Originally Posted: Dec 15, 2009
Electrical Switchgear and Distribution
Electrical distribution equipment is certainly the heart of any industrial facility. Without a reliable electrical distribution system, the operation of any facility would be impossible. From lighting, security, manufacturing and environmental controls, nothing happens without electricity.
Electrical switchgear is usually specified in heavy industrial applications where the demands on the equipment require more robust construction. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the condition of this equipment (including regularly scheduled maintenance) has not been a primary concern in most facilities. Facility managers have a lot on their mind and sometimes do not consider that electrical switchgear equipment requires regular maintenance. Facility managers must consider this to avoid a failure in the electrical distribution system. A failure could lead to process interruption, and it creates an elevated safety and property risk as well. Maintenance of electrical equipment like switchgear is critical for proper protective functioning and reliability of the distribution system.
Electrical switchgear and switchboard components such as overcurrent protective devices, which include fuses, circuit breakers and protective relays, are fundamental to the task of protecting the system as well as reducing hazards for electrical workers. When these devices are maintained well, they operate optimally to clear any fault condition – from a simple overcurrent event to a bolted or potentially hazardous arcing fault.
While fuse technology has not changed substantially over the past two decades, power circuit breaker and protective relay technology have undergone significant design improvements since the early to mid-1980s. Older power circuit beakers were designed around an open iron frame structure with electromechanical trip units. These devices needed iron frame construction in order to have the ability to withstand the fault current conditions present in many facilities, and were designed with an open-style construction to allow the extensive maintenance that was required to keep the devices functioning properly. Often, older power circuit breaker designs required the use of limiter fuses added to the circuit breaker to protect the breaker at fault current levels higher than those for which the breaker was rated. These limiter fuses added significantly to the size of the device, and consequently to the overall size of the switchgear.
Modern power circuit breakers are designed using space-age materials in very compact formats with digital trip units. They are also designed for significantly reduced maintenance requirements. These products now offer very high fault-current withstand capabilities without the use of limiter fuses. Since power circuit breakers provide such a vital function in protecting the electrical system, as well as reducing the risk to electrical workers from arcing faults, these design improvements are a quantum leap forward in equipment and personnel protection. They have very low maintenance requirements and allow new switchgear to be much more compact than older open iron frame circuit breaker designs.
Retrofit options are now available to extend the life of existing switchgear, which could be a more cost-effective choice for some facilities.
Electrical Switchgear Options Available:
Facility managers faced with the choice of replacing or retrofitting their existing obsolete switchgear to take advantage of the capabilities of the newer generation of circuit protection technology should make an informed choice; there are many factors to consider in this decision. One of these factors, of course, is the initial capital cost, along with potential disruption to the facility’s processes and workflow during the course of changing out the equipment.
Carolina Precision Switchgear can help Facility Managers facing these types of decisions through our consulting services. Call us today and we will help you to make an informed cost effective decision for your company.
For more information, please visit www.cpswitchgear.com or call Carolina Precision Switchgear at 704-596-4242. We offer onsite switchgear repair at your site or you can send switchgear to our location for repair and refurbishment.
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