Using shielded switchgear to maximize electrical safety

by Carly Midgley | February 14, 2017 11:40 am

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by James K. Stacy
In generations past, companies and facilities depended on a single, traditional source to generate electricity—normally, a power plant. Today, industrial power comes from distributed energy resources as end-users push to adopt systems and strategies optimizing the safety, efficiency, and reliability of electricity. This distribution of power from multiple sources leverages connectivity, ensuring one outage does not cause irreparable damage to mission-critical systems. It also enables greater energy efficiency and, most importantly, places stronger emphasis on safety, reducing electrical failures caused by significant events like arc flash.

As the electricity industry has progressed, switchgear has come to the forefront as the technological innovation most effectively quelling safety concerns associated with arc flash. Medium-voltage switchgear technologies are particularly well-suited to reduce (or even eliminate) instances of this hazard through implementation of various safety innovations such as grounding switches, which effectively reduce the potential risk and variability of human error. Companies and organizations are viewing switchgear as a method of cost-effectively modernizing electrical systems while mitigating safety concerns associated with current electrical demands.

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Fortunately, switchgear is evolving fast enough to keep pace with the growing electrical demands of contemporary facilities. One of the main safety and cost advantages for companies utilizing the latest switchgear innovations is these technologies are able to operate virtually maintenance-free—new switchgear increases uptime and lowers the cost of maintenance throughout a system’s lifetime. On top of savings from this reduced maintenance, low- and medium-voltage switchgear technologies have prevent critical failures caused by human error, which add cost for companies in the form of damages, repairs, and outages.

In addition to incremental advancements in switchgear safety and reliability, there has been disruptive innovation. Switchgear has built electrical systems into these long-lasting, reduced-maintenance entities due in no small part to the introduction of shielded solid insulation technology—a new class of switchgear created to improve upon the existing air-insulated switchgear (AIS) and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) models.

The technology involves adding a layer of solid insulation material to switchgear conductors. The insulation is then covered by a conductive grounded coating (i.e. a shield) protecting the main circuit components, which greatly reduces the potential for internal arcing. An additional benefit of grounded shielded conductors is the conductors actually become accidentally touch-safe in the unlikely event human error occurs—the additional insulation material ensures workers assume no risk of electrocution if they have to manually come into contact with wiring or other circuit components.

Like grounding switches, this type of switchgear design increases safety by reducing the risk of human error, as confining live conductors in a shielded insulation means there will be no electric field in the air. It also prevents damage to the system caused by external elements like dust, humidity, moisture, and other environmental factors. This means these systems are built to last in aggressive and harsh environments much more effectively than the air- or solid-insulation systems that were staples of past generations. Perhaps most importantly, these systems significantly reduce the risk of arc flash and electrocution. The shielded solid insulation design lets systems stand up to adverse environmental conditions, prevents two- or three-phase faults, and limits internal arcing to low-magnitude, single-phase faults.

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Removing the human element makes the switchgear more flexible once installed, reducing cost for managers post-installation as well. When installing this type of system, one simply has to use the existing cable infrastructure. Effectively, this type of switchgear bridges the generational gap between electrical systems, adding contemporary safety features to legacy infrastructure in order to bolster the crucial element: safety.

The fact is archaic electrical distribution systems are no longer able to stand up to modern demands. Adequate shielding protects power systems from external factors that can put them at levels of critical risk most companies cannot afford to take, and this technology has proven to optimize the safety of medium-voltage switchgear.

Modern facilities consume an inordinate amount of power, placing a premium on efficient power-delivery systems able to meet evolving needs. Speed, however, cannot come at the cost of safety, which remains paramount for power sources. Shielded solid insulation technology provides companies with the extra layer of safety desired in power-delivery systems, along with invaluable peace of mind from knowing their switchgear systems can stand up to any challenge.

[4]James Stacy received a degree in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University in 1998, a professional engineering license in 2002, and an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management in 2014. He is currently the director of offer strategy in Schneider Electric’s U.S. Energy Business. With a focus on offer technology management, Stacy is responsible for offer strategy, including understanding customer values, application requirements, competitive environment, and anticipation of their evolution. His responsibilities also include definition of new offers and existing offer adaptation. Stacy can be reached via e-mail at james.stacy@schneider-electric.com[5].

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