Power frequency withstand voltage type testing and FEM analysis of the medium-voltage switchgear busbar compartment

This paper presents the “new” busbar geometry for the existing Medium-Voltage switchgear feeder. The investigated feeder is BVK-A-17,5 manufactured by KONČAR-Electrical Equipment Inc. This feeder uses supporting epoxy resin insulators to support its busbar geometry. In this paper the busbar geometry without supporting insulators is proposed. When dealing with new design of the product the type testing is inevitable. Type test of interest in this paper is “Short-duration power frequency withstand voltage test”. The prototype consisting of two feeders is built, and type tested in the company facilities. New busbar geometry successfully passed the type test. This paper also presents FEM analysis of the type test and compares 3D and 2D model simulation results with the outcome of the real-life test.