VI & Poles

Grid components

VI & Poles

Medium voltage vacuum interrupters and embedded poles


Medium voltage vacuum interrupters

vacuum interrupter

A medium voltage vacuum interrupter is the core component for all switching applications such as circuit breakers, contactors, switches 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. With over 40 years of experience, ABB is one of the most experienced vacuum interrupter manufacturers in the world.  

ABB’s medium voltage vacuum interrupters offer:  

  • Lowest chopping for contactors and superior capacitive switching up to 40.5 kV  
  • Sealed for life simulation on every vacuum interrupter by twice magnetron measurement and helium quarantine between 
  • High manufacturing depth from copper stem to vacuum interrupter contact 
  • >9 million vacuum interrupters supplied across over 100 countries to some of the world’s most demanding distribution networks 
  • Support of the SF6-free transition 

Medium voltage embedded pole technology

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.  

ABB offers two types of embedded pole technology

embedded pole 1

Epoxy resin embedded pole technology

  • Enable easiest failure to save medium voltage circuit breaker assembly
  • Reduced complexity due to minimized number of individual parts (Mean time between failure > 450.000 years)
  • Offer superior dielectric strength allowing most compact medium voltage circuit breaker design e.g. 30% more compact 24 kV circuit breaker and panel at 500mm width
  • Highest mechanical performance: 150,000 mechanical operations on Arc Furnace circuit breaker
  • Optimum degree of protection against environmental influences

embedded pole 2

Thermoplastic embedded pole technology

In addition to the benefits outlined for our epoxy resin embedded poles, our thermoplastic embedded poles offer:

  • Weight reduced by 35%
  • Silicone free production and product: Suitable for car industry
  • Anhydrite/PFAS free production and product: no REACH impact
  • Around 30% reduced CO2 emissions on raw material, production and transportation
  • Recyclability potential of 85% as the new market benchmark
  • Supervised serial production process
ABB’s medium voltage vacuum interrupters and embedded poles are available for original equipment manufacturers (OEM), panel builders and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPCs) partners to incorporate in their own installations or for use in repair, retrofit and upgrade projects. 
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Product application: Vacuum Interrupters & Embedded Poles

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VD4GVD4_AF1Capacitive SwitchingConVac Vacuum Contactor_presentationLow-frequencyHighest BIL requirementsOutdoor recloser picture 200x200
Generator
Circuit-Breaker		Arc Furnace Circuit-BreakerCapacitive SwitchingContactorLow-frequency circuit-breakerHighest BIL requirementsOutdoor application
Qualified according to last dual logo standard IEC/IEEE 62271-37-013150,000 no load and 120,000 nominal load operationsBack-to-back capacitive switching beyond standard at 40,5 kV, 1250 A capacitive current / > 1000 restrike free operationsLowest chopping currentsLow frequency tested from 2 Hz onwardsMedium voltage solutions up to 250 kV BIL>10,000 operations under recloser duty
Plug-and-play
with integrated current transformers/ voltage transformers

Product scope

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 poles

 

Vacuum interrupters and poles 

Rated voltage 

up to 40.5 kV 

Rated Current

up to 4,000 A 

Rated short circuit current 

up to 63 kA 

Embedded pole technology 

  • Thermoplastic embedded pole technology  

  • Epoxy resin embedded pole technology 

Mechanical operations 

Load break switch applications 

1,000,000 

Circuit breaker applications 

50,000 

Standards 

 

IEC, ANSI, GB and utilized in products homologated to GL/DNV/ABS


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FAQ

1. What is a medium voltage vacuum interrupter?

Medium voltage vacuum interrupters are a hermetically sealed component that interrupts the flow of current in medium voltage systems by opening its contacts in a vacuum. The resulting arc is extinguished quickly and safely in the vacuum due to the absence of ionisable gases. Typical characteristics are: 

  • Application range: 1.2 kV to 40.5 kV (commonly 7.2 kV, 12 kV, 24 kV, 36 kV, 40.5 kV) 
  • Very fast arc extinction (within a few milliseconds) 
  • Maintenance-free over many switching cycles 
  • Compact design, as no elaborate arc cooling is required 
Vacuum Interrupters_tech1
2. What is a medium voltage embedded pole? 

Medium voltage embedded poles are complete pole units in which the vacuum interrupter and its connections are fully embedded in a solid insulating material. This design electrically isolates the vacuum interrupter, mechanically stabilizes it, and protects it from external influences. Components of an embedded pole: 

  • Vacuum interrupter 
  • Current-carrying connection terminals 
  • Mechanical contact connection for drive systems 
  • Support insulation and insulating body (ie. made of epoxy resin or thermoplastics) 
  • Optional in outdoor embedded poles: Embedded current transformer and voltage transformer sensor 
pole_tech_page

Typical characteristics: 

  • Application range: 12 kV to 40.5 kV (commonly 12 kV, 24 kV, 36 kV, 40.5 kV) 
  • Maintenance-free over many switching cycles 
  • Compact design 
3. What are the typical applications for medium voltage vacuum interrupters and embedded poles?  

Some applications include:  

  • Medium-voltage circuit breakers in primary and secondary distribution 
  • Ring main units (RMUs) with load break switches or circuit breakers 
  • Wind turbines, industry, railway power supply, marine, offshore 
  • SF₆-free technologies: Vacuum interrupters and embedded poles are key components of SF6-free switching devices and switchgear 


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