The switching apparatus reliability-the most important request for the stability of the power junction "Iron Gates 1"

The paper shows an interesting case of a power substation, one of the greatest power substation of the Romanian National Power System called "Iron Gates 1". The substation is near the Danube River at the border with Yugoslavia where, between 1965 and 1970, a large hydroelectric power plant was constructed. The paper shows the big problems that occur and some of the methods for solving these problems. All of these problems are related to the reliability of the switching apparatus of the substation, in order to provide a better stability of the power junction "Iron Gates 1".