Circuit Breakers and Switchgear : Operations, Maintenance and Troubleshooting Course

Course Overview:

This course provides a detailed study of arc phenomena, the interrupting of circuits, and the different models of circuit breakers and industrial switchgears that bases on electrical utility, distribution, and transmission.

Within this syllabus, participants will learn how to choose specifications of circuit breakers, how to practice maintenance tasks and how to test and troubleshoot. 

The course also encompasses low and medium and high voltage circuit breakers together with their various models such as air, oil, SF6, vacuum breakers, and breaker curves. 

The course is oriented to the electrical engineer and qualified technician, the course enable to the designers the capability to ensure dependable operation and maintenance of the switchgear systems in the power networks.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course the participants will;

• Understand the arc phenomena and circuit interruption.
• Know the different types of circuit breakers and industrial switchgears.
• Be able to select circuit breaker specification.
• Know the maintenance procedures.
• Be able to do all tests on circuit breakers.
• Be able to detect circuit breakers troubleshooting.
• Be able to use circuit breaker curves and make protection coordination

Who Should Attend?

The course is designed to electrical engineers and highly qualified technicians concerned with circuit breakers and switchgears in electrical utilities, electrical distribution, and transmission.

Course Outlines:

General Introduction

• Electrical engineering basic concepts
• Three-phase review and per unit
• Voltage levels
• One line and three line diagram
• Generation system layout
• Transmission system layout
• Substation system layout
• Distribution system layout
• Review of short circuit current calculation.

Industrial Switchgears

• Fuses
• Auto-reclosers
• Automatic sectionalized
• Circuit Breakers
• Isolator switches
• Load switches
• Relays
• Current transformers
• Voltage transformers

Arc Phenomena and Circuit Interruption

• Arc phenomena
• Maintenance of the Arc
• Properties of Arc
• Arc Interruption theory
• Circuit Breaker Rating
• Circuit constants and circuit conditions
• Conditions of severity
• Restriking voltage transient
• Duties of Switchgear

Low Voltage Circuit Breakers

• Low voltage molded case current limiting circuit breakers
• Low voltage molded case circuit breakers with high breaking capacity
• Insulated case circuit breakers
• Low voltage air circuit breakers
• Low voltage circuit breakers specification

Medium and High Voltage Circuit Breakers

Air Circuit Breakers

• Method of increasing arc resistance
• Plan break type
• Magnetic blow out type
• Arc splitter type
• Application
• Construction and operation

Oil Circuit Breakers

• Arc rupture under oil
• Advantages of oil
• Disadvantages of oil
• Plan break oil circuit breakers
• Arc control circuit oil breakers
• Minimum oil circuit breakers
• Construction and operation

SF6 Circuit Breakers

• Basic Features of SF6 Breakers
• Dielectric properties of SF6
• Quenching properties of SF6Construction of SF6 breaker
• Puffer type breakers

Vacuum Circuit Breakers

• The vacuum medium
• The vacuum arc
• Vacuum arc stability
• Vacuum break down
• Vacuum switch construction
• Applications of vacuum circuit breakers

Other Type of Circuit Breakers

• Synchronizes circuit breakers
• DC circuit breakers

Medium and high voltage circuit breakers specification

Circuit Breaker Maintenance and Services

• Inspection
• General inspection technical procedure
• Daily inspection of circuit breakers
• Monthly inspection of circuit breakers
• The annual inspection of circuit breakers
• Disassembly
• Cleaning
• Tightening
• Lubrication
• Adjustment

Circuit Breakers Testing

• Classification
• Description of a simple testing station
• Equipments used in testing
• Testing procedure
• Direct testing
• Test report
• Indirect testing

Circuit Breaker Troubleshooting

Circuit Breakers Curves and Protection Coordination