VACUUM INTERRUPTERS AND EMBEDDED POLES

Epoxy resin and thermoplastic embedded pole technology

MEDIUM VOLTAGE VACUUM INTERRUPTERS

  • IEC, ANSI, GB+ homologated to GL/DNV/ABS
  • Available also with thermoplastic embedded pole technology
  • up to 40.5 kV, 4.000 A and 63 kA

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 

Epoxy resin

  • 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

 

Thermoplastic

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 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. 

Vacuum Interrupters & Embedded Poles

Product application

Generator
Circuit-Breaker		 Arc Furnace Circuit-Breaker Capacitive Switching Contactor Low-frequency circuit-breaker Highest BIL requirements Outdoor application
Qualified according to last dual logo standard IEC/IEEE 62271-37-013 150,000 no load and 120,000 nominal load operations Back-to-back capacitive switching beyond standard at 40,5 kV, 1250 A capacitive current / > 1000 restrike free operations Lowest chopping currents Low frequency tested from 2 Hz onwards Medium voltage solutions up to 250 kV BIL >10,000 operations under recloser duty
Plug-and-play
with integrated current transformers/ voltage transformers

Product scope

 

 

 

 

 

 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

EXPLORE DIGITAL TOOLS & PRODUCT CONFIGURATORS

Partner Hub

Learning

A digital platform that provides training materials, tutorials, and courses to help you build expertise in ABB products and solutions. Accessible resources support continuous learning, professional development, staying current with the latest innovations, and advancing your professional skills.

DOCweb

The ABB online tool for designing electrical MV-LV networks faster and smarter, with real-time calculations, intelligent product selection, automated compliance checks, and instant generation of complete technical documentation, all in just a few clicks.

Product configurators

The online tools that make selecting and customizing ABB Medium Voltage products easier, helping you quickly find the best-fit solution for your technical and application needs, while reducing errors and saving time.

The ABB web portal that connects end users, customers, and partners to product information, configuration tools, training, and expert support, all in one place to simplify collaboration and accelerate projects. It provides a complete end-to-end self-service journey, from design to order placement.

EXPORE OUR TOOLS

Assignment Application Description
Product information 3D eCatalogue A visual tool that allows you to explore ABB medium-voltage switchgear in immersive 3D, configure solutions visually, and make informed decisions with instant access to technical details and application insights.
Product information Learning A digital platform that provides training materials, tutorials, and courses to help you build expertise in ABB products and solutions. Accessible resources support continuous learning, professional development, staying current with the latest innovations, and advancing your professional skills.
Configure a product MV switchgear configurator The product tool that enables you to create your single-line diagram (SLD), define switchgear configuration details, and instantly access comprehensive technical documentation, making project design and completion faster and more reliable.
Configure a product MV devices configurator The user-friendly online tool for selecting and configuring ABB Medium Voltage devices (circuit breakers, contactors, ...) with ease and accuracy, helping you customize solutions to fit your specific technical needs.
Configure a product Relays Online The digital platform that offers quick access to ABB protection relay tools, product data, technical documentation, and configuration services, streamlining selection, ordering, and support for Medium Voltage solutions.
Design network/BIM DOCweb The ABB online tool for designing electrical MV-LV networks faster and smarter, with real-time calculations, intelligent product selection, automated compliance checks, and instant generation of complete technical documentation, all in just a few clicks.
Design network/BIM BIMagic The design tool that simplifies the creation and management of Building Information Modeling (BIM) objects for ABB medium-voltage switchgear, streamlining project planning, integration, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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 

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 

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 

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