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Breaker
Breaker
This article is dedicated to the subject of practical implementation of ISM/TEL vacuum circuit breakers produced by
TAVRIDA ELECTRIC. Two main areas will be covered: the manufacture of brand new switchgear and the renovation
of obsolete switchgear (Retrofit Programme)
Foreword
Today switchgear suppliers face customer demands, not only concerning the quality of the products offered, but also
concerning the final effective solution of any problems that may arise. Consequently market leaders are constantly
striving to offer the consumers a full portfolio of products and services.
A customer is undoubtedly put at ease when a supplier provides it with the following:
• technical consultation
• a full spectrum of support at every stage of a project
• clear and instant warranty
• prompt post-warranty services
• installation and assembly works, including “turn-key” projects
• development of typical and special projects, as well as technical solutions related to the implementation of
equipment.
Based on the above mentioned reasons and arguments, TAVRIDA ELECTRIC has defined its mission as follows:
“We offer our customers integrated solutions using innovative products combined with unrivalled service and
reliability.”
• Renovation of switchgear in the shortest period of time keeping the most of existing construction elements.
• Supply and installation of particular compact medium voltage switchgear suitable for extension of existing
substation where available space is limited. For example, in telecommunication, trade and business centers
inside city boundaries.
• Supply and installation of a small-sized substation in urban or coastal areas, where land cost is high.
There are three approaches to accomplishing the above mentioned tasks used by TAVRIDA ELECTRIC. In every case,
a customer comes to a final decision based on technical-economical analysis of the situation. The appropriate offering
of an elegant and effective fundamental solution to customers is one of the reasons that TAVRIDA ELECTRIC has
successfully operated for over 15 years in the field of switchgear manufacturing and now works in collaboration with
many companies in over 40 countries worldwide.
TEL VCB
Our regional design bureaus, focused on the requirements of local markets, develop various installation projects for
renovation of switchgear being in operation. After completing a stage of design, a switchgear cubicle is renovated in
exact accordance with the project documentation. In order to reveal and further to improve any non-conformances, a
full stage of qualification tests is carried out. The described method of existing cubicle renovation is called “Retrofit
Programme”.
The Retrofit is distinguished from other renovation techniques
by retaining the main switchgear arrangement undisturbed
with the replacement of only worn-out parts. In many
countries the Retrofit has become a state strategy for programs
concerning modernization and further development of
electricity systems.
The technical condition of the old switchgear does not correspond to the customer requirements of reliability and
functionality mainly due to the severe wear on oil breakers and relay protection components. At the same time the
remainder of the switchgear components (metal constructions, cable channels, busbars system etc.) possess sufficient
residual service life to be compatible even with the new switchgear.
There are four general stages of standard working procedure, during a Retrofit project:
- The proper selection of a typical Retrofit set developed by a design bureau (up to now, TAVRIDA
ELECTRIC project base includes over 80 typical projects for the Retrofit of various type of switchgear).
- The dismantling of the old circuit breakers.
- The integration of the vacuum circuit breakers into the cubicle with the help of the Retrofit set chosen.
- Connection to and co-ordination with the existing relay protection system or its replacement with digital one.
The photos show the retrofit of an SCJ oil circuit breaker in stationary type cubicle performed by a customer.
After retrofit work, all existing electrical, mechanical or electromechanical interlocks preventing unauthorized
operations, will not only remain but can be improved. The proven effectiveness and simplicity of Retrofit
performance makes this Programme a widely accepted and easy executable solution for old equipment renovation in
electricity companies.
Here are general technical and competitive
advantages our customers will realize when
choosing Retrofit with TAVRIDA ELECTRIC:
The following table presents a comparative analysis of repair work, the purchase of new switchgear and Retrofit:
Over the past few years TAVRIDA ELECTRIC has been successfully collaborating with respected Polish switchgear
manufacturers such as ZPUE and ELEKTROBUDOWA.
The switchgear manufacturer ELEKTROBUDOWA successfully uses the TAVRIDA ELECTRIC vacuum circuit
breakers as a core component of D-12 and D-17.5 series metal-clad switchgear for voltages of 12 and 17.5kV.
• a metal framework
• a vacuum circuit breaker
• a metal box for the allocation of
protection unit, CM as well as
signalling and control circuits.
In conclusion, we will address some of the most frequently asked questions concerning the use of the TAVRIDA
ELECTRIC vacuum circuit breakers.
Yes. Vacuum circuit breakers can be tested using the standard power frequency
high-voltage test. In the event of leakage (the penetration of air inside the vacuum
interrupter), there will be an insulation break-down during the test. It is
recommended that the test should be carried out on site before putting a circuit
breaker into service and then as part of a systematic inspection of the equipment.
The physics of the process is as follows: the dialectical strength of the vacuum
space inside the interrupter is only dependant on the pressure produced by the rest
vapour concentration p and the distance between the electrodes d. This dependence
is described by the Pashen Curve. As can be seen from the graph, the smallest
The Pashen Curve
value of dialectical strength corresponds to a vacuum pressure from 1 to 10-1 Pa. In this case the conductivity of the
gap is more than for the air. A high-voltage test of power frequency will easily reveal the problem vacuum leakage
occurring at this level.
The necessary vacuum level inside the interrupter (with a distance of 6mm between the electrodes) should not be less
than 10-3 Pa. TAVRIDA ELECTRIC produces vacuum interrupters with a pressure of 10-5Pa.
It is worth mentioning that leakage of vacuum from the vacuum interrupter is only possible in the case of severe
physical action on the interrupter. The vacuum interrupter is protected from mechanical damage by a polycarbonate
housing. During product manufacturing procedure, there are three stages of inspection (by carrying out high-voltage
tests) for vacuum interrupters. The first inspection is performed during production of the vacuum interrupter itself,
second while assembling of circuit breaker poles and in the end while performing routine tests of an assembled circuit
breaker.
A special study has been dedicated to this question and experiments have shown that vacuum circuit breakers do not
create X-ray radiation while in use. In fact, the level of X-ray radiation produced during high-voltage testing is not
higher than 1 µSv/h. We have included the following table to allow comparison.
Is there any danger of a vacuum circuit breaker exploding or of being an outburst of arc combustion products
due to a breakdown at the substation?
As there are hardly any substances in a vacuum interrupter, no such risk occurs in the event of a breakdown in the
vacuum interrupter. In the case of thermal exposure or a prolonged short circuit current due to a relay protection fault,
a polycarbonate housing of VCB pole melts down, localizing the damage and confining it to a single cubicle. In the
event of a breakdown of an oil circuit breaker, an expulsion of hot oil or the explosion of the circuit breaker may occur.
The breakdown of a circuit breaker with SF6 gas will affect environment drastically. The leaked overheated SF-6
reacts with the air and produces a poison gas (known as Phosgene and used in military actions). Phosgene gas exhibits
the properties of rare gases and cannot be removed from the human organism. For this reason, the countries which
signed the Kyoto protocol passed a resolution forbidding the use of SF-6 in mid-voltage equipment.
At this point, TAVRIDA ELECTRIC’s series of articles concerning specialized questions on the theory and use of the
series of vacuum circuit breakers comes to a close.
We kindly ask you to send your comments, questions and requests to export@tavrida.ee
We will try to answer your questions and uncover new areas in the field of vacuum switchgear that are of interest to
you.