Safe Operation & Maintenance of Circuit Breakers and Switchgears

Circuit breakers, fused switches, and switchgear in the form of motor Control Centres (MCC) are necessary system items for the electrical control of the electrical plant. The safe use of these devices and associated equipment require correct initial selection, operation, and maintenance. It is also necessary to have a detailed understanding of how these devices should be installed, the local substation and system ratings, and how the various breakers operate, in order to enable accurate troubleshooting and subsequent repair.

Safe Operation & Maintenance of Circuit Breakers and Switchgear will equip participants with new or refreshed skills to ensure that circuit breakers and switchgear are installed, operated safely, and maintained in a fashion that ensures safe and stable operation. Also, they will be able to identified faults and ensure the underlying causes are identified to reduce possible further failures.

The objectives of this seminar are to present:

• Understanding of the operational characteristics of circuit breakers and switchgear.
• Understanding of troubleshooting procedures, as applied to circuit breakers and associated switchgear.
• Improved capability in the use of test equipment.
• A better understanding of failure modes and failure analysis as applied to fuses, circuit breakers, and switchgear. In relation to air brake, vacuum, and SF6 devices.
• Refreshed awareness of electrical safety concerns within substations and control centres
• Ability to determine fault levels in substations

The course is conducted as modular lectures with encouragement for the participant to interact.

Case studies are included to illustrate typical system arrangements in the range of voltages from 400V up to 36kV. Delegates are requested to bring general details of their companies approach to substation design and type of equipment employed at the various voltage levels employed. Drawings and plant ratings are useful.

Questions are welcomed throughout the course and during break sessions.

• Knowledge of types of switchgear and disconnectors
• Understanding of electrical systems and their load and fault requirements
• Overview of substation layouts and equipment from 0.4 - 36kV
• Health and Safety and equipment fault voltages during earth fault conditions
• Maintenance, inspection, testing and certification of switching plant
• Understanding electrical hazards, safe working distances, and permits to work
• Recognition of unsafe situations
• Safe earthing of equipment during maintenance, lockouts, and labels

• Greater personal confidence in approaching working safely with power switchgear
• Understanding "competence" and Health and Safety at work
• Awareness of the fault level and fault currents within the equipment
• Detailed understanding of the various interrupting mediums, air, vacuum and SF6
• Understanding protection, isolation, and switching
• Appreciating the differences between earthing and bonding
• Understanding of the need to carry out appropriate maintenance, inspection, test and certification of installations, equipment and appliances in the range 0.4 - 36kV

Carefully selected examples and case studies will be used to illustrate the material being discussed and in particular, emphasis will be given to ensure that the material is appropriate to the organizations represented.

• A better understanding of the operational characteristics of circuit breakers and switchgear.
• A better understanding of troubleshooting procedures, as applied to circuit breakers and associated switchgear.
• An improved capability in the use of test equipment.
• A better understanding of failure modes and failure analysis as applied to fuses, circuit breakers, and switchgear. In relation to air brake, vacuum, and SF6 devices.
• A refreshed awareness of electrical safety concerns within substations and control centers.