Gas-Insulated Switchgear
Connecting and protecting an evolving grid
ABB’s medium voltage switchgear (1 kV to 52 kV according to the IEC standards) are designed to connect and protect an evolving grid. Depending on the insulation medium that protect the energized components in the medium voltage switchgear, both primary and secondary medium voltage switchgear can be widely divided into: air-insulated and gas-insulated.
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.
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.
SafeRing & SafePlus
ABB’s gas-insulated switchgear portfolio for secondary distribution includes the SafeRing, ring main unit (RMU), and SafePlus switchgear. SafeRing/SafePlus also offer an SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) -free variant, called SafeRing Air/SafePlus Air, with dry air as the insulation medium and fully compliant with the IEC standards and the EU F-gas regulation (EU) 2024/573.
Benefits:
- A wide range of functional units, easy to extend and upgrade.
- Safe and easy for operators in both maintenance and operating conditions.
- Designed and tested according to IEC.
Industries and applications:
- Building
- Transportation
- Data centers
- Distribution
- Renewables, Industry
- Infrastructure
ZX Portfolio
ZX is the main product family of ABB’s medium voltage gas-insulated (GIS) indoor switchgear for primary distribution.
Benefits:
- Suitable for safely and reliably in a variety of high demanding and standard applications such as utilities, industries, rail, buildings, etc.
- The ZX family is fully compliant with most of the international standards.
Industries and applications:
- Utilities
- Food & beverage
- Building
- Industries
- Transport, Infrastructure
- Data Center, Renewable
*Higher electrical performance to match the equivalent SF6 range will be progressively introduced before the EU F-gas ban dates.
**For more information on ABB’s medium voltage switchgear for China standards here.
GIS portfolio at a glance
| ZX2 | ZX0.2 | PrimeGear ZX0 | SafeRing/ SafePlus | SafeRing/ SafePlus Air | |
| Max. rated voltage | 40.5 kV | 36 kV | SF6-free: 12 kV SF6: 24 kV |
up to 40,5 kV | up to 24 kV* |
| Max. rated continuous current (busbar) | 5000 A SBB, 3150 A DBB** |
2500 A | 2500 A | 630 A | 630 A |
| Max. rated short-time withstand current | 40 kA | 31.5 kA | 25 kA | up to 20 kA (24 kV), 3s up to 25 kA (12/36/40,5 kV), 3s |
20 kA, 3s |
| Insulation medium | Gas (SF6) | Gas (SF6) | · Dry air (SF6-free) · Gas (SF6) |
Gas (SF6) | Dry air (SF6-free) |
| Busbar | Single & double busbar gas-insulated | Single busbar solid insulated | Single busbar solid insulated | ||
| Standards | IEC, GB/DL, GOST, CSA, IEEE with UL certification available on request. | IEC, ENA | IEC, GB | IEC and GB/DL (12 kV) |
IEC |
| Applications | Applications with high demanding requirements, harsh environment and sensitive and business critical processes. Industries, utilities, transport and infrastructure, data center. | Applications with mid-demanding requirements. Renewables, industries. | Applications with low- to mid-demanding requirements. Utilities, food & beverage, building. | Distribution, renewables, buildings and infrastructure, data centers, industry and transportation | |
* Higher electrical performance to match the equivalent SF6 range will be progressively introduced before the EU F-gas ban dates.
** SBB and DBB stand for Single busbar and Double busbar, respectively
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.
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.
ABB offers two main insulation mediums in our gas-insulated switchgear portfolio:
- SF6-free suitable for most 6kV to 24kV switching applications, with dry air as the insulation medium and a global warming potential (GWP) = 0. 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.
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’s gas-insulated medium voltage switchgear. Contact our sales team to learn more about ABB’s smart solutions for each of our switchgear.
Air-insulated switchgear circuit breaker is typically removable or withdrawable. The circuit breaker is based on vacuum circuit technology. In the gas-insulated, it is fixed mounted. The function of withdraw is provided by a separate disconnecting switch. Typically, a three-position switch with connected, disconnected, and ready-to-earth position.
Gas-insulated switchgear requires very low maintenance as all high voltage parts are permanently protected in a gas tank from soiling, humidity, entry of foreign bodies and other environmental influences. Primary, the drives located outside gas compartment require inspection and maintenance. On the other hand, gas-insulated switchgear repair requires additional training (e.g. for gas works) and the replacement or parts may not be as easily. In the air-insulated switchgear visual inspection is recommended in regular intervals, maintenance of power parts is given in installation, operation and maintenance manual (1VLM000363).