ABB's Distribution Solutions

Medium Voltage Switchgear portfolio

ABB's Distribution Solutions

Primary distribution

Connecting and protecting high transmission networks to medium voltage distribution.


ABB’s medium voltage switchgear (1 kV to 52 kV according to the IEC standards) are designed to connect and protect an evolving grid. Medium voltage electrical power distribution from generating stations to industries and consumers is divided into two main parts: primary and secondary distribution.

Primary distribution responsible for distributing electrical energy from high-transmission lines to medium voltage networks. Medium voltage levels can then directly feed electricity to industries (ie. railways, steel, mining, chemicals, etc.) or to a secondary distribution network for end user consumption.

For primary distribution, ABB offers a wide range of air insulated (AIS) and gas insulated (GIS) medium voltage switchgear. Whether customers choose air insulated or gas insulated switchgear depends on the application as well as on some aspects such as the initial investment cost, total cost of ownership, available space and location (ie. altitude, dust, etc.).

Please contact us for any types of queries here:

Contact us

ABB’s portfolio for primary distribution

IEC / GB and other standards
ANSI standards
9IBA241009_master

For more information please click here

Related offering


secondary-distribution-banner
ABB’s Secondary distribution portfolio
Data-Center
ABB’s air insulated switchgear portfolio
MV-Whitepaper-background
ABB’s gas insulated switchgear portfolio
cover_power_to_adapt
ABB’s SF6-free portfolio
service
Service

FAQ

What are the key features of ABB’s primary medium voltage switchgear products?

ABB‘s primary medium voltage switchgear products are designed to connect and protect the evolving grid. They feature robust construction, advanced safety mechanisms, high reliability, and ease of maintenance. They are designed to handle high electrical loads and provide efficient power distribution with minimal losses.

What standards and certifications that ABB’s medium voltage switchgear products comply with?

Our medium voltage switchgear products comply with international standards such as IEC 62271, GOST, GB/DL. They are also certified by leading industry bodies to ensure the highest levels of safety and performance. ABB also offers medium voltage switchgear products for ANSI standards. 

What support and services does ABB provide for installation, commissioning, and after-sales maintenance?

ABB provides comprehensive support services including installation, commissioning, and after-sales maintenance. Our team of experts ensures smooth deployment and ongoing support to maximize the performance and longevity of our switchgear products.

What are the main differences between air insulated switchgear (AIS) and gas insulated (GIS) switchgear for primary distribution?

  • Air insulated switchgear (AIS) offers a modular and flexible design that simplifies installation, use, and maintenance. AIS is a well-known and proven technology with wide range of functional units equipped mainly with withdrawable circuit breakers, disconnector, earthing switch, conventional measuring transformers, current and voltage sensors, and protection relay solutions. It offers LSC2B/LSC2A/LSC2/LSC1, ensuring minimal service interruption and a high level of customization to meet global demanding requirements and can be typically found in all industries. AIS technology provides:
    • suitability for cable and busbars connection from the bottom and top side of the panel
    • flexibility in case of future expansions which allow to increase the number of functional units in a switchgear already assembled or installed
  • Gas insulated switchgear (GIS) offers a more compact switchgear footprint (vs. air-insulated switchgear) consisting of high voltage components such as circuit-breakers, disconnectors, load interrupters, and several also the busbars, enclosed in a metal gas tank – leading to very low maintenance requirements. GIS can be typically found in closed and challenging environments such as metro, mining, etc – where space is limited.

Whether customers choose air insulated or gas insulated switchgear depends on the application as well as on some aspects such as the initial investment cost, total cost of ownership, available space and location (ie. altitude, dust, etc.). We encourage you to get in touch with our sales experts to get the right advice.

What are the insulation mediums that ABB offers in gas insulated (GIS) switchgear for primary distribution?

ABB offers two main insulation mediums in our gas-insulated (GIS) switchgear portfolio:

  • SF6-free suitable for most 6kV to 24kV switching applications, with dry air or natural origin gases, as the insulation medium and a global warming potential (GWP) <1. It is fully compliant with the IEC standards and the EU F-gas regulation (EU) 2024/573. Our SF6-free solutions are designed with the same interface, footprint, and operations as the original SF6 versions.
  • SF6 gas (Sulfur hexafluoride) as insulation medium. The SF6 gas is contained in a welded stainless-steel enclosure

ABB’s complete transition to SF6-free switchgear will be phased in line with our ambitious sustainability targets, evolving regulatory deadlines, market demand, and production capacity. However, this is a long-term strategy, and in the mid-term, we will continue offering both SF6 and SF6-free switchgear as required by our customer needs and market regulations.

What smart solutions are available for ABB’s primary switchgear portfolio?

ABB’s switchgear smart solutions are designed to help our customers make data-driven decisions. Our customers can benefit from a wide range monitoring, diagnostic, automation and control features for their ABB medium voltage switchgear for primary distribution. Contact our sales team to learn more about ABB’s smart solutions for each of our switchgear.

 

What’s the difference in the circuit breaker for air insulated vs gas insulated?

Air insulated switchgear circuit breaker is typically removable or withdrawable. The circuit breaker is based on vacuum circuit technology. In the gas insulated, it is fixed mounted. The function of withdraw is provided by a separate disconnecting switch. Typically, a three-position switch with connected, disconnected, and ready-to-earth position.

What are the maintenance requirements associated with the air insulated switchgear (AIS) vs gas insulated (GIS)?

Gas insulated switchgear requires very low maintenance as all high voltage parts are permanently protected in a gas tank from soiling, humidity, entry of foreign bodies and other environmental influences. Primary, the drives located outside gas compartment require inspection and maintenance. On the other hand, gas-insulated switchgear repair requires additional training (e.g. for gas works) and the replacement or parts may not be as easily. In the air insulated switchgear visual inspection is recommended in regular intervals, maintenance of power parts is given in installation, operation and maintenance manual (1VLM000363).

 

Select region / language