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SF6 is a greenhouse gas. Finding an alternative gas for SF6 has become an urgent problem in the switch field. In order to explore the feasibility of replacing SF6 gas with dry air directly, CO2 and C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas, based on the KYN28‐12 medium voltage switchgear, the finite element method was used to solve the three‐dimensional coupled multi‐physics of the switchgear in this paper. From the angle of the temperature field and flow field, the temperature rise characteristics under different operation conditions were analyzed. The results showed that the temperature field and flow field distribution under the four gases were similar. Among them, the temperature rise of SF6 gas was the smallest, followed by the C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas, CO2 and dry air. The flow rate of SF6 gas was the lowest, about 0.11 m/s. The flow velocities of other gases were relatively close. When the switchgear was filled with the same gas, as the inflation pressure increased, the temperature rise of the switchgear decreased and the gas flow rate also dropped to a certain extent. The temperature field and flow field of the switchgear under the C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas at 0.2 Mpa were similar to those under the 0.1 Mpa SF6 gas. Under the C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas, the contact failure of the plum contact made the temperature rise of the switchgear increase overall. The maximum temperature rise point transferred to the contact failure. The temperature rise further rose with the increase of the contact failure degree. The gas flow rate also greatly increased with the failure degree elevated. From the perspective of temperature rise, the C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas has the possibility of being applied in the electrical equipment under the premise of meeting the insulation conditions. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]