A Short-Circuit Testing Laboratory in an Educational Institution

The establishment of a short-circuit testing laboratory in an educational institution is quite an innovation, particularly in an area of the world where the conventional high power switchgear testing laboratory is non-existent. Affording postgraduate training and research in arc phenomena and the scientific development of arc extinction devices, this excellent facility will provide the country with switchgear engineers and contribute to the design and local manufacture of modem switchgear. Although minimal in rating, the design of the laboratory, particularly the generator, controls, and instrumentation presented a number of unique problems, since it was most desirable to minimize the loss of short-circuit power in the test circuit. These special features and characteristics of the principal apparatus are described in this paper.