On a Power Plant Upgrade Project discuss the benefits of rep

On a Power Plant Upgrade Project, discuss the benefits of replacing antiquated switchgear with new switchgear versus trying to do a retrofit of old switchgear with new controls

Solution

This is one of the major issues faced by both the industries and electricity suppliers.The present switchgears have been made and installed during late 1950 s which are needed to be upgraded because of the present utilization of electricity.But there are many constraints like environmental conditions,capital investment,economic uncertainties,potential disruption, disturbance in work flow during the replacement of equipment. So with these constraints some suppliers are thinking that it is beneficial to extend the characteristics of present installed switchgears. But both the methods have their own advantages.

ADVANTAGES OF REPLACING A ANTIQUATED SWITCHGEAR WITH NEW SWITCHGEAR:

The present scenario of the electrical usage,switching cycles,condition and performance of the equipment,network requirements etc leads us to the decision of replacement.The advantages are as follows

ADVANTAGES OF RETROFIT OF OLD SWITCHGEAR:

This method is best suited to organizations which have installed their equipment for quite a long time and also have limitations in expenditure.This method is majorly attracted because of its change from oil, SF₆ to vacuum which improved the environmental performance and maintenance requirements.This is also used when we need to replace large equipments like tie breakers and main breakers.These devices occupy a large amount of place so it is better to retrofit them than to replace.

Though both replacement of switchgears and retrofit of switchgears are different processes but they have similar advantages like reduction in maintenance costs and the most important one improvement in system reliability.