Industrial Power: Auxiliary Systems Considerations for Switchgear Room Design
Posted on: 19 September 2017
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If you are planning on building a switchgear room in your industrial space, there are numerous factors that you must think about during the design process. One of the commonly overlooked aspects is the setup of auxiliary systems. Auxiliary systems refer to the supplemental elements which provide support to the major equipment. If these schemes are not well-designed, your switchroom will be prone to hazards, breakdowns and energy inefficiencies. Here are the most important auxiliary systems considerations to consider during switchgear room design.
Earthing Protection
Industrial switchgear rooms are associated with high levels of fault currents which can cause harm to personnel. Also, these currents can make equipment more vulnerable to damage. Therefore, when designing your switchroom, you should ensure that there is sufficient earthing protection infrastructure. Grounding systems will provide ideal paths for fault current while ensuring there is enough current for relay operation. Also, the earthing setup will keep the step, and touch potentials remain within the safe levels. It is also important to install lightning protection so that any strike during storms will be dispersed safely to the ground.
Cable Containment
Poor cabling design in a switchgear room presents numerous hazards to personnel. The wires can cause unfortunate tripping accidents, and damaged wires might expose the workers to electrical shock. Also, improper cable containment increases the rate of degradation of cables and makes maintenance of the power equipment difficult. Therefore, you should plan for a good system to keep power conduits, control cables and optical fibres in order. This process might necessitate the purchase and installation of cable ladders and trays. Also, you can use the sub-floor space to aid in the organisation and containment of the wires.
Climate Control
Industrial switchrooms have numerous forms of equipment and systems which generate heat during operation. At the same time, these machines are more vulnerable to damage when heated. Therefore, you should ensure that there is a climate control system to keep the switchgear room cool. The setup of this type of system will create an optimal environment for the operation of the power equipment. Ideally, your climate control system should consist of specialised high-power air conditioners.
Finally, you should install a fire protection system in your industrial switchgear room. Electrical fires can arise due to equipment malfunction. The setup will detect the presence of fire and suppress it using a gaseous medium. If you would like to learn more about auxiliary systems in switchrooms, you should consult your power equipment supplier.