High-voltage switchgear common fault analysis - Database & Sql Blog Articles

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High-voltage switchgear failures are commonly attributed to issues in insulation, electrical, and mechanical systems. Understanding the root causes is crucial for maintaining system reliability and safety. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the main failure types:

1. Rejection or Misoperation Failure This is one of the most common problems in high-voltage switchgear. It can be caused by two main factors: mechanical and electrical. On the mechanical side, problems like jammed mechanisms, deformed or damaged parts, loose core components, or misaligned shafts can prevent proper operation. On the electrical side, issues such as poor secondary wiring contact, loose terminals, incorrect wiring, burned-out coils, faulty auxiliary switches, or power supply problems can lead to misoperations.

2. Opening and Closing Faults These faults occur due to issues within the circuit breaker itself. For oil-free breakers, common problems include fuel injection short circuits, arc chutes burning out, insufficient breaking capacity, and even explosions during closing. In vacuum circuit breakers, the main concerns are air leaks in the arc chamber and bellows, reduced vacuum levels, capacitor re-ignition, and cracks in the ceramic tube.

3. Insulation Faults Insulation failures are critical and can lead to serious damage. They often result from improper handling of voltage levels, including operating voltage and overvoltage conditions. Key signs of insulation failure include flashover breakdowns on external and internal insulation, phase-to-phase flashovers, lightning overvoltage events, porcelain or capacitor casing flashovers, pollution flashovers, breakdowns, explosions, and cracked insulators. Ensuring proper insulation design and maintenance is essential for safe and efficient operations.

4. Current-Carrying Faults At voltage levels between 72kV and 12kV, current-carrying faults are often caused by overheating or melting of the isolation plug contacts. This can lead to loss of conductivity and potential system shutdowns if not addressed promptly.

5. External and Other Faults These include unexpected incidents such as foreign object impacts, natural disasters, small animal-related short circuits, and other unforeseen external forces that may affect the switchgear's performance.

By identifying and addressing these potential failure points, operators can significantly improve the reliability and longevity of high-voltage switchgear systems. Regular maintenance, proper installation, and advanced monitoring technologies are key to preventing such failures and ensuring continuous, safe operation.