI Rotating Double
Break Isolator

• This type of isolator consists of three Insulator stacks per

pole. Two stacks are on each side and are fixed. The stack at
the center is a rotating one

• The central rotating stack can swing about its vertical axis
about 900. Fixed contacts are provided on the top of the
stacks on each side
• The central insulator stack carries the contact bar on the top,
fixed horizontally. The construction of this type of Isolator is
shown in the Fig.1

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Horizontal Centre Rotating Double Break
isolator contd…

• In closed position, the contact shaft connects two fixed

contacts. While Opening, the central stack rotates through
900 and the contact shaft swings horizontally giving a double
break

• Insulator stacks are mounted on a galvanized rolled steel

frame. The three phases are interlocked by means of a steel
shaft. A common operating mechanism is provided for all
the three poles

Fig.1

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Vertical Break Isolator

• The vertical break type Isolator consists of a fixed contact

and a rotating switch blade. During opening and closing, the
switch blade vertically moves in or out of the fixed contacts
which provides a highly efficient breaking action

• The fixed contacts are silver coated and actually lock the
blade in place by increasing pressure on the switch blade
during momentary current flow

• Constant pressure is maintained by insulated stainless steel

beck up springs. The arcing home divert the current from
primary contact and eliminates contact pitting and erosion
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Vertical Break Isolator

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Pantograph Isolator

• The pantograph Isolator is built using light tubes. Special

profile tubes are made up of aluminum magnesium alloy.
This alloy has high mechanical strength and very good
conductivity

• Due to high elastic characteristics of this material, the

pantograph construction is made flexible. The upper
pantograph bars are fitted with silver plated contact strips

• The flexible construction of pantograph is useful in avoiding

the full effect of wind and electrodynamics forces on the
porcelain support Insulators

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 Pantograph isolator
contd…

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 Pantograph Isolator
contd…

• In closed position, the upper two arms of the pantograph

close on the overhead bus bar providing a grip. The
conducting pantograph bars carry the current from the
upper bus bar to the lower bus bar

• While opening, the rotary insulator is rotated about its axis.

The pantograph arms collapse in vertical plane and the
vertical isolation is achieved between the line terminal and
the pantograph upper terminal

• By rotating the rotary insulator column the linkage of the

pantograph are brought closer while closing it again

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 Pantograph isolator
contd…

• The pantograph isolator cover less floor area. Each pole can
be located at a suitable point and the three poles need not
be in one line .

• It can be located in a line at the desired angle with the bus

axis.

• This type of isolators are used in ultra high voltage

substations

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1. Knife Blade Indoor Isolator

• Knife blade indoor isolators are operated manually. They are

suitable up to 12 kV applications

• Two types of contacts in these types of isolators, viz. fixed

contacts and moving contacts are fitted. Knife-type contact
arms are used to serve the purpose or moving contact

• A shaft carrying the moving contacts is rotated by a lever. As

operating lever moves upwards it drives shaft, which rotates
the knife contact arms to engage them with U-shaped fixed
contacts. Springs are used to maintain the contact pressure

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 Knife Blade Indoor Isolator
Cotnd…

• They are also used as loads break switches which are

operated during small loading conditions like energized
transformer carrying magnetizing current

• While using load break switches, they are provided with

highly abrasion-resistant arcing contacts in addition lo the
main contacts on both moving and fixed sides of each phase

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Sliding contact indoor isolator

This is a compact size isolator having following qualities,

1. Long mechanical life

2. High fault current capacity

3. Less maintenance

Sliding contact indoor isolators are capable to be suitably

applied up to 24 kV systems

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 Sliding contact indoor isolator
contd…

• The major components of these isolators such as fixed

contacts, moving arms set in moving assembly, connection
pads. insulating jacket, transfer contact, arc extinction
chamber, arcing ring, tubular contact, insulated arm,
secondary contact and its rod, metal cap, base frame, cast
iron insulator and discharge opening are shown in the
following figure

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 Sliding Contact Indoor Isolator
contd…

• In this type, six ribbed cast resin insulators are fixed on the
base frame. Three – pole assembly is fixed with these ribbed
insulators

• Tubular contact enclosed inside the insulating

jacket and internal secondary contact rod with its sliding
contact and spring set make the moving assembly for the
isolator

• During normal condition such as in the closed position of the

switch current continues to flow through the connecting
pad, fixed contact, tubular contact and transfer contact

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 Sliding Contact Indoor Isolator
contd…

• During opening process, the tubular contact withdraws from

the fixed contact but the secondary contact rod remains in
the grip of the secondary contact

• An arc is created between the transfer contact and the

arcing ring. While moving, contact assembly travels down
the arc chamber and the lower tip of the tubular contact
leaves the transfer contact, AIE gets lengthened with further
travel of the moving contact downwards

• Surrounding materials around the arcing ring extinguish the

arc before moving contact completes the opening

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Centre Post-rotating Outdoors Isolator

• This is a compact site isolator which requires less space. This

is also known as double break type isolator. Its operating
mechanism is simple because only one pan for each pole
needs to rotate in this type of isolator

• In this type of isolator, three insulator stacks are fixed on

each pole. Insulator stacks are supported by solid steel
frame. Moving contact assembly is used on the central
insulator. The fixed contact assemblies and terminal pads are
fixed with two extreme insulators

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 Centre Post-rotating Outdoors
Isolator contd…

The merits of centre post-totaling type outdoor isolators are,

• During normally closed position, a high-pressure contact

ensures elimination of malfunctioning of the isolators

• Contact pressure in this isolator gels released before taking

place the blades movement in the opening direction

• In order to achieve gang operation, all the three poles are

interconnected. A down rod arranges simultaneous
operation of all the three poles

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Double pole-rotating outdoor isolator

• In this type of insulator, each insulator post carries a contact

assembly consisting of a terminal pad connected to high
voltage conductors. Contact plate and a switchblade are also
fixed with contact assembly Rotating hearing assemblies
(two in number) are attached with base frame

• Base frame interconnects L-beam. Another switchblade and

contact sphere are also used with the contact assembly. The
two bearings move in opposite direction by motor driving
system

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Double pole-rotating outdoor isolator
contd…

• Either contact roller or flexible connector is connected with

the terminal pads for keeping the HV conductors stationary.
The operating mechanism is mounted at the bottom of the
frame
• The design is such that sufficient contact pressure is
maintained and contacts are wiped as well as lubricated
during each closing operation
• Double pole-rotating outdoor isolators are available in
modular pattern and could be used in single, double or triple
pole versions. Three poles are generally mounted side by
side, however, these can also be mounted in linear
formation

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Operating instructions for Isolating
switches

The important operating instructions for an isolating switch :

• It is a no load device hence not to be operated when it carries the
load current. Circuit breakers must be opened first and then the
isolator

• While closing, the Isolator must be closed first and then the circuit
breakers

• It can be operated with less pressure i.e. it must be operated

firmly in one stroke

• While manually operating the isolator, hand gloves must be used

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Line diagram of substation with
isolating switch

• The 5 sections with the help of isolators can be

disconnected for repair and maintenance section wise,\
• if it is required to do maintenance in section 4, then the
circuit breaker in that section is to be opened first and then
the Isolators 3 and 4 are opened
• Thus section 4 is opened for maintenance. After
maintenance the isolators 3 and 4 are closed first and then
circuit breaker is closed

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Ratings of Isolating Switches

The appropriate rating of the Isolating switch must be

selected depending upon the rated bus bar voltage. The Table
gives the typical ratings of the isolating switch in the closed
condition

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Applications

Various applications of isolating switches are:

1. Isolating the equipments from the buses for maintenance
purpose

2. Sectionalizing the buses

3. Bypassing the buses

4. Transferring the loads

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Recap

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Summary

• An isolator is a simple switchgear device with limited applications

and basically used to visibly isolate a section of electric circuit or
installation from the rest.
• It is also known as ‘disconnector’ or isolating switch.
construction and function of:
o Horizontal centraI rotating double break
o Vertical break type
o Pantograph Isolator is built using light tubes
o Discussion on other types of isolators
• Procedure for operating isolators and circuit breakers

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