Overview

Switchgear (and circuit breakers) and transformers are critical components in electrical distribution systems and their operation significantly affects the overall performance of the system. This course will discuss the application, installation, maintenance and testing issues relating to medium and high voltage switchgear, circuit breakers and transformers. Low voltage switchgear will also be covered and you will receive a thorough grounding in switchgear theory and standards. You will gain a solid understanding of the issues associated with the proper application, installation and maintenance of these critical items of equipment with an overriding emphasis on safety. The emphasis is on medium voltage (referred today as high voltage) switchgear which represents most of the switchgear installed on electrical distribution systems. The focus is on air blast, oil, SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers. Case studies covering the main manufacturers' equipment will illustrate the important practical principles. Other power system protection components will be discussed as well to ensure that switchgear is understood in the correct context. Installation of high voltage distribution and transmission equipment has increased significantly over the years due to ongoing global demand for power. As a result, the need to ensure reliability of operation of power systems is paramount. Power transformers are among the most important and most expensive components of power systems. Their failure can impose extraordinarily high costs on plants, factories and utilities of all descriptions. It is critical that all personnel operating and working with such equipment have a sound knowledge of their operational requirements and maintenance. This practical course provides knowledge on both the theory and operation of Power Transformers. The course will develop and enhance an understanding of what is involved in the maintenance of these essential components of the power systems, through the tips and tricks learnt and developed by some of the world's pre-eminent electrical engineers.

Course Outline

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO SWITCHGEAR AND TRANSFORMERS

Single line diagrams

Active and passive network components

Circuit breaker utilisation

Alternative forms of MV switchgear – ring main units and load breaking/fault making switches

Fuse switches

HV fuses in combination with, and as alternatives to circuit breakers

Auto-reclosers and auto-reclose operation

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 2: APPLICATION OF SWITCHGEAR

Principles of current interruption

Plain break circuit breakers

Bulk and small oil volume circuit breakers

Turbulator (explosion pot)

Operating mechanisms

Transfer earth circuit breakers

Air break and air blast switchgear

SF6 and vacuum

Switchgear in association with isconnectors

Fixed and withdraw-able designs

Switchgear standards

Factors affecting switchgear selection

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 3: SPECIFICATION OF SWITCHGEAR

Switchgear ratings - highest system and impulse withstand voltages, load and short circuit currents

Simple and complex protection systems

Switchgear ancillaries, measurement CTs, VTs and relays

Cable terminations

Indoor and outdoor operation

Substation and switch room layouts and design

Practical Exercise

 

SHORT CIRCUIT TESTING

Symmetrical and asymmetrical breaking

Make and break operations

Understanding test oscillograms

Case study - Specification for a 132 KV Switchboard

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 4: SAFETY POLICIES

General safety precautions and the use of personal protective equipment

Principles of safety rules

Principles of personal authorisation

Operative training for safe operation of switchgear

Isolation in a circuit breaker context

Safety documentation

Operational and safety locking, caution and danger notices

Work safety in a substation environment

Safety interlocks

Substation alarms

Individual study tasks and presentation - safety policies in my company and how they might be  improved

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 5: OPERATION OF MODERN SWITCHGEAR

Case Studies

- Sprecher and Schuh

- Schneider

- ABB

- Siemens

Practical Exercise

 

ASSETS MANAGEMENT IN A SWITCHGEAR CONTEXT

Principles of time and condition based asset management

Asset registers

Asset management systems

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 6: DIAGNOSTICS, TESTING AND MAINTENANCE

Switchgear inspection methodologies

Partial discharge measurement and survey

Timing tests

Thermovision

Mechanisms of deterioration

Principles of circuit breaker maintenance

Maintaining oil circuit breakers

Contact maintenance and contact wipe

Oil testing

Maintaining vacuum circuit breakers

Maintaining SF6 circuit breakers

SOPs and DINs

Switchgear defects and defect control Systems

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 7: TRANSFORMERS' MAIN FUNCTIONS AND CLASSIFICATION

Construction (shell type and core type)

Classification and type in relation to insulation, windings, core, cooling systems, voltage level, sizing, tank and breathing action

Transformer parts

Practical Exercise

 

POWER TRANSFORMERS AND SAFETY

How to install, operate and work with high voltage power transformers safely

Earthing of HV transformers

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 8: TRANSFORMER THEORY

Electrical values and their definition in a power transformer - voltage, current, number of turns,  impedance and their interrelation

Practical Exercise

 

OPERATION OF POWER TRANSFORMERS IN A POWER SYSTEM

Thermal performance, loading, paralleling, tap-changing, connections and vector groups

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 9: POWER TRANSFORMER PROTECTION

Surge protection

Protective relaying (differential, over-current and earth fault)

Buchholz relay and pressure relief relay

Thermal devices and instruments (oil temperature alarm and trip, winding temperature alarm and trip)

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 10: AUTO-TRANSFORMERS

Design criteria

Specifications

Practical Exercise

 

GENERATOR TRANSFORMERS

Design criteria

Specifications

Practical Exercise

 

UNIT TRANSFORMERS

Design criteria

Specifications

Practical Exercise

 

STATION TRANSFORMERS

Design criteria

Specifications

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 11: OIL QUALITY

Oil contents: water, acidity and dissolved gas

Oil tests: dielectric breakdown, moisture, resistivity, interfacial tension, specific gravity, power factor and furan analysis

Recovery voltage measurement test

Practical Exercise

 

MODULE 12: POWER TRANSFORMER ELECTRICAL TESTS

AC Tests:

- Power factor tests (insulation, oil, and bushings)

- Single phase excitation current test

- Transformer turns ratio test

DC Tests:

- Insulation resistance test

- Dielectric absorption test

- Polarisation index test

- Step voltage test

- Hi-pot test

Practical Exercise

 

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON POWER TRANSFORMERS

Techniques to improve life expectancy

Practical Exercise

Click here to make Enquiry

Download Brochure here

Course Fees

What are the fees for my country?

The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) provides distance education to students located almost anywhere in the world – it is one of the very few truly global training institutes. Course fees are paid in a currency that is determined by the student’s location. A full list of fees in a currency appropriate for every country would be complex to navigate and, with today’s exchange rate fluctuations, difficult to maintain. Instead we aim to give you a rapid response regarding fees that is customised to your individual circumstances.

We understand that cost is a major consideration before a student commences study. For a rapid reply to your enquiry regarding courses fees and payment options, please enquire via the below button and we will respond within 1 business day.

Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) Certificate Course Payment Options

Please contact us with your location for certificate fees in the relevant currency. Certificate fees include all live webinars with a professional instructor, 4 technical manuals (as searchable eBooks), course materials, software, postage, assignments and ongoing support. All you need to participate is an internet connection, computer and headset.  We have group discounts available for our 3 month certificates.

Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) Advanced Diploma Course Payment Options

Three payment options are available for the Advanced Diploma courses;

OPTION 1 - PAY UPFRONT

Pay total amount upfront to receive a 5% reduction in fees.

OPTION 2 - PAY IN  SIX INSTALMENTS BY CREDIT CARD

Pay in 6 equal instalments over 18 months. First payment at least two weeks before the course starts, then the remaining five every 3 months. Payment dates will be set ahead of time and provided at the start of the course. You would receive the 30 technical reference eBooks in batches over the duration of the course.

OPTION 3 - PAY IN  MONTHLY INSTALMENTS BY CREDIT CARD

Pay in even installments for 18 months. First payment at least two weeks before the course starts, then one on the same date every month for the remaining period. This option incurs a 2% administration fee. You would receive the 30 technical reference eBooks in batches over the duration of the course.

Discounts are available for group bookings

For a rapid reply to your enquiry regarding courses fees and payment options, please contact us with your name, email address, course title(s), and location using the form below, and we will respond within 1 business day.

 

 

Courses

1. Advanced Diploma of Applied Electrical Engineering for Practicing Engineers and Technicians
2. Advanced Diploma of Electrical and Instrumentation (E & I) Engineering for Oil and Gas Facilities
3. Advanced Diploma of Electrical and Instrumentation (E & I) Engineering for Mining
4. Diploma and Advanced Diploma of ESI UET50212 and UET60212 
5. Graduate Certificate of Renewable Energy Technologies
6. Professional Certificate of Competency in Best Practice in Electrical Engineering in Mining, Building, Industry and Utilities
7. Professional Certificate of Competency in Circuit Breakers, Switchgear and Power Transformers – Safe operation and Maintenance
8. Professional Certificate of Competency in Electrical Power System Protection

 

There is scarcely an aspect of modern life that isn’t dependent on electrical energy. It is used in such varied activities as cooling, heating, transport, manufacturing, production, communications, minerals processing and water transfer.  Engineers and technicians with an electrical diploma find employment in fields as diverse as generation, transmission, distribution and the eventual application of electrical energy in machinery.  Due to the challenges of climate change there is also a vital interest in the use and storage of renewable and sustainable energy.  The demand for well trained electrical professionals is assured with rapid expansion of the electricity supply in the developing world, the addition of the yet-to-be-constructed smart grid, and our growing dependency upon electricity supply of high integrity.

 

Electrical engineering skills and knowledge are also critical in a wide range of industries ranging from oil and gas, water utilities, process plants, mining, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and defence. The EIT provide electrical engineering courses online for engineers and technicians of all levels and from all types of industry, be it mining, oil and gas or instrumentation. The Advanced Diploma of Electrical Engineering covers a large range of topics and is suited to anyone needing an intensive and practical look at all facets of electrical engineering.

 

Key subjects in the EIT School of Electrical Engineering include: power generation, transmission, distribution, rotating machinery, power electronics, earthing and safety regulations, electrical documentation and drawings, ac and dc machines, circuit breakers, transformers, energy efficiency, earthing and lightning, power systems protection, dc and ac emergency power supplies, electrical wiring regulations, high voltage supplies and power quality.

Click here to view FAQs