A disconnect switch is any solid-blade switch installed to provide a means to isolate or sectionalize a circuit. Unless a
disconnect switch has a load interrupter, it has no capability to interrupt load current. Disconnect switches have no capability
to open automatically under fault conditions. Disconnects are used in underground and overhead transmission and
distribution systems.
Switches can be categorized according to the insulating medium surrounding the contacts. The insulating medium helps cool
and extinguish arcs that may form between the contacts as they open. As stated above, disconnects are not designed to
interrupt load current unless equipped with a load interrupter. However, charging current in the line can still cause arcs to form
when disconnects are opened.
The four general classes of disconnects are:
- Air switches, with air as the insulating medium.
- Oil switches, with dielectric oil as the insulating medium.
- Vacuum switches, with a vacuum maintained around the contacts to serve as the insulating medium.
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) switches, with SF6 gas as the insulating medium.
High and medium voltage disconnect switches are designed to isolate a section of a circuit after the protective device has de-energized the circuit. They allow disconnecting the faulted circuit or equipment for repair while the rest of the circuit in the
zone of protection is put back into service, and provide for personnel safety while the malfunction is being repaired.
Disconnect switches can open very small charging currents to unload equipment, but that is all. The low current arc is broken
by swinging the moving arm in a 90-degree arc, providing a long gap.
Disconnect switches can be operated by motors, by an insulated lever connected to an actuating arm that moves the
switchblade as many medium-voltage pole-top switches are, or manually by using a hook stick (a long insulated pole with a
hook attached to one end).
Most high voltage switches are motor-operated disconnects (MODs). Disconnect switches are
classified by voltage, continuous current rating, and function such as distribution pole top. Unless a disconnect switch is
specified as a load break, it is a non-load break switch.
Read: Protection Relays in Power System
Type of Disconnects
- Non-Load Break Disconnect Switch: A non-load break disconnect switch should be operated by using the inching method.
Because the switch should not be used to drop a load, there should be no arc developing as the switch is opened slowly. If
there is an unknown load and an arc starts to develop, the switch should be closed immediately. At a distribution voltage,
single-phase disconnect switches are normally equipped with hooks to allow a portable load-break tool to be used to safely
provide the load-break capability. - Load-Interrupter Disconnect Switch: Disconnect switches with load-interrupters come in all voltages. They can be three-phase gang-operated switches or single-phase switches. Depending on the type, load interrupters are operated by hot stick,
operating handle, or remotely by way of a low-voltage motor. A load-interrupter switch has no capability to open automatically
under fault conditions. Load-interrupter switches are normally rated at 600 amperes or less.
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| In-Phase Disconnect |
- Air-Disconnect Switch: An air-disconnect switch is not equipped with arcing horns or other load-break devices. It, therefore,
cannot be opened while the current is flowing. If the disconnect switch should be opened while the current is flowing in the line, an
arc would likely be drawn between the blade and its stationary contacts. The hot arc would melt part of the metal, thereby
damaging the switch. The purpose of a disconnect switch is to isolate a line or a piece of equipment for the purpose of making
the disconnected line or equipment dead electrically, thus making it safe for repairs, tests, or inspections.
Read: Basic Guide for Power System Protection
- Oil-Disconnect Switches: An oil switch is a high-voltage switch whose contacts are opened and closed in oil. Oil switches
may be used as disconnects, circuit breakers, or reclosers. The switch is actually immersed in an oil bath, contained in a steel
tank. The reason for placing high-voltage switches in oil is that the oil may help to break the circuit when the switch is opened.
With high voltages, a separation of the switch contacts does not always break the current flow, because an electric arc forms
between the contacts. If the contacts are opened in oil, however, the oil helps to quench the arc. Oil is an insulator and,
therefore, helps to quench the arc between the contacts. The three lines of a three-phase circuit can be opened and closed by
a single oil switch. If the voltage is not extremely high, the three poles of the switch are generally in the same tank. But if the
voltage of the line is high, the three poles of the switch are placed in separate containers.
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