Outdoor Instrument Transformers

Medium voltage outdoor instrument transformers offer insulation and protection for the medium voltage distribution network. Medium voltage transformers are cast in hydrophobic cycloaliphatic epoxy resin (HCEP), capable of withstanding outdoor environmental conditions (including wet or humid environments) and minimizing the potential for flashover. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor instrument transformers (current and voltage), for IEC standards, are designed for high current metering and protection up to 40.5 kV.

Benefits:

• Outdoor current transformers, up to 52 kV for metering and protection purposes
• Outdoor voltage transformers, up to 40,5 kV for metering, protection and external power supplies

Industries and applications:

• Medium voltage substations, circuit breaker and switch disconnector installations, pole-mounted metering units
• Overhead line installations, railway substations and distribution transformers

Switch disconnector

Medium voltage outdoor switch disconnectors offer solutions for disconnection, load break operation or automatic sectionalizing of overhead lines to allow grid optimization and smart grid, whether manually operated, motor operated or automatic scheme configuration with communication capabilities. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor gas-insulated switch disconnector product line is called Sectos. Sectos is an SF6 gas-insulated, pole mounted 3-way switch disconnector for demanding outdoor environments up to 24 kV. The outer cone cable connector interface makes it suitable also for padmount use. Two independent switch disconnectors in one enclosure with the third tapped way can be used for easy and reliable line branching in overhead, cable, or mixed networks. It has excellent load breaking and fault making capacity and satisfies the isolation requirements specified for disconnectors. The earthed metal tank prevents all possible leakage currents across an open switch.

Benefits:

• Reliable mechanical position indicator and actuator made of fully recyclable steel
• Easy to install with a modular design and full range of plug and play accessories

Industries and applications:

• Utilities, industries
• Panel builders, solar and wind grid connection station
• End users and others

Outdoor fault current limiters

Each distribution equipment in an electrical network has a certain permissible short-circuit withstand capability. Plant expansion, power source additions, and distribution topology changes cause the short-circuit fault level to increase whereby the withstand capability of the equipment can be exceeded and the resulting dynamic (peak short-circuit current) and thermal stresses will have hazardous consequences for equipment, personnel and environment. ABB's medium voltage outdoor fault current limiters are the efficient solution for short-circuit current challenges in newly installed and existing electrical networks. They isolate the fault affected part of the network within microseconds (ms) – limiting the short-circuit current before the first current peak is reached so that the equipment rating is not exceeded. They also facilitate flexible power distribution, power system expansion, independent power production, reactor replacement and many more such applications without considering the equipment short-circuit withstand capability as a constraint. ABB medium voltage outdoor fault current limiters product line is called FC-Protector. FC Protector is a standardized and compact solution for indoor and outdoor applications.

Benefits:

• Higher reliability and availability of installation, equipment and system
• Speed up projects
• Safe protection of installation, equipment and system

Industries and applications:

• Data Centers, System Security
• Battery Energy Storage Systems
• Industrial and Utility Networks

Relion REC615

The main purpose of a protection relay is to recognize any abnormal power system condition(s), or abnormally operating system component(s). Grid anomalies can be caused by over currents - the overload through lightning or malfunctioning electric equipment or a short circuit in the system. Based on the information gathered, the protection relay will initiate corrective actions that return the system to its normal operating state providing a safe environment for personnel and equipment. Selecting the right protection functions and methods, that meet local legislation, safety requirements and engineering practice, improves the performance and the reliability of the protection system, thus minimizing the effects of network faults and preventing the disturbance from spreading to healthy parts of the network . ABB medium voltage protection and control relay for outdoor product application is REC615. REC615 is a remote monitoring and control relay, member of ABB’s Relion protection and control product family. These grid automation relays are specially designed to integrate and enhance the functionalities of reclosers and switches offering features such as remote control and monitoring, protection, fault indication, power quality analyzing and automation of medium-voltage distribution networks. With REC615 grid reliability is enhanced, ranging from basic, non-directional overload protection to extended protection functionality with power quality analyses. Thus, REC615 meets today’s requirements for smart grids and supports the protection of overhead lines and cable feeders.

Benefits:

• Compact design for various applications
• Easy and flexible adaptation to changing protection and communication requirements with fully modular hardware and software
• Advanced protection functionality to detect, isolate and restore power in overhead line networks

Industries and applications:

• Secondary Distribution Systems
• Power Generation
• Substation Automation

Outdoor Live tank vacuum circuit breaker (OVB)

Medium-voltage vacuum circuit breakers protect the evolving grid by safely interrupting the power flow when a grid anomaly happens and then re-establishing it once is fixed. Medium-voltage Live tank circuit breakers for outdoor face even greater environmental challenges, operating under often harsh weather conditions - reliability is therefore paramount. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor Live tank circuit breakers, are as as per IEC standards, with spring mechanism rated up 40.5 kV. ABB’s outdoor Live tank circuit breaker is ideal for protecting medium voltage distribution networks, distribution transformers, wind and solar farms, and capacitor banks (including option for back-to-back capacitor banks) switching. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor Live tank circuit breakers have decades of proven track record of working in various environments from hot deserts, humid tropical rain forests and even in freezing conditions up to -40oC.

Benefits:

• Sealed Interrupters - Zero moisture ingress; lifetime performance.
• Rugged Design - High seismic and extreme temperature tolerance.
• Protected Coils - Prevents electrical failure and reduces downtime.

Industries and applications:

• Power Distribution & Utilities
• Renewable Energy Plants
• Industrial Facilities

Outdoor vacuum recloser (OVR)

Due to its compact size and versatile mounting possibilities, outdoor vacuum reclosers are not only installed on overhead distribution feeders but are also becoming a choice for substation applications where traditional circuit breakers would be located. Reclosers have two basic functions in the medium voltage distribution network: increase reliability and overcurrent protection. ABB’s medium voltage outdoor reclosers is a three-phase vacuum recloser, for IEC and ANSI standards, rated up to 38 kV, with a solid dielectric insulation designed. ABB’s OVR reclosers are ideal for outdoor pole mount or substation installation and come with REC615 protection relay, having versatile protection capabilities that can be customized as per practical site needs.

Benefits:

• Reliable in extreme conditions
• Operator safety at its best
• Fast, easy to install and operate

Industries and applications:

• Utilities
• Renewable Energy
• Industrial Facilities