Paralleling Vs. Independent Switchgear: Understanding What Makes These Different

"Switchgear is switchgear," or so the saying goes. Switchgear are controls that operate and motivate a generator to produce power. However, the confusion that many people have is when the switchgear are referred to as "paralleling" or "independent." Those that confuse the two are trying to define the switchgear as entirely different systems, like comparing cake to cookies. What you should be doing is comparing wiring and power connections and not the switchgear itself. Here are some differences regarding the systems and not the controls themselves.

Independent

Independent simply means that a generator operates independently of a control box. The control box is present only in the event of a generator malfunction, or when the generator needs a boost to get going again. The switchgear, then, is not directly responsible for the total function of the generator, and vice versa.

The links between the switchgear box(es) and the generator are basic in function. The wiring is simplified. You might choose independent switchgear if your generator is already very powerful and rarely fails or needs backup controls. The generator requires much more sophisticated controls to make sure the rotation of the generator keeps up, which is what the independent switchgear provides.

Parallel

Parallel reminds you that you have two systems operating side by side. The generator in this case is operating in connection to the switchgear. The operation of one impacts the operation of the other. The person manning the controls is also manning and monitoring the generator.

Parallel gear also controls the speed of the generator. However, it makes sure that the generator is not overusing too much power and then wasting energy. Saving energy is important when you are dealing with industrial turbines and massive generators that power your plant. Paralleling switchgear prevents excessive energy consumption by speeding up or slowing down the generator and its turbines.

Saving Energy

Both switchgear control types help you conserve energy, but in slightly different ways. The important thing to remember is how much energy you save, and which type of switchgear will help you conserve more energy. Really, that depends entirely on the size of your generator and how many generators you are attempting to run simultaneously.

If you are not sure which type of switchgear you should invest in, talk to an electrical engineer. He or she can help you determine the max load the switchgear can manage, as well as which type to install for maximum energy conservation. Usually, the larger the generator, or the number of generators/turbines, and the greater the speed required, the less important one of these switchgear types becomes.

Making the Choice to Switch

If power demands for your plant are about to increase, you may need to switch from one type of switchgear to the other. If you currently have independent switchgear, the conversion to paralleling switchgear is a fairly easy process. Reversing installation from parallel switchgear to independent switchgear is a little more complicated and may need you to shut down the plant while these conversions are made. If you do not currently have any switchgear, you may want to install one or more switchgear boxes to help you conserve both energy and money.

You will most definitely need an electrical contractor for this kind of project. He or she will spend several days analyzing energy load, consumption, energy waste, and generator speed needed to produce the energy at both peak times and low consumption periods before beginning any sort of installation or conversion process. Based on analysis and studies of company electrical statistics, the contractor will recommend which type of switchgear can benefit you the most. For more information, check out sites like http://www.enercon-eng.com.


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