Electromagnetic field analysis in switchgear development

Significant developments have taken place in the design of modern transmission and distribution switchgear resulting in simpler and inherently more reliable designs of equipment. The advances which have been achieved in switchgear design are being accelerated not only by continuing technological improvements but also by the ways in which the product development process is undertaken. The traditionally applied, purely empirical approach is being replaced by the use of advanced analytical tools and techniques in an improved development process. This paper gives an example of how techniques for electromagnetic analysis are being linked to the latest solid modelling and rapid prototyping tools to enable dramatic reductions in product development lead times to be achieved