Grid components

Medium voltage core components

Protecting and connecting an evolving grid

ABB offers a wide portfolio of medium voltage core components from vacuum interrupters and embedded poles, to arc fault protection and fault current limiter solutions to instrument transformers and sensors - all supporting the different needs of an evolving grid.

ABB’s core components are available for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPCs) partners and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) as well as end customers in the utility, renewable and industry segments. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor solutions can be incorporated in new infrastructure or for upgrading existing networks.

ABB supports customers and partners in staying ahead of increasing electrification needs, technology, and regulatory changes, providing the power to adapt to a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

ABB’s medium voltage core components portfolio

IEC & Other standards

VI & Poles

Fuses

Arc fault protection

Fault current limiters

Sensors

Transformers

Medium voltage vacuum interrupters and embedded poles

A medium voltage vacuum interrupter is the core component for all switching applications such as circuit breakers, contactors, switches, reclosers and tap changers. ABB’s medium voltage vacuum interrupters, certified according to all global standards (ANSI, IEC, GB and utilized in products homologated to GL/DNV/ABS) offer reliable switching capability up to 40.5 kV, 4,000 A and 63 kA.

Medium voltage poles with vacuum interrupters embedded for circuit breaker construction, up to 40.5 kV, 4,000 A, 50 kA combine the latest ABB vacuum technology with embedding technology. Embedding the vacuum interrupters in a special insulating material makes the pole parts of the circuit-breaker notably robust and at the same time protects the ABB vacuum interrupters from impact, dust, moisture and external damage. As the embedded poles are equipped with a push rod ensuring the correct contact pressure, it´s easy to integrate those in a circuit breaker. ABB’s embedded poles available also with thermoplastic embedded pole technology.

Learn more (VI Poles documents)

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Medium voltage fuses

Medium voltage fuses, for all global standards and rated up to 40.5 kV, provide main or back-up protection against overload and over currents in distribution transformers, motors and capacitor banks. Depending on each application requirements and specific network conditions, medium voltage fuses can operate as sole devices or can be combined with air or SF6 insulated switch disconnectors.

ABB’s current limiting fuses have been designed to ensure safe operation in the open air and for limited heat dissipation in installations such as gas-insulated switchgear.

Learn more (Fuses documents)

Arc fault protection solutions

The occurrence of an arc fault is the most serious fault within a power system. The destructive impact of an arc flash can lead to severe injuries of the operating personnel, to costly equipment damage and long outages. ABB offers active arc fault protection solutions for both arc fault detection and mitigation which can reduce the above-named consequences in low and medium voltage systems.

Arc fault detection system REA, available for medium voltage and low voltage switchgear, is based on detecting the intense light of an arc flash alone or an arc flashlight and simultaneous phase or neutral overcurrent. When detecting an arc fault, the REA arc fault protection system delivers trip commands in less than 2.5 ms to all circuit breakers that feed the fault zone. Furthermore, the operation indicators of the REA arc fault protection system guide the maintenance staff to quickly localize the fault zone. REA is ideal for air-insulated low voltage and medium voltage switchgear. You can contact our sales colleagues to learn more about ABB’s REA solution.

Arc fault mitigation with Ultra-fast earthing switch (UFES), available for medium and low voltage switchgear ratings up to 40.5 kV and 100 kA. It offers the highest possible level of arc flash mitigation. ABB’s ultra-fast earthing switch (UFES) is a safe and effective combination of specific arc detection relays and an associated arc quenching device consisting of the so-called primary switching elements (PSEs). In case of an internal arc fault the arc detection relay trips the UFES PSE, which initiates a three-phase earthing to break the arc voltage immediately.

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Fault current limiter solutions

The trend towards higher line kVA ratings and the growing intermeshing of power systems are increasing the likelihood that distribution switchgear (both medium voltage and low voltage) will be subjected to unacceptably high short-circuit currents. Reliable and economic protection against fault current surges can be provided by ABB’s I_s-limiter.

The I_S-limiter, available for type-tested individual components and switchgear covering low and medium voltage ratings up to 40.5 kV, 5,000 A and 210 kA rms breaking capability, is a fast fault current limiting device to interrupt short-circuit currents before the first peak is reached. This effectively protects electrical system from the maximum destructive energy of that initial short-circuit current peak. It detects rising fault currents based on at least two criteria almost instantaneously and interrupts them within milliseconds.

By limiting the short-circuit current, the I_S-limiter protects critical equipment infrastructure such as medium voltage and low voltage switchgear and transformer.

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Indoor sensors

Medium voltage indoor sensors offer an advanced solution for measurement, protection and control of the medium voltage distribution network. Medium voltage indoor sensors, also called Low-power Instrument Transformers (LPITs), are based on alternative principles (Rogowski coils or voltage dividers) and can successfully replace conventional instrument transformers significantly reducing size, increasing safety, while providing greater rating standardization and a wider functionality range. These well-known principles can only be fully utilized in combination with versatile Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), such as protection and control relays among others.

ABB’s main product line for medium voltage indoor sensors is called AdvaSense. ABB’s medium voltage AdvaSense indoor sensors, for IEC standards, up to 48 kV, are designed for a wide dynamic range of currents ratings.

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Indoor instrument transformers

Medium voltage indoor instrument transformers are used for measurement in protection, control, and monitoring systems providing precise and reliable performance in medium voltage applications.

ABB’s medium voltage indoor instrument transformers portfolio is highly versatile, offering a wide range of dimensions, designs, and ratings that can be tailored to meet customers' precise specifications, ensuring the perfect fit for their installations. Our portfolio, for IEC and other standards, is ideal for various medium voltage indoor applications where air or gas-insulated medium voltage switchgear are the main installations, but also for compact secondary substations, motors and generators, dry-type transformers, and capacitor banks. As part of our portfolio, ABB offers the following product lines:

Indoor current transformers, up to 40.5 kV for metering, protection or zero-measurement purposes. The available designs include block type, bus type, and cable type current transformers.
Indoor voltage transformers, up to 40.5 kV for metering, protection or external power supply. The main designs are single-pole and double-pole voltage transformers. Single-pole transformers can be equipped with or without a fuse.

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Outdoor instrument transformers

Medium voltage outdoor instrument transformers are used to transform voltage or current to standardized measurable values. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor instrument transformers (current and voltage), for IEC and other standards, are ideal for various outdoor applications such as medium voltage substations, circuit breaker and switch disconnector installations, pole-mounted metering units and overhead line installations, railway substations and distribution transformers. As part of our portfolio, ABB offers current and voltage outdoor instrument transformers:

Outdoor voltage transformers, up to 52 kV for metering and protection purposes
Outdoor voltage transformers, up to 40,5 kV for metering, protection and external power supplies

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