Applications of computer simulation to performance evaluations of switching equipment for special conditions

摘要

Computer simulations that have been applied to the evaluation of the performance at the development of switching equipments are recently applied as substitute of verification tests or as tools to extrapolate the performance to different conditions using test results of particular conditions because of their progress in precise prediction of real phenomena. Several examples of application of computer simulation to the evaluation of switching equipments were presented, and the potential of the simulation or calculation that can be used as a verification tool was discussed. Some simulations were found to be used as substitute of verification tests such as type tests. They can give the results that can be the direct index to represent the performance stipulated in the standards, and their results are accepted without verification tests. They are regarded to be the only method to verify the performance in case that testing is impractical or less reliable. Other simulations that give indirect index are also applied to evaluate the performance when the performance to different conditions can be extrapolated using existing test results of particular conditions, although very few cases were found because the relationship with the test results and the performance needs to be defined in advance. The examples on the application of computer simulation support the current and future activities of WG A3.20 where benchmark of dielectric withstand capability have been finished and replacement of temperature-rise tests and internal arcing tests with simulations as verification tools is under investigation.