Sustainable solutions to future energy challenges

In an interview with EPR Magazine, Rajesh Kumar, Director – Marketing, Eaton Electrical Sector India talks about being sustainable in today’s industry.

What is the role of switchgear in efficient power transmission and distribution?

The right and appropriate technology to maintain and monitor our electrical networks with minimum downtime and quick and reliable protection is what we refer in the current situation as electrical switchgear. It also refers to a centralised collection of circuit breakers, fuses, and switches (circuit protection devices) that function to protect, control, and isolate electrical equipment.

Switchgear is commonly found throughout electric utility transmission and distribution systems as well as in medium to large-sized commercial or industrial facilities. There are upgrades in terms of compactness, high faults capacity, hybrid technologies, improved di-electric and smartness getting embedded on switchgears.

How is switchgear in T&D applications evolving in design and technologies?

Multiple advancements are underway in technology and most important is compactness and smartness on communication and data collection/monitoring. Today, the options are limited. You have AIS that is very bulky and requires a lot of maintenance. The other is GIS that is compact but with an inherent risk of leakage of the greenhouse SF6 gas. It is important for industries to move away from SF6. Eaton has a unique product called solid insulated switchgear (SIS) named XIRIA, which is already present across world utilities in more than 100,000 units. This switchgear is available now in 24 kV up to 1250 A, 25 KA- 3 sec (12 kV).

What are the smart features coming up in switchgear used in T&D?

Industry 4.0 and IIoT solutions utilise intelligent electronic devices (IED) that have network connectivity in switchgear assemblies. Network-connected solutions offer real-time, 24/7 monitoring to detect anomalies, failures, or other problems and provide timely notifications. These IEDs also provide information that can be used to determine equipment health and lifecycle.

Eaton has launched intelligent switchgear in Asia which can also give partial discharge, temperature, arc presence, humidity, movements inside switchgear, motorised racking, hot spot sensors, displacement sensors, cameras to monitor various critical parameters around switchgear and room along with all IED for protection and measurements.

How is intelligent switchgear making the T&D system efficient?

Incorporating intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) such as smart circuit breakers, sensors and microprocessor-based relays and meters can make switchgear intelligent. If you are planning to purchase new switchgear but are not ready to take advantage of intelligent solutions, networked infrastructure, Industrial IoT, and digital platforms, you can still make your new switchgear future-ready by including (IEDs) connected to a network switch.

What is needed for sustainability in power transmission and distribution from a switchgear perspective?

With a vision to improve the quality of life and the environment, using innovative power management technologies and services, Eaton is well committed to sustainability. We endeavour to make our factories and facilities zero-waste and zero-landfill. All our products are RoHS compliant. In terms of our products, we are building a lot of innovations to reduce the impact on the environment. This is exemplified by the XIRIA medium voltage switchgear product family which offers a sustainable answer to important modern-day and future energy challenges.