2006-09-15 - VisiVolt™ is a novel indicator of voltage presence offered by ABB which can be mounted directly on bare and insulated current bars and conductors of a medium voltage (MV) system. The indicator can be installed both indoors and outdoors, which is a unique feature among indicators of that type. The presence of AC voltage is indicated by appearance of a large and clear lightning arrow sign on the display of the indicator.
The novel technology of the liquid crystal display (LCD) applied in VisiVolt™ has been developed by ABB Corporate Research. The prototypes and pilot products of the device have been presented earlier under the names “PVI” and “PassVI”. The design of the internal structure of the LCD gives it an unprecedentedly high sensitivity to the electric field making the LCD itself the only sensitive element of the indicator. This means that, unlike any other product of that type, VisiVolt™ does not use any electronic circuit, which makes the device extremely robust and durable.
The VisiVolt™ product has been designed and implemented in production in cooperation of ABB Corporate Research and PTPM Poland. Its enclosure made of a state-of-the-art silicone elastomer for electric applications gives it a high resistance to difficult outdoor conditions, while its fluorescent orange color provides excellent visibility among other elements of the system.
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Installing a VisiVolt™ indicator on a conductor (left) and a current bar (right).VisiVolt™ indicators are designed for nominal voltage of the system of 3kV – 36kV, can operate in temperatures between –40°C and + 85°C and are fully resistant to fault currents and overvoltages. VisiVolt™ indicates the presence of voltage when it is higher than 45% of its nominal value in three-phase systems – as required by the IEC standards related to voltage indicators.
A number of test installations have been arranged using the pilot version of the product. Some of them, as the one installed at a distribution station of ENION S.A. utility in Poland or another one at an ABB sea-side test station at west coast of Sweden have been operating already for more than 1 year. The outdoor performance of the indicators confirms the results of the extensive laboratory testing conducted during the prototyping and product development stage.
Pilot product VisiVolt™ installed at ENION SA distribution station, Poland (left) and operating in a heavy rain (right).When installed, VisiVolt™ indicators provide opportunity of reading the state of voltage presence on distribution systems at a glance of the eye without using any additional equipment.
VisiVolt™ indicators contribute also to a higher safety standard of operation of the system. The additional and independent information about presence of dangerous voltage provided by VisiVolt™ actively warns the personnel and can prevent accidents. Unlike the obligatory installed “high voltage” warning plates, VisiVolt™ informs about the true actual state of voltage presence and can discourage service people from breaking the safety rules, e.g. working unprotected too close to the live system.
“The greatest challenge in developing the technology was achieving the required sensitivity of the indicator while in the same time providing it with the outdoor compatibility, broad temperature range and tens of years of service-free operation”, says Jan Czyzewski of ABB Corporate Research Center in Krakow.
For more information about the product contact the VisiVolt product manager, Kamil Piekutowski.