CONNECTING AND PROTECTING AN EVOLVING GRID
ABB’s medium voltage switchgear are designed to connect and protect an evolving grid. Medium voltage electrical power distribution from generating stations to industries and consumers is divided into two main parts: primary and secondary distribution. ABB’s medium voltage switchgear offering comprises air – insulated, gas - insulated and dielectric medium voltage switchgear for primary and secondary electrical power distribution.
OUR OFFERINGS
IEC / GB standards
Air-insulated switchgear
Air-isulated switchgear offers a modular and flexible design that simplifies installation, use, and maintenance. It offers LSC2B/LSC2A/LSC2/LSC1, ensuring minimal service interruption and a high level of customization to meet global demanding requirements and can be typically found in all industries.
Gas-insulated switchgear
Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) offers a more compact switchgear footprint (vs. air-insulated switchgear) consisting of high voltage components such as circuit-breakers, disconnectors, load interrupters and branch connection bars, and several also the busbars, enclosed in a metal gas tank – leading to very low maintenance requirements. GIS can be typically found in closed and challenging environments such as metro, mining, etc – where space is limited.
SF6-free product range
ABB is ready to introduce our next generation of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)-free switchgear product range using the same user interface, footprint, proven components, and operations as the existing portfolio. We’ll deliver the same quality and reliability our customers expect from us.
- IEC / GB standards
- ANSI / IEEE standards
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.
- Partner Hub
- Virtual Training Center
- 3D eCatalogue
- BIMagic Designer
- Tools filter
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. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABB‘s primary medium voltage switchgear products are designed to connect and protect the evolving grid. They feature robust construction, advanced safety mechanisms, high reliability, and ease of maintenance. They are designed to handle high electrical loads and provide efficient power distribution with minimal losses.
ABB‘s secondary medium voltage switchgear products are designed to connect and protect the evolving grid. They feature robust construction, advanced safety mechanisms, high reliability, and ease of maintenance. They are designed to handle high electrical loads and provide efficient power distribution with minimal losses.
Our medium voltage switchgear products comply with international standards such as IEC 62271, GOST, GB/DL. They are also certified by leading industry bodies to ensure the highest levels of safety and performance. ABB also offers medium voltage switchgear products for ANSI standards.
ABB provides comprehensive support services including installation, commissioning, and after-sales maintenance. Our team of experts ensures smooth deployment and ongoing support to maximize the performance and longevity of our switchgear products.
- Air-insulated switchgear (AIS) offers a modular and flexible design that simplifies installation, use, and maintenance. AIS is a well-known and proven technology with wide range of functional units equipped mainly with withdrawable circuit breakers, disconnector, earthing switch, conventional measuring transformers, current and voltage sensors, and protection relay solutions. It offers LSC2B/LSC2A/LSC2/LSC1, ensuring minimal service interruption and a high level of customization to meet global demanding requirements and can be typically found in all industries. AIS technology provides:
- suitability for cable and busbars connection from the bottom and top side of the panel
- flexibility in case of future expansions which allow to increase the number of functional units in a switchgear already assembled or installed
- Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) offers a more compact switchgear footprint (vs. air-insulated switchgear) consisting of high voltage components such as circuit-breakers, disconnectors, load interrupters, and several also the busbars, enclosed in a metal gas tank – leading to very low maintenance requirements. GIS can be typically found in closed and challenging environments such as metro, mining, etc – where space is limited.
Air-insulated switchgear (AIS) offers a modular and flexible design that simplifies installation, use, and maintenance. AIS is a well-known and proven technology with wide range of functional units equipped with load break switch, disconnector, removable and withdrawable circuit breakers, conventional measuring transformers, current and voltage sensors, and protection relay solutions. It offers LSC2B/LSC2A/LSC2 solutions tailored to application needs, ensuring minimal service interruption and a high level of customization to meet global demanding requirements and can be typically found in all segments. AIS technology provides:
- suitability for cable and busbars applications, such as current and voltage transformers, surge arrestors, without the need of additional functional units in the switchgear saving footprint in the building
- flexibility in case of future expansions which allow to increase the number of functional units in a switchgear already assembled or installed
- modularity with preconfigured functional units and switchgears to satisfy distributors needs in terms of standardization and create stock for extra fast deliveries
Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) offers a more compact switchgear footprint (vs. air-insulated switchgear). GIS integrates high voltage components such as circuit-breakers, disconnectors, load interrupters and branch connection bars enclosed in a sealed metal gas tank – leading to very low maintenance requirements. GIS switchgear units are engineered for versatile use in both indoor and outdoor settings, including high-altitude locations (above 1500 meters) and challenging weather and installation conditions.
Whether customers choose air-insulated or gas-insulated switchgear depends on the application as well as on some aspects such as the initial investment cost, total cost of ownership, available space and location (ie. altitude, dust, etc.). We encourage you to get in touch with our sales experts to get the right advice.
ABB offers two main insulation mediums in our gas-insulated (GIS) switchgear portfolio:
- SF6-free suitable for most 6kV to 24kV switching applications, with dry air or natural origin gases, as the insulation medium and a global warming potential (GWP) <1. It is fully compliant with the IEC standards and the EU F-gas regulation (EU) 2024/573. Our SF6-free solutions are designed with the same interface, footprint, and operations as the original SF6 versions.
- SF6 gas (Sulfur hexafluoride) as insulation medium. The SF6 gas is contained in a welded stainless-steel enclosure
ABB’s complete transition to SF6-free switchgear will be phased in line with our ambitious sustainability targets, evolving regulatory deadlines, market demand, and production capacity. However, this is a long-term strategy, and in the mid-term, we will continue offering both SF6 and SF6-free switchgear as required by our customer needs and market regulations.
ABB’s switchgear smart solutions are designed to help our customers make data-driven decisions. Our customers can benefit from a wide range monitoring, diagnostic, automation and control features for their ABB medium voltage switchgear for primary distribution. Contact our sales team to learn more about ABB’s smart solutions for each of our switchgear.
ABB's Elastimold switchgear has over 30 years of field-proven performance, designed and tested to reliably switch up to 38kV in harsh conditions for decades without failure.
ABB's Elastimold solid-dielectric switchgear requires no scheduled maintenance or routine cleaning, offering significant savings in operating costs over its lifespan. Air-insulated switchgear requires regular maintenance, and if neglected, can significantly reduce the switchgear's lifespan and lead to costly early replacement.
ABB's modular, space-saving design allows customization to meet unique needs with a smaller footprint than air-insulated switchgear. For pad-mount retrofits, modularity ensures the new switchgear fits on existing pads, reducing overall costs and installation complexity.
ABB's Elastimold switchgear has over 30 years of field-proven performance, designed and tested to reliably switch up to 38kV in harsh conditions for decades without failure.
ABB's Elastimold solid-dielectric switchgear requires no scheduled maintenance or routine cleaning, offering significant savings in operating costs over its lifespan. Air-insulated switchgear requires regular maintenance, and if neglected, can significantly reduce the switchgear's lifespan and lead to costly early replacement.
ABB's modular, space-saving design allows customization to meet unique needs with a smaller footprint than air-insulated switchgear. For pad-mount retrofits, modularity ensures the new switchgear fits on existing pads, reducing overall costs and installation complexity.