Medium Voltage Switchgear

AGENDA
INTRODUCTION
CONSTRUCTIVE TYPES
Metal-Clad units
AIR INSULATED
SF6 INSULATED
Compartmented switchgear
AIR INSULATED
SF6 INSULATED
Cubicle switchgear
AIR INSULATED
SF6 INSULATED
TESTS
PERSONAL SAFETY
Introduction
 The prefabricated switch bays (or units) of medium voltage are

generally built with metallic sections and sheets, with an access
door in the bottom frontal and with one-wire electric diagram in the
top frontal.
 Nowadays there is a vast diversity of prefabricated switch bays,

used for systems with rated voltage going from 12 to 36 kV,
generally.
 Besides the modular switch bays insulated in air or SF6, there are
gas-insulated switchgears (GIS) of reduced dimensions, which
include protection, feeder and riser functions integrated in a single
metallic enclosure filled with SF6.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 4 -
Introduction
 These switch bays comply with certain interlocking conditions:
 All normal switching can only be performed with the door
closed.
 The access to the switch bay interior is only possible if the
earthing switch is closed and short-circuited. The doors are
interlocked in closed position as long as this switch is open.
 The switch-disconnector and the earthing switch cannot be
closed simultaneously.
 All interlocking devices allow its cancellation from the switch
bay interior to perform maintenance operations.
 The circuit breaker controls cannot be taken from its enclosure
before the switching is completed.
 Currently all switchgear can be remote-controlled using external

devices capable of data transfer via modem or any other kind of
communication link.
1_114Q07- 5 -
Introduction
 There are also more sophisticated switchgears with a small
computer incorporated, able to perform task of measurement,
protection, control, monitoring, operation and communications.
 The computer in the bay communicates with all the others and the
workstation or with a hub and the control centre.
 Real time data, as well as stored data about the switchgear
condition, can be accessed, which is very useful to carry out its
maintenance.
1_114Q07- 6 -
Types of function
 The medium voltage substations are obtained by joining standard
unitary modular switch bays, forming each functional group.
 This allows the configuration of different schemes for the
transformation stations with one or more transformers.
 Following there is a description of the diverse kinds of common
switchgears according to its function within the substation and to
the elements needed to perform such function.
 Incoming/Outgoing Feeder Unit
 Protection Unit
 Riser Unit
 Switching Units
 Measurement Units
1_114Q07- 7 -
Types of function
Feeder Cable connection Sectionalizer Riser Busbar metering

1_114Q07- 8 -
Incoming/Outgoing Feeder Unit
 The incoming/outgoing feeder unit used to cable inlet or outlet
usually includes a switch-disconnector, along with the earthing
switch, capacitive insulators (one per phase), voltage signalling
pilots, and room for cable terminals and busbars.
 The switch-disconnector has three-pole operation, with visible
open position, rated voltage between 12 kV and 36 kV and nominal
currents going from 400 A to 2.5 kA. It can be fixed or removable.
 The earthing switch is located between the cable terminal and the
protection and switching device.
 Another kind of feeder switchgear has a three-position switch-
disconnector. It permits to connect the cables with the main busbar,
to break the rated current, to cut this joint or to ground
simultaneously the three terminals of the medium voltage cables.
 Other devices can be added into this switchgear, such as voltage

or current transformers or surge arresters.
1_114Q07- 9 -
Protection Unit
 The protection units are used mainly to protect transformers.
 The typical configuration includes switch-disconnector, fuses,
earthing switch, room for cable terminals, tripping coil (also
activated by the transformer thermostat) and busbar.
 The switch-disconnector and fuse set is called fuse-switch if, when
the fuse melts, its striker leads to the opening of the circuit breaker.
 Nowadays this protection device is being substituted by an
automatic circuit breaker that protects against overloads and short-
circuits using relays.
1_114Q07- 10 -
Riser Unit
 The busbar riser units are used to link the busbar with the inferior
part of a switching unit that contains an automatic circuit breaker or
a switch-disconnector.
 This unit can also be used as a measurement bay, with current and
voltage transformers included.
1_114Q07- 11 -
Switching Unit
 There are different configurations for this kind of switchgear.
 The breaking device can be a disconnector, a circuit breaker or a
switch-disconnector.
 They include room for cable terminals and buses, and optionally,
an earthing switch.
 The switching unit is usually used along with the riser unit.
 If medium voltage measurements are required, measurement
transformers can be combined with switch-disconnectors or
automatic circuit breakers.
1_114Q07- 12 -
Measurement Unit
 In this type of switchgear, the current transformers are connected
first and then the voltage transformers, following this order and the
direction of the current.
 This unit is strap-sealed by the utility.
 The measurement device connected to the transformers, meters,
time switch, etc. is located outside the unit.
1_114Q07- 13 -
Functional assembly of transformation switchgear
Lateral bushing to
Joint system connect with plug
terminal
Cable bridge
Protection Protection
Incoming/outgoing Switching General Measurement Transformer Transformer
feeder protection 1 2
1_114Q07- 14 -
Incoming/outgoing Connection Transformers

feeder bridge bridges
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 CONSTRUCTIVE TYPES
 Metal-Clad units
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 Compartmented switchgear
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 Cubicle switchgear
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 15 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
Constructive types
 Considering the constructive type, and according to the
standard IEC 298, the prefabricated metal-enclosed
switchgear for alternate current, for indoor or outdoor
installations, are divided in three categories:
 Metal-clad switchgear and controlgear
 Compartmented switchgear and controlgear (with one or more
non-metallic partitions)
 Cubicle switchgear and controlgear
 They may have either SF6 or air as insulator, depending on
the electrical and business premises of the installation.
 However, the current trend is to use SF6 due to its lesser
requirements regarding space and maintenance.
 Besides, the growing demand in the market propitiates the
comparison between switchgear insulated with SF6 or with air,

which are traditionally cheaper.
1_114Q07- 16 -
Constructive types
 Taking into account the type of automatic circuit breaker
involved, the quenching technologies employed might be SF6
or vacuum, and currently there are switchgear units that can
use either of them indistinctly.
 If the switchgear unit is air-insulated, the automatic circuit
breaker can be truck-mounted (draw-out) or fixed-mounted.
However, nowadays the switchgear units are built only with
truck-mounted circuit breaker, since they offer numerous
advantages respect to the older units with fixed-mounted
circuit breaker:
 The disconnectors are eliminated, since the top and bottom
contacts of the truck work as disconnectors; hence the truck is
disconnected when moved.
 Good access makes maintenance easier.
 The apparatus can be substituted easily in case of failure.

1_114Q07- 17 -
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 18 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
Metal-Clad units
 According to the standard IEC 298, the metal-clad units are metal-
enclosed switchgear which components are situated inside
separated compartments.
 These compartments have metallic walls with a given protection
level, which should be grounded.
 The units have separated compartments for the following devices:
 Each apparatus of the main connection
 The devices connected to one of the sides of the apparatus of the
main connection (e.g.: feeder compartment)
 The devices connected to the other side of the apparatus of the main
connection (e.g.: busbars compartment; when there is more than one
busbar set, each busbar set should be in a separate compartment)
 The metal-clad units offer a higher security level, since they
present a metallic and grounded plug of fixed contacts. Then the

total separation of the units by exclusively metallic sides is
1_114Q07- 19 -
assured.
Air insulated Metal-Clad units
 The existing metal-clad with air insulation and truck-mounted circuit
breaker are characterized by their flexibility.
 This flexibility allows complying with the demands of most of the
installations. They may include
 automatic circuit breakers, either SF6 or vacuum (circuit breakers of
manufacturers other than the manufacturer of the unit may be used),
breakers with fuses, load breakers, disconnectors, earthing switches,
etc.;
 voltage and current transformers,
 protections of different functions and characteristics;
 and standardized components such as probe insulators, plates, buses,
fuses, standoff insulators, etc.
 To simplify and reduce the maintenance and operation of the
switchgear, the manufacturers seek for a design that ensures the

area of the different compartments, which makes it easier to
1_114Q07- 20 -
access to all of them. The truck-mounted circuit breaker also

contributes to this purpose.
 Even when there is a vast amount

of manufacturers of this type of
units, all the switchgears are very
similar.
 The main distinction may reside in
the technique to extract the circuit
breaker, which can be removable
by chassis or by truck.
 Besides, as shown in fig., there
may be another compartment with
removable chassis, where the
voltage transformers or the
capacitors might be located, as
needed.
1_114Q07- 21 -
 The structure of the metal-clad units is self-
supporting, built in steel sheets of assorted
widths, depending on the function of each
part of the unit, and protected against
corrosion.
 This structure has the purpose of sustain
the switchgear and the other elements of
the unit.
 Moreover, it should endure the
mechanical stresses caused by normal
and unusual operation conditions (such
as short-circuit currents).
 Finally, it should also deter the access
to electrified or moving parts, keeping
its protection level either with the
truck/chassis inserted and the door

locked, or with the truck/chassis
removed an the door opened.
1_114Q07- 22 -
 The metal-clad units are divided in
various compartments separated by
metallic sheets.
 The purpose of such division is that a
failure in one of them will not affect the
others; hence, a superior assurance of
service continuity is obtained in
comparison with undivided units.
 This compartmentalization also
provides additional protection against
indirect contacts.
 It is possible to access all
compartments from the front of the unit,
which allows the installation of the units
closer to the site walls.

1_114Q07- 23 -
 All switchgear includes a grounding
system, as a protection against
indirect contacts.
 This system is constituted by a
general grounding bus that goes
through the whole bay length.
 All the parts of the enclosure,
including doors, truck/chassis and
voltage and current transformers (if
present) are connected to the
grounding bus, either mechanically
or using copper threads or sliding
contacts.
 The terminal of the grounding bus is

connected to the general grounding
1_114Q07- 24 -
system of the installation

 Each compartment includes a trap door in the top to remove, towards

the back top of the unit, the overpressure generated in case of an
inner arc, thus avoiding personnel and installation damage

1_114Q07- 25 -
Breaker compartment
 This compartment contains the
automatic circuit breaker mounted
over the draw-out truck or chassis.
 The truck design allows the
inclusion of vacuum or SF6
automatic circuit breakers.
 The compartment has a ground
connection, a position indicator,
connection to the main busbars
and the measurement and control
devices of the circuit breaker.
1_114Q07- 26 -
Breaker compartment
 In the units with draw-out truck, voltage
transformers can be included in the truck.
 In the draw-out chassis units, there is a
compartment for the voltage transformers or
capacitors.
 According to the position of the truck and the
circuit breaker, there are three operation
conditions:
 In Service: The main circuit and the control
circuit are connected.
 Switching or Test: The main circuit is
disconnected, while the control circuit is
connected.
 Removed: Both circuits are disconnected

1_114Q07- 27 -
(the doors can be opened in this case).

Bus compartment
 This compartment contains the
main buses of the switchgear; they
can be electrolytic copper plates,
conduits or bars covered by
insulator, and includes their
connections and stands.
 The busbars are designed to bear
thermally and mechanically the
rated current, as well as the short-
circuit currents
1_114Q07- 28 -
Feeder compartment
 This compartment encloses the medium voltage cables, as well as

their earthing switch and the voltage and current transformers (in case
the unit does not include a cubicle for the voltage transformer).
1_114Q07- 29 -
Controlgear compartment
 This compartment contains the control, measurement and protection

devices and the auxiliary circuits required for the installation
operation. They should be ample enough to ease the cable setting.

1_114Q07- 30 -
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 31 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
SF6 insulated Metal-Clad units
 Using SF6 gas as the insulating material
provides the metal-clad units several
advantages, such as:
 reduced required space for its installation,
 high level of availability,
 superior reliability,
 utmost protection against undesired
contacts (thanks to the hermetic seal of the
enclosure),
 isolates the energized parts from
atmospheric pollution, dust, insects, etc.
 The figure shows the diagram of this type
of unit, with double bus, where the blue-
coloured areas are those filled with SF6

1_114Q07- 32 -
 As well as with air insulated
metal-clad units, all SF6
insulated metal-clad units
from diverse manufacturers
are alike.
 The most evident
differences are the
utilisation of vacuum or SF6
automatic circuit breaker
and the placement inside
the unit of the
compartments.
 Figure shows a double-bus
units with vacuum circuit
breaker and the bus

compartment in the bottom
1_114Q07- 33 -
A) AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER COMPARTMENT
B) BUS COMPARTMENT
C)
D)
FEEDER AND CURRENT TRANSFORMERS COMPARTMENT
CONTROLGEAR AND LOW VOLTAGE FRONTAL BOARD
 Fig. presents a unit
with SF6 circuit
breaker and the bus
compartment in the top
1. Bus disconnectors drive. 7. Three-position disconnector (in service-

2. Manometer and filling valve of the circuit open-grounded).
breaker compartment 8. Sockets for cable plugging
1_114Q07- 34 -
3. Circuit breaker control 9. Incoming feeder

4. Voltage-presence indicator 10. Current transformers
5. Low voltage compartment 11. Main buses
6. Bursting disks 12. Automatic circuit breaker
Circuit breaker compartment
 The automatic circuit breaker
compartment, located in the unit
centre, is constituted by metal
enclosure hermetically sealed, built in
sheets of reinforced stainless steel.
 It includes:
 Automatic circuit breaker, removable
to ease substitution (after isolating
and grounding the circuit).
 Sockets for cable plugging.
 Back access lid with bursting disk,
with or without signal contact for fast
opening of the feeder circuit.
 Plate set to connect with the bus

compartment.
1_114Q07- 35 -
Feeder compartment
 The feeder compartment is located at the
bottom of the unit and may include toroidal
current transformers.
 The cables are directly plugged to the unit
without the need of a compartment.
 Besides, the measurement transformers
are also insulated in SF6.
1_114Q07- 36 -
Bus compartment
 The bus compartment, located
in the top of the unit, is formed
by a metal enclosure
hermetically sealed, built in
sheets of reinforced stainless
steel, including:
 Electrolytic copper busbars
set.
 Three-position disconnector
(in service, open, grounded).
 Bushing plates of epoxy resin that can endure overpressures, they separate
the buses from the surrounding units and from the circuit breaker
compartment, and they also serve as bus stand and disconnector knifes.
 Access lid with bursting disk, with signal contact for fast opening of the
feeder circuit.
1_114Q07- 37 -
Low voltage central board
 The low voltage frontal board is constituted
by:
 Two compartments to locate the
auxiliary low voltage devices, the
terminals to connect the auxiliary
circuits (protection, measurement and
control), as well as protection relays
and measurement equipment.
 A first central compartment that
includes the electrical and manual
drives of the three-position
disconnectors and the interlocking
systems (either mechanical or
electrical) to avoid incorrect switching,
as well as the one-line diagram of the

main circuit.
1_114Q07- 38 -
 A second central compartment that

contains the automatic circuit breaker
drive.
Low voltage central board
 Both central compartments (the

disconnectors one and the circuit breaker
one) are conveniently located to allow
easy access to their inner drives.
1_114Q07- 39 -
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 40 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
Compartmented switchgear
 The compartmented switchgear,
according to the IEC 298 standard,
are units with metallic enclosure
which elements are disposed
inside separated compartments
like in metal-clad switchgear, but
including one or several no-
metallic partitions with a protection
level adjusted to the standard.
 As with metal-clad switchgear, the

compartmented switchgear is
insulated by air or SF6
1_114Q07- 41 -
Air insulated Compartmented switchgear
 The compartmented
switchgear insulated by air
includes either a switch-
disconnector in SF6 with or
without fuses, or a vacuum or
SF6 fixed-mounted automatic
circuit breaker.
 The configuration of the

switchgear depends on its
function in the installation. Fig.
shows such configuration for a
unit with circuit breaker.

1_114Q07- 42 -
Switch disconnector compartment
Closed breaker Open breaker Grounded breaker
1. Tank
2. Enclosure
3. Driving axle
4. Fixed contact
5. Mobile contact
6. Gasket
 When the unit uses a switch-disconnector as the switching device, this
compartment is limited by the epoxy resin casing enclosure, filled with
SF6, that surrounds the three rotary contacts that indicate one of the
three positions of the disconnector, forming an insulating shield
between the bus compartment and the feeder compartment.
 If the unit uses a vacuum or SF6 automatic circuit breaker, the epoxy
resin casing filled with SF6 will also have three rotary contacts, but
1_114Q07- 43 -
with functions of disconnector and of earthing switch

Feeder compartment
 About 85% of the unit room is reserved for
feeders connection, allowing the use of either
unipolar or tripolar cables with simple
terminals screwed on the casing bottom.
 The room is also ample enough to
include accessories, such as surge
arresters, current and voltage
transformers, a second earthing switch,
etc.
 If the unit is also used for protection, the
fuses or the automatic circuit breakers are
also included in this compartment.
1_114Q07- 44 -
Feeder compartment
 If the protected equipment is a transformer,
the outgoing feeders to the transformer are
connected at the bottom of the inferior
fuseholders, given that the unit uses a
switch-disconnector; or the outgoing feeders
are connected to the unit connection plates,
given that the unit uses an automatic circuit
breaker.
 The compartment door has an inspection
window and standard security interlocking.
 Three individual plug plates located in the
floor serve as ingoing feeders, which are
adequately fixed by supports.
 The frontal plates and sockets of the unit can

be removed to facilitate the cable mounting.
1_114Q07- 45 -
Bus/ Drive/ Controlgear compartments
 Bus Compartment
 This compartment includes the buses, formed by three copper elements
placed in parallel.
 The buses are connected to the unit in the top of the casing. The buses
are isolated by a thermo-retractile insulating case.
 Drive Compartment
 The drive compartment contains, depending of the type of switchgear, the
drives that permits to operate the switch-disconnector, the automatic
circuit breaker and the earthing switch, as well as the corresponding
signalling and a set of voltage indicator pilots.
 It also allows easily installations of padlocks, interlocking locks and low
voltage accessories (such as auxiliary contacts, coils and motorization).
 Controlgear Compartment
 In case of motorization of the breaker drive, this compartment includes a

strip of low voltage terminals and fuses, and depending of the type of
1_114Q07- 46 -
switchgear, it can incorporate low voltage magneto-thermal breakers and

relays.
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 47 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
SF6 insulated Compartmented switchgear
 This type of SF6-insulated compartmented switchgear is used to make
compact designs, in which three or four functions are found in the
same unit incorporated inside a single metal enclosure.
 The switchgear and the buses are enclosed in a single hermetic tank,
filled with SF6.
 This monobloc set, with integral insulation, constitutes the medium
voltage component of a transformation centre medium/low voltage, or
a distribution centre in medium voltage.
 Thus, this type of unit posses all needed functions for network
operation, as well as the transformers connection, protection and
feeding.
 These units include, inside a single metallic enclosure:
 Feeder function: with a switch-disconnector to switch the
incoming/outgoing feeder of the transformation centre,

1_114Q07- 48 -
 The protection function: with circuit breaker and fuses combined,

 Earthing switch: with making capacity (40 kA) in all functions.
 The following figure presents the transversal view of an SF6-insulated
compartmented compact switchgear of 24 kV (the blue-coloured area
is SF6) with two feeder functions and one protection function, where
the below-described compartments can be recognized
1_114Q07- 49 -
 The metallic tank is made of stainless
steel and everlastingly sealed.
 It contains the active parts of the
switchgear.
 It is totally hermetic and filled with SF6
at a relatively low pressure (0.2 or 0.3
bars according the voltage level).
 In the bottom of the tank there is a
security bursting disk located outside
the personnel access.
 In case of arc inside the tank, this
disk would drop, due to the increase
of pressure inside the tank, directing
all gases through the back of the unit.

1_114Q07- 50 -
 Inside the tank there are found:
 The bus set, fabricated in
electrolytic copper
 The switch-disconnector three-
position type (in service-open-
grounded), which eliminates
the possibility to execute
incorrect switchings.
 This switch-disconnector is
mobile, three-position type
without insulation continuity,
which horizontally slides
between two sets of fixed
contacts.
 In some sorts of switchgear of  36 kV, the fuse compartment is
immersed in the SF6-filled metallic tank.

1_114Q07- 51 -
Fuse compartment
 This compartment includes
three independent unipolar
fuseholders, hermetic and plug
able, that facilitates the fuse
substitution in case of melting.
 The opening of the access door
is interlocked with the
grounding of the corresponding
protection switch-disconnector,
which grounds both terminals of
each of the three fuses.
1_114Q07- 52 -
Drive compartment
 The drive compartment is the place to
locate all drives that operate the
breakers and earthing switches of the
unit.
 According to the unit function, there are
two types of drives:
 Feeder function: the driver can, remotely
or manually by lever, open and close the
switch-disconnector working as a
breaker or open and close the switch-
disconnector working as an earthing
switch.
 Transformer protection function: the driver can close the switch-
disconnector by lever, pushbutton, trip coil or fuse melting. It can also
open and close the switch-disconnector working as an earthing switch by

lever.
1_114Q07- 53 -
Drive compartment
 This compartment has a

drive board that includes a
one-line diagram that
shows the different
positions of the mobile
device.
 It also contains the slot to
insert the switching lever,
and the pushbuttons to
manually operate the
breakers and the earthing
switches.
1_114Q07- 54 -
Feeder compartment
 This compartment includes the
three bushings to connect the cable
sockets.
 The incoming feeders are
connected with plugable sockets or
screwed through threaded
bushings.
 The outgoing feeders are always
connected with plugable sockets.
 The interlocking device between the
access door and the earthing switch
guaranties the total security when
working with cables and connectors
in this compartment.
 Above the feeder compartment

voltage signalling indicators are
1_114Q07- 55 -
located, to which fixed lamps of

voltage detection can be connected
Low voltage compartment
 The low voltage compartment has a terminal strip to connect relays,

magneto-thermal breakers and any additional device used for remote-
drive or control
1_114Q07- 56 -
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 57 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
Cubicle switchgear
 The cubicle switchgear is,
according to the IEC 298
standard, metal-enclosed
switchgear different from the
metal-clad and the
compartmented switchgears.
 The difference may reside in
the following particularities:
 Less compartments than in
metal-clad or compartmented
switchgear.
 Partitions with a protection
level lower than those
specified by the standard.
 No inner partitions.
1_114Q07- 58 -
Cubicle switchgear
 Such as with the other kinds of
switchgear, there are cubicle
switchgear insulated by air or SF6.
 Likewise, vacuum or SF6 circuit
breakers can be used in cubicle
switchgear, as well as three-position
switch-disconnectors.
1_114Q07- 59 -
Cubicle switchgear
 Fig. shows the diverse variations of cubicles units with draw-out truck
and air insulation.
 There are units with no inner compartment with or without frontal door and
units with inner compartment with or without frontal door.
1_114Q07- 60 -
Air insulated Cubicle switchgear
 This type of unit may use either a circuit breaker or a switch-
disconnector.
 In case of circuit breaker, this may be of removable (draw-out) chassis or
truck.
1_114Q07- 61 -
Air insulated Cubicle switchgear
 Similarly, this type of units may have an inner compartmentalization
similar to those in metal-clad and compartmented switchgear, where
the following compartments can also be discriminated: circuit breaker,
fuses, cables, drive, control and low voltage.
 There are also, however, units which present a partial
compartmentalization for buses, drive and control
1_114Q07- 62 -
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 63 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
SF6 insulated Cubicle switchgear
 This type of switchgear uses a vacuum or SF6 automatic circuit breaker
fixed-mounted. It is partially compartmentalized, with a common
compartment for the active elements of the unit (breaker and buses),
filled with SF6, like in the compact compartmentalized units
1_114Q07- 64 -
AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 65 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
Type test for medium voltage switchgear
 In the IEC 298 standard, it is also indicated that the medium voltage
installations should be built in such a manner that they fulfil the
requirements stated in the corresponding standard regarding their
 insulation capability,
 protection against accidental contacts,
 current capacity,
 making capacity and
 mechanical function.
 This fulfilment can be demonstrated by running tests on a prototype of
medium voltage switchgear.
 Apart from this, each switchgear unit is subjected to the routine
tests in the factory before its delivery.
1_114Q07- 66 -
 The insulation level of a medium voltage installation built in metallic
sheets should be chosen considering the requirements of the
distribution network.
 Regarding the rated impulse withstand voltage, the different stresses
requirements will allow to decide between the list 1 or the list 2.
 When selecting between both lists, account must be taken of the risk of
lightning or switching overvoltages, the method of neutral-point
earthing and, if present, the nature of the overvoltage protection.
1_114Q07- 67 -
 The switchgear indicated in the list 1 will be appropriated to:
 Industrial installation networks not connected to overhead lines:
 in case that the neutral-point of the winding is grounded through direct
connection or through a few ohms;
 in case of a compensation of the earthing system and for special networks with
overvoltage protection.
 Networks and industrial installations connected merely through
transformers with overhead lines and in which the capacitance to earth of
the cables (connected to the low voltage terminals) is of at least 0.05 F in
each conductor.
 In case of an insufficient earthing capacity, additional capacitances might
be included between the medium voltage installations and the
transformers, as close as possible to the transformers terminals.
 Then, the following cases are established:
 neutral-point of the winding grounded through direct connection or through low

resistance;
1_114Q07- 68 -
 compensation of the earthing system with overvoltage protection.

 Networks and industrial installations connected directly to an overhead line:
 neutral-point of the winding grounded through low resistance connection and
with overvoltage protection,
 compensation of the earthing system with overvoltage protection.
 In any other case, or if it is required a high security level in service 1,

then it would be needed to install a switchgear as that specified in the
list 2 .
Rated voltage Rated lightning withstand voltage (peak value) Rated power-frequency withstand
voltage
Um effective value
effective value
List 1 against through the sepa- List 2 against through the sepa- against through the separation
ground ration section ground ration section ground section
kV kV kV kV kV kV kV
3,6 20 23 40 46 10 12
7,2 40 46 60 70 20 23
12 60 70 75 85 28 32
17,5 75 85 95 110 38 45
24 95 110 125 145 50 60

36 145 165 170 195 70 80
52 250 290 250 290 95 110
1_114Q07- 69 -
72,5 325 375 325 375 140 160

AGENDA
 INTRODUCTION
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 AIR INSULATED
 SF6 INSULATED
 TESTS
1_114Q07- 70 -
 PERSONAL SAFETY
Personal safety
 According to the recommendations of the IEC 298 standard, the
medium voltage installations must be designed and built to provide
personnel with the best possible protection in the case of an arc fault.
 With this recommendation, switchgear installations can be subjected to an
internal arc test under uniform conditions, and evaluated.
 The effects of the arc fault on the switchgear installation depend on the
intensity of the arc, its duration and the enclosed volume.
 The criteria for the test are as follows:
1. None of the properly closed or locked doors comes open
2. No parts are ejected (pressure-relief flaps, windows, etc.)
3. No holes are caused in the enclosure by burning, splintering or tearing due
to the action of the arc
4. Vertically arranged cotton gauze indicators are not ignited by the emission
of hot gases
5. Horizontally arranged cotton gauze indicators are not ignited
1_114Q07- 71 -
6. No earth connections are rendered ineffective

Personal safety
 Arc faults can arise because of overvoltages, faulty insulation,
malfunctioning drives or incorrect operation.
 The arc has a temperature of nearly 4.000 K at its root points, and
about 15.000 K at its core.
 When it strikes, the arc heats the surrounding air explosively, due to its
very high temperature.
 In an enclosed space (the bay or an oil chamber), this produces a rise
in pressure.
 This pressure rise would reach the mechanical limit of the enclosure if
switchgear cubicles were not provided with pressure-relief flaps.
 These open after some 5-8 ms, and the overpressure is gradually
reduced.
1_114Q07- 72 -
Personal safety
Effects of fault arc

caused by released Pressure rise Temperature rise Visual and
energy acoustic phe-
nomena
 
Possible conse- Mechanical stressing of Thermal stresses,

quences for apparatus walls, doors, windows melting, vaporization
and decomposition of
materials
 
Possible conse- Injury due to shock wave, Burns due to ejection

quences for personnel flying parts, opening doors of hot gases
1_114Q07- 73 -
Personal safety
 It must be assumed that the arc will burn for at least 70 ms before it is
interrupted, but may be 1s to 1.5s, depending on the network’s relay
settings.
 During this time, the enclosure is subjected not only to pressure, but
also to heat.
 The heat of the arc can melt steel sheet.
 Switchgear cubicles thus have double walls at critical points, with an air
gap inbetween, so that the arc is restricted to its point of origin.
 Other measures are taken (e.g. labyrinths between cubicle interior and
front door) to ensure that the hot gases are cooled so as not to
endanger personnel.
1_114Q07- 74 -
Personal safety
 Pressure resistance (criteria according to standard, t = 0.1s) is
demonstrated by optical means.
 High-speed cameras running at 800 frames per second are able to
show clearly the standard complying.
 The thermal effects (criteria according to standard, t = 1.0s) are shown
by easily flammable pieces of cotton gauze, which during the test
should not be ignited by the hot gases.
1_114Q07- 75 -
Personal safety
 Depending on the nature of the installation, these indicators (e.g.
cretonne) are arranged vertically in front of the cubicle at a distance of
30 cm or 10 cm.
 In these tests special attention must also be paid to the height of the
ceiling above the apparatus; if the ceiling is low the rebounding gases
can constitute a hazard.
 Proof is provided by horizontal indicators placed 2.0 m above floor
level.
 Personal safety can be improved by deflection blades attached to the
top of the cubicles.
1_114Q07- 76 -

Medium Voltage Switchgear

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Medium Voltage Switchgear

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AGENDA

 The prefabricated switch bays (or units) of medium voltage are

 Nowadays there is a vast diversity of prefabricated switch bays,

 Currently all switchgear can be remote-controlled using external

Feeder Cable connection Sectionalizer Riser Busbar metering

 Other devices can be added into this switchgear, such as voltage

Incoming/outgoing Connection Transformers

comparison between switchgear insulated with SF6 or with air,

 The apparatus can be substituted easily in case of failure.

present a metallic and grounded plug of fixed contacts. Then the

switchgear, the manufacturers seek for a design that ensures the

access to all of them. The truck-mounted circuit breaker also

 Even when there is a vast amount

truck/chassis inserted and the door

closer to the site walls.

 The terminal of the grounding bus is

system of the installation

 Each compartment includes a trap door in the top to remove, towards

inner arc, thus avoiding personnel and installation damage

 Removed: Both circuits are disconnected

(the doors can be opened in this case).

 This compartment encloses the medium voltage cables, as well as

 This compartment contains the control, measurement and protection

operation. They should be ample enough to ease the cable setting.

coloured areas are those filled with SF6

breaker and the bus

1. Bus disconnectors drive. 7. Three-position disconnector (in service-

3. Circuit breaker control 9. Incoming feeder

 Plate set to connect with the bus

as well as the one-line diagram of the

 A second central compartment that

 Both central compartments (the

 As with metal-clad switchgear, the

 The configuration of the

unit with circuit breaker.

Closed breaker Open breaker Grounded breaker

with functions of disconnector and of earthing switch

 The frontal plates and sockets of the unit can

 In case of motorization of the breaker drive, this compartment includes a

switchgear, it can incorporate low voltage magneto-thermal breakers and

incoming/outgoing feeder of the transformation centre,

 The protection function: with circuit breaker and fuses combined,

all gases through the back of the unit.

immersed in the SF6-filled metallic tank.

open and close the switch-disconnector working as an earthing switch by

 This compartment has a

 Above the feeder compartment

located, to which fixed lamps of

 The low voltage compartment has a terminal strip to connect relays,

 neutral-point of the winding grounded through direct connection or through low

 compensation of the earthing system with overvoltage protection.

 In any other case, or if it is required a high security level in service 1,

24 95 110 125 145 50 60

72,5 325 375 325 375 140 160

6. No earth connections are rendered ineffective

Effects of fault arc

Possible conse- Mechanical stressing of Thermal stresses,

Possible conse- Injury due to shock wave, Burns due to ejection

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