Prioritizing Failure-Contributing Causes in Switchgear Systems

This research focuses on the critical role of switchgear buses and circuit breakers within switchgear systems, emphasizing the need to understand and prioritize failure contributing causes to enhance maintenance strategies and ensure reliable operation. By analyzing data from these components, the study provides a ranked distribution of failure causes, guiding the selection of effective maintenance and diagnostic technologies to minimize downtime and improve system reliability. The investigation started with an in-depth review of existing literature, which identified common failure causes in switchgear and explored available on-line diagnostic technologies. Building on this foundation, a structured survey was conducted with industry experts, including electrical engineers, quality assurance professionals, field service engineers, and project managers. The survey aimed to validate the identified failure causes, assess current practices in condition assessment and predictive maintenance, and gather insights into the perceived effectiveness of various on-line diagnostic technologies. The results of the survey facilitated the prioritization of critical failure modes, providing a basis for developing targeted condition assessment programs. Additionally, the research compared condition assessment programs that incorporate on-line diagnostic technologies such as partial discharge detection and infrared thermography–with other preventive and predictive maintenance strategies. This study underscores the importance of advanced condition assessment techniques in enhancing the reliability and availability of medium-voltage (MV) switchgear assets. By reducing the risk of unexpected failures and optimizing maintenance resources, the research offers a practical framework for industry practitioners to develop and implement effective condition-based maintenance programs for their MV electrical infrastructure. The study also anticipates future advancements in switchgear condition assessment, contributing valuable insights to the ongoing development of maintenance strategies in the electrical industry.