Thermal & Short Circuit Performance Improvement of Low Voltage Switchboards

Abstract

The combination of one or more low voltage switching devices together with associated control, measuring, signalling, protective, regulating equipment, etc., completely assembled under the responsibility of the manufacturer with all the internal electrical mechanical interconnection structural parts is called switchgear assembly or switchboard. The new manufacturing methods developed in industry in recent years have brought a new notion to light: industrial dependability. This concept which covers two different aspects, safety of persons and equipment, and availability of electrical power. Hence temperature of the switchboard should be kept in permissible limits to reduce the possibility of switchboard damage as well as the equipment connected. Switchboards also experiences electromagnetic force during fault, hence should be made capable of handling this force in order to avoid damage to person and equipment. The aim of this project is to analyse thermal and short circuit behaviour of the switch- boards in such a manner that the heat generated and the electromagnetic forces remain in permissible limits as per standard. Improvement/ recommendations will be suggested as per theoretical and software simulation.