What does 'protection coordination' refer to in switchgear systems?

Protection coordination in switchgear systems is essential for ensuring that protective devices, such as circuit breakers and fuses, operate effectively to isolate only the faulted section of a circuit. This approach minimizes the impact on the overall system by preventing unnecessary outages and keeping unaffected parts of the system operational.

Correct protection coordination requires an understanding of the time-current characteristics of each protective device involved. The goal is to establish a hierarchy where devices closest to a fault respond first, allowing them to trip and isolate the issue while upstream devices remain operational. Proper coordination helps maintain system reliability and safety, which is crucial for both operational integrity and minimizing downtime in electrical networks.

Other options relate to different aspects of switchgear design or operational strategy, but they do not effectively capture the essence of what protection coordination aims to achieve in terms of fault isolation and system efficiency.