CSE Pure Power - Summer 2008 - (Page 35)

switchgear story 35 ❮❮ PURE POWER // SUMMER 2008 A look at ARC-RESISTANT SWITCHGEAR An active fault mitigation system is an effective option for arc-resistant switchgear construction. BY DAVID TEMPLE, Product Manager, and KEN JOYE, Staff Product Specialist, Square D/Schneider Electric witchgear sections with compartments containing power circuit breakers, bus, and cable are the primary means for managing an industrial facility’s electrical distribution. In fact, switchgear is the heart of such facilities. Switchgear is an engineered-to-order product, meaning it is custom-built by the manufacturer to the exact speciﬁcations that meet a given facility’s needs. It’s also built to handle the rigors of day-to-day power needs over multiple decades, and if well-maintained, it will operate optimally to clear any fault condition. But while maintenance is critical and should be performed on a regular schedule, situations arise that can’t be predicted, such as an arc fault that occurs within a switchgear section. (For recommendations on proper maintenance intervals, see the 2006 edition of the National Fire Protection Assn.’s NFPA 70B consensus standard “Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.”) The likelihood of that happening is rather remote—if one occurs, it’s typically caused by an external source. Improper maintenance can also cause an arc fault. No matter the source, the heat and pressure generated by an internal arc fault can have devastating consequences for anyone in close proximity to the switchgear or the equipment itself, and ultimately the facility owner and his business. That’s why many facilities have deployed arc-resistant switchgear, which traditionally has encompassed a heavy, sheet-metal enclosure with venting, designed to direct heat and pressure of an arc fault away from nearby personnel. This conﬁguration also typically results in heavy damage to the switchgear, which is why there is growing interest in alternate methods of limiting fault current damage, such as fast-acting breakers, differential relaying, and interruption and active fault mitigation systems that channel the damaging energy release from an arc fault through a bolted connection. In this fashion, the chances increase that a switchgear section can be saved, and the time and monetary costs to completely replace a destroyed section can be avoided. Workers should wear PPE near switchgear equipment. S Temple is a 1993 graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Option). He has held numerous positions with electric utilities and power equipment manufacturers, and joined Square D/Schneider Electric in 1997, serving in project quotation, product marketing, and product management capacities. In his current role, he is focused on startup, warranties, and maintenance contracts. Joye joined Square D Co. in 1974 and has held several positions in quality and medium-voltage engineering and product management. He is responsible for product management of all Square D medium-voltage products from Schneider Electric sold in North America. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College. www.purepowermagazine.com http://www.purepowermagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CSE Pure Power - Summer 2008

CSE Pure Power - Summer 2008 Contents In the News Industry Roundup Risk Assessments for COPS Grounding Requires More Power Systems to Protect Healthcare Important Changes Coming in NFPA 70E A Look at Arc-Resistant Switchgear Agencies and Associations New Products Ad Index

CSE Pure Power - Summer 2008

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