Switchgear cabinet and a method for early detection of fault conditions in a switchgear

Abstract

The switchgear cabinet contains ventilation openings, mounting plates and switchgear accessories, it has top ventilation openings and evenly spaced side ventilation openings on the side wall and bottom ventilation openings and a front ventilation opening (7) in the lower part, and inside the cabinet there is a PLC controller and at least one switchgear accessories module placed on a mounting strip in the lower part, above which a sheet metal "v"-shaped vent is mounted, equipped with temperature sensors located at both side walls of the cabinet, while the vent located below the PLC controller is not equipped with temperature sensors.The early detection method for fault conditions in the switchgear is characterized by the fact that external air flowing into the cabinet through ventilation openings is directed upwards by convection. The "v" profile of the ejector causes the airflow to move towards the temperature sensors. The measured temperature value is transmitted in real time to the PLC, which analyzes the temperature value, its rate of rise, and the temperature difference between individual sensors based on fuzzy logic to eliminate errors caused by natural temperature rise caused by external phenomena. The system responds to temperature increases in the switchgear and generates an alarm signal informing the operator that maintenance work is required, or generates a signal to the main contactor, immediately shutting down the switchgear's power supply.

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