How Smart are Your Switchgear Controls?
Credit to Author: Sahil Shanghavi| Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:29:41 +0000
In this age of technology and communication, it is hard to imagine that simple issues stemming from an aging power system can cause serious damage as well as pose major safety risks. Switchgear controls are the operating system of the electrical gear, i.e., the ‘brains’ of the switchgear. Existing installations with aging operating systems open facilities up to multiple vulnerabilities ranging from the risk of unplanned downtime to complete system failure.
Modernization solutions exist that will upgrade the switchgear’s operating system with intelligent technology. As business requirements change over time, having an upgraded switchgear operating system helps to ensure reliable power and continued business operations.
Switchgear Operating System Health Check Guide
Following are important recommendations and considerations for evaluating the health of your switchgear controls (operating system).
- Use system documentation to review hardware and software for obsolescence. Having repair parts available is a critical attribute to having a reliable, robust system.
- Physically evaluate the condition of the switchgear and controls, looking for signs of wear and tear, overheating, exposure to moisture or component failure.
- All electromechanical relays should be considered for replacement as newer multi-function relays can help reduce the overall device footprint and offer remote reporting and monitoring capabilities. In addition, newer multi-functional relays or HMI may also be used to provide better situational awareness of the system.
- Consider adding a Human Machine Interface (HMI) to help provide simpler user interface, as well as better functionality and system troubleshooting capabilities.
- Check the overall system maintenance and testing schedule to see if it is time to schedule preventive maintenance. In addition, consider recommissioning the operating system.
- Determine if current codes and standards may have affected the sequence of operation or hardware configuration.
- To enhance overall safety, consider relocating operator controls away from the gear.
The health check guide can provide you with significant system improvement, but you may be faced with a much more complex situation. In either scenario, you must always consider a holistic approach while seeking out modernization upgrades. The right approach always includes obtaining a system level understanding of your needs before buying any pre-packaged solution.
Reliable power is an often overlooked, but critical component of our livelihood. Whether we consider a hospital, a data center, an industrial manufacturer or a school, nothing operates without it. More information
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