COURSE OVERVIEW:

Circuit breakers and switchgears are the fundamental protective elements of the electrical power network, responsible for interrupting fault currents and isolating system segments. This course provides an advanced examination of the design, operation, and maintenance of these critical devices across low, medium, and high voltage levels. Participants will explore the physics of arc extinction in various media, including vacuum, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and air, to understand the mechanical and electrical limits of modern switching technology.

The scope of this training covers the entire ecosystem of switchgear assemblies, including the primary busbars, auxiliary circuits, and sophisticated protection interfaces. It addresses the evolution from traditional mechanical trip units to advanced numerical relay integration, focusing on how these components interact during transient events. The course provides technical depth on the maintenance of operating mechanisms, emphasizing the precision required for spring-charged, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems to ensure reliable high-speed operation when faults occur.

Coverage includes rigorous diagnostic testing methodologies, such as contact resistance measurement, timing tests, and dielectric integrity evaluations. Attendees will learn to interpret the results of condition monitoring to predict potential failures in insulation and mechanical linkages. By focusing on both indoor and outdoor switchgear configurations, the curriculum ensures that technical personnel can maintain the highest levels of system availability while adhering to the strictest safety protocols for arc flash mitigation and substation entry.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Analyze the principles of arc interruption in Vacuum, SF6, and Air media.
• Identify the mechanical components and logic of complex operating mechanisms.
• Interpret switchgear control and interlocking schemes for safe operation.
• Execute advanced diagnostic tests, including micro-ohmmeter and timing analysis.
• Evaluate the condition of SF6 gas and manage moisture contamination levels.
• Perform precision maintenance on primary and secondary disconnect contacts.
• Troubleshoot electrical faults in charging motors and shunt trip coils.
• Implement effective preventative maintenance schedules for MV and HV switchgear.
• Analyze the impact of switching transients and restrikes on system insulation.
• Conduct visual inspections to identify signs of partial discharge and tracking.
• Align and adjust mechanical linkages for optimal breaker opening and closing.
• Select appropriate PPE based on arc flash hazard calculations for switchgear.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This course is designed for Electrical Engineers, Substation Technicians, Protection Engineers, and Maintenance Supervisors involved in the utility, oil and gas, and heavy industrial sectors.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximize the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.