Generator circuit-breakers (GCBs) protect important assets in power plants such as generators and transformers by clearing potential harmful short-circuit faults in tens of milliseconds preventing severe damages and possibly lengthy plant downtime.
Based on the well-proven and highly reliable VD4 platform with over one million installations since 1986, the VD4G-50 is tested to meet the most stringent IEEE and IEC requirements for generator applications with low lifecycle costs. It is ideal for installation in new power plants and captive power generation in industrial applications; it is also suitable for replacement and retrofit of existing units.
The VD4G-50 is capable of interrupting currents with delayed zero crossings that may occur in the event of faults that are fed from the generator, or faults during synchronization with the high-voltage grid. Its interrupting technology allows the withstanding of severe transient recovery voltages to protect critical equipment. It has excellent duty in terms of maximum number of switching operations and is maintenance free.
With the same dimensions as the existing VD4 vacuum circuit breaker from ABB for distribution applications, it can also be installed in standard medium-voltage switchgears to enable a comprehensive, compact and cost-optimized system solution integrating line disconnector, earthing switches, surge arresters and instrument transformers.
ABB is the leader in design and manufacturing of GCBs since 1954 with more than 8,000 deliveries for all types of power plants in over 100 countries. With this new addition, ABB is the only manufacturer to offer GCBs with both vacuum and SF6 switching technologies for all sizes of power plants up to 2,000 MW covering rated continuous from 3,150 A to 57,000 A and short circuit-current up to 300 kA. Combined with a highly competent consultancy team, ABB is the one-stop source and reliable partner to support customers in the proper selection of GCBs.
