A High Voltage Switchgear Switching System

Switching of high voltage (HV) switchgears is dangerous and has caused many incidents and accidents. In this research a system was developed to switch HV switchgears from up to 25m away. Initially oil switchgears with levers were switched on and off, then racking in and out of vacuum circuit breaks were also successfully done, then a jig was developed to trigger push buttons to enable the switching on and off the latest motorized switchgears. Though servo motor actuation seems like the latest method of actuation, after careful consideration of all the factors involved in switching such breakers an electropneumatic system was decided upon. The factors considered were ease of maintenance, ruggedness and durability in harsh rural environments where the system must operate in.