Technological evolution of MV equipment technological evolution

Power quality (PQ) is an important constraint on the planning and operation of the electrical power system. This constraint has increased in importance following deregulation and privatisation of the electrical market. Quality provided to final customers results from a range of factors. Nevertheless, customers have a particular sensitivity to the continuity of supply. A great effort has been devoted by engineers and researchers to determine the optimal revision and upgrade of the existing Medium Voltage (MV) electrical power system to improve PQ. Modification of the structure network, substitution of equipment and components with more reliable ones, adoption of automation and control techniques are interdependent choices to reach the goal. But PQ improvement is affected by the more strict economic constraints following privatisation and deregulation of the electrical market. The greater diffusion of circuit breakers in the network allows to improve PQ with reference to supply continuity and restoration time. In the paper the authors illustrate a new technological evolution of MV switchgear cubicles, which allows to upgrade the distribution networks with reduction of environmental impact and economic effort.