Are switchgear essential in industrial projects?

 

What is switchgear?

A switchgear is a part of an electrical installation with disconnect switches and fuses/circuit breakers. An industrial electrical consultant has experience designing electrical installations using proper switchgear. 

Switches disconnect the electrical power, whereas the main role of fuses/circuit breakers is to control, protect and isolate equipment. 

Purpose of switchgear in an electrical installation?

The switchgear is said to be a protective component in any electrical installation. It helps isolate any fault downstream. Switchgear is useful to disconnect the electrical circuit from the equipment. It also protects against earth leakage, under and over voltage, and over current. Switchgear can be used locally or remotely.

Electrical design consultants design the electrical circuit design as per the guidelines given in the national and international standards and on the various capabilities and limitations of various switchgear. 

What are the types of Switchgear?

Switchgear is classified based on the voltage level:

1. Low Voltage Switchgear
2. Medium Voltage Switchgear
3. High Voltage Switchgear

What are the components of a switchgear?

The switchgear typically has two components:

1. Power-conducting components: They conduct or interrupt the flow of electricity. Some power-conducting components are circuit breakers, switches, fuses, isolators, relay, etc.
2. Control systems: They monitor and protect the power-conducting components. Some of the control systems include control panels, current transformers, etc.

Industrial Electrical consultants use their expertise, knowledge and software to design optimised electrical installations in line with the latest national and international standards.

Additionally, consultants have to analyse each circuit and optimise them one at a time. They have to go through a number of combinations and then select the best based on satisfactory performance, compatibility among individual and upstream switchgear with respect to rating and fault level, conformity to regulations towards safety and reliability in circuit performance, etc.

The deliverables of industrial electrical consultants include Design calculations, Single line diagrams, Electrical schematics, Calculation of voltage drops, calculation of short circuit current, Switchgear rating and selection, Selection of protective devices, Selection of cascading schemes, Cable size optimisation and verification of personnel protection system.