Hello, learners. Welcome to this module on introduction to switchgear. Let's start with the topic of essential features of switchgear. At the end of this topic, you should be able to state the need of switchgear, explain the type and features of switchgear. Let's start with the requirement of switchgear. All equipment utilized in a power system for protection, control, and isolation is referred to as switchgear. Switchgear refers to all of the equipment required to resolve faults. In distribution and transmission networks, switchgear is employed, whereas control gear is used in consumer circuits. At each switching point in the power system, switchgears are required because there are different voltage and fault levels that must be regulated and protected by assessable switching devices, as well as isolated if necessary. Let's look at the type of switchgear. The first is the main devices utilized in the process of switching and isolating circuits in a power system are known as principal switchgears. Auxiliary switchgears are secondary or subsidy switchgears that provide control, measurement, protection, and fault clearing assistance to the primary switchgear. Circuit breakers, isolators, earthing switches, load switches, and contactors are examples of primary switchgear. The second category is auxiliary switchgears, which are supplemental or subsidiary switchgears that aid the primary switchgear with control, measurement, protection, and fault clearing. Protective devices like protection relays, lightning arresters, feeder pillars, and fuses are examples of auxiliary switchgears. Auxiliary switchgears include sensing devices such as voltage transformers, current transformers, and transducers. Control compensation devices like series inductive reactors, shunt inductive reactors, series capacitive reactors, and shunt capacitive reactors. Auxiliary supply devices like tripping units; battery bank, and charger. Switching devices, control and sensing devices, and decision-making devices are the three types of switchgear functions. Its examples are shown in this screen. Let's see the features of a switchgear. Complete reliability. Switchgears reliability is one of its most important qualities. It is critical for the switchgear to be able to quickly and flawlessly disconnect the power system's faulty component because it is responsible for overall safety. Discrimination is a definite certainty. Faulty and healthy components must be identified by switchgear. The switchgear should isolate the issue area while allowing the reminder of the system to function normally if a section of the system bursts due to power overflow. It is nearly certain that the problem will spread across the entire system if the switchgear cannot distinguish between healthy and diseased system components. Quick and efficient. As a primary need, the switchgear must respond quickly. It is because of the switchgear's necessity to quickly identify and isolate the faulty component in order to prevent damages to transformers, generators, and other critical equipment. Slow response switchgear is unsafe to use since it is ineffective at identifying problems. Manual control should be possible. The switchgear's most significant feature is its the ability to be controlled manually. This is because if the device's automatic control fails, the operator should be able to do the task manually. Let us summarize all that you have learned. There was a discussion over the need for switchgear. Switchgear types such as primary and auxiliary switchgear were discussed, the essential characteristics of switchgear like reliability, speed, and manual control were explained. Thank you, learners.
