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/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. 

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

Related offering

Primary vacuum circuit breakers

Ensuring grid integrity for primary distribution, Primary Vacuum Circuit Breakers safely interrupt power flow during major anomalies (like short circuits or overcurrents) and quickly restore service, guaranteeing continuous power for critical users.

Secondary vacuum circuit breakers

Essential for reliable power delivery to commercial and residential users, Secondary Vacuum Circuit Breakers protect the evolving secondary dis-tribution grid by safely interrupting and restoring power flow when local anomalies occur.

Switch disconnector

Highly adaptable for secondary distribution networks, Switch Discon-nectors reliably carry, interrupt, and make rated load current, offering both air-insulated and gas-insulated options suitable for various indoor operations.

Outdoor

Built to withstand the most demanding climates, the Outdoor portfolio provides a robust and versatile range of grid components, including reclosers and circuit breakers, essential for supporting the evolving needs of the external grid infra-structure.

MV Switchgear

Medium voltage switchgear largely serves utilities, industry and infrastructure often providing the required medium-voltage link between high-voltage trans-mission systems and low-voltage users.

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