Description:

Air-break disconnect switches are intended to be used as isolators. However, especially in North America, they are commonly used to interrupt transformer magnetizing, capacitive and loop currents. Each of these switching duties involves a free-burning arc in air and is unique in its own way in terms of arc behaviour and the arc-circuit interaction. Based on recent and ongoing research, the presentation will explain this behaviour and interaction in practical terms and will be richly illustrated with video clips of actual field and laboratory switching events both successful and unsuccessful.

About the Speaker:

David Peelo is a consultant at ZE Power Engineering Inc. He graduated in electrical engineering from University College Dublin in 1965 and worked first for the ASEA Power Transmission Products Division in Ludvika, Sweden. He joined BC Hydro in 1973, where he rose to the position of specialist engineer for switchgear and switching. He became an independent consultant in 2001. In 2004 the Eindhoven University of Technology awarded him a PhD for original research on current interruption using air-break disconnect switches. He has published more than 60 papers and is a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical engineers, a Distinguished Member of CIGRE and a Senior Member of the IEEE. He is convener of IEC Maintenance Team 32 Inductive Load Switching and IEC Maintenance Team 42 Capacitive Current Interrupting Capability of Disconnectors.

Please contact PES Chapter Chair Glen Tang by email at glen.tang@bchydro.com if you have any questions prior to the presentation.