Synchrotact®

Elevate plant safety and productivity through smart synchronization

Overview

Power plants and industrial facilities operate under constant pressure to maintain efficiency and reliability. One of the most critical factors that can lead to serious damage and production downtime is improper synchronization of your generator with the grid. 

 

Poor synchronization can trigger a cascade of failures—ranging from generator damage and safety hazards to complete plant shutdowns—resulting in significant production losses and substantial financial impact. The cost of inaction is simply too high to ignore. 

 

SYNCHROTACT® is ABB's premier synchronizing equipment designed for high-availability paralleling of generators, motors, and substations to the grid. Now in the 6th generation, it is the only synchronizer offering a diverse dual-channel design in one unit for safety, supporting up to 20 different circuit breakers, and offering backward compatibility

 

With over 22,000 installations around the world, thousands of power generation plants, substations and motors have been kept safe and at the highest levels of availability.

The importance of synchronization

<p>Automatic synchronizers play a critical role in power plants. They safely connect generators to the grid, preventing potential damage due to current surges.</p> <p>By enhancing operational stability, synchronizers ensure reliable power supply and reduce the risks associated with paralleling of generators.</p> <p>For more than 50 years, ABB has protected power plant generators and substations from the potentially destructive effects of current surges caused by paralleling in non-synchronized conditions with its SYNCHROTACT® series of synchronizing equipment.</p>

Integration

<p>Seamless integration of generators with the grid</p>

Safety

<p>Protects the plant / equipments from power surges and people from injury</p>

Efficiency

<p>Enhance overall operational efficiency</p>

Security

<p>Reduce risks associated with paralleling generators and power lines</p>

Backward compatible

<p>Security of the plant/substation life cycle – easy to upgrade from previous generations</p>

Flexibility

<p>Synchronizes up to 20 breakers with one unit at optimized cost</p>

Synchronization solutions

SYNCHROTACT 6

SYNCHROTACT 6

The world's most popular synchronizer for the highest levels of availability.

SYNCHROTACT 6 is the sixth generation of the ABB synchronization technology designed to keep your generators, motors and substations at the highest levels of availability. 

It is the only synchronizer with a dual-channel design thus guaranteeing reliability and safety at all times.

Technical highlights

High-capacity synchronization

<p>Up to 20 different circuit breakers synchronized by one single unit</p>

Dual-channel reliability

<p>Unique dual-channel design</p>

Easy Modernization

<p>Each new generation is compatible with the previous easy and cost-effective retrofits</p>

Integrated system design

<p>Convenient single housing for all hardware and software components</p>

Safe at the core

<p>Designed according to IEC 61508 SIL2 standards</p>

SYNCHROTACT 5

SYNCHROTACT is 5 a heritage generation of ABB synchronizing equipment for automatic synchronization of generators with power lines and for paralleling of synchronous lines.

SYNCHROTACT 5 owners who are ready to take the next step for their installation can choose to easily evolve to SYNCHROTACT 6 thanks to their identical size and electrical connections.

Standard replacement electrical drawings are provided to minimize upgrade costs. 

ABB is committed to a life-long support for products and to an innovation with continuity policy.  

Depending on the life cycle phase of each legacy product, ABB service can support with spare parts, repairs, replacements as well as online and on site services.

Technical highlights

Advanced Synchronization Capabilities

<p>Automatic synchronization of generators and power lines, making use of the IEC 61850 communication protocol</p>

Standards-Compliant Design

<p>Design compliant with the IEC protection standards and the guidelines for CE-certification</p>

Remote Service Access

<p>Remote servicing via TCP/IP and Internet</p>

Flexible Remote Control

<p>Remote control via fieldbus (Modbus, Profibus, LON)</p>

Multi-Breaker Synchronization

<p>One relay synchronizes up to 7 power circuit breakers with different requirements</p>

Dead Bus / Dead Line Operation

<p>Dead bus / dead line feature</p>

Multi-Frequency Support

<p>For 50 Hz, 60 Hz and 16.7 Hz</p>

Heritage SYNCHROTACT versions

ABB is committed to lifelong support for products and to an innovation with continuity policy.  

Depending on the life cycle phase of each heritage product, ABB service can support with spare parts, repair as well as replacements as well as online and on-site services.

  • SYNCHROTACT  - First electronic auto synchronizer 1966 to 1974
  • SYNCHROTACT 2 - Auto synchronizer single / dual channel versions 1972 to 1983
  • SYNCHROTACT 3 - Modular synchronizing relays including busbar transfer system (analog) 1981 to 1993
  • SYNCHROTACT 4 - Digital synchronizing relays 1991 to 2002
  • SYNCHROTACT HBT - High speed busbar transfer system 1996 to 2007
  • SYNCHROTACT 5 - Digital synchronizing relays 2002 to 2024
  • SYNCHROTACT CSS

SynView software

<p>Easy commissioning and maintenance with the SynView software</p> <p>SynView is the official software for simple and fast set up, commissioning and maintenance of all active and heritage SYNCHROTACT devices.</p> <p><br> With SynView you can</p> <ul> <li>Set parameters easily</li> <li>Display actual synchroscope, voltage and frequency values</li> <li>Commission without a separate recorder thanks to the transient recorder function</li> <li>Review event and error logging, with time stamp for the last 256 events</li> </ul> <p>SynView can be downloaded from the ABB Library&nbsp;(requires MyABB Credentials).</p>

Where Synchrotact® applies

ABB SYNCHROTACT® synchronizing equipment is primarily applicable in power plants, substations, and industrial facilities requiring secure, automated, or manual synchronization of generators and AC power lines.

Thermal Power, Hydro-Electric Power, Renewable Energies, Utilities and Grid Operators, Marine, Process Industries

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Frequently asked questions

SYCNHROTACT® synchronization devices are designed for:

  • Power plants and industrial plants with own power generation
  • Substations for automatic paralleling of synchronous and asynchronous lines and busbars
  • Large synchronous motors 

ABB is committed to a life long support for products and to an evolution without obsolescence policy.  

 

Depending on the life cycle phase of each legacy product, ABB service is able to support with spare parts, repair as well as replacements as well as online and on site services.

 

For detailed information, please contact our experts for the best evolution path for your installation.

  • SYNCHROTACT 1 - First electronic auto synchronizer 1966 to 1974
  • SYNCHROTACT 2 - Auto synchronizer single / dual channel versions 1972 to 1983
  • SYNCHROTACT 3 - Modular synchronizing relays including busbar transfer system (analog) 1981 to 1993
  • SYNCHROTACT 4 - Digital synchronizing relays 1991 to 2002
  • SYNCHROTACT HBT - High speed busbar transfer system 1996 to 2007
  • SYNCHROTACT 5
  • SYNCHROTACT CSS