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Live Tank Breaker AirPlusTM

Leading the way for a greener grid
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Introduction
Climate scientists agree that human activity is
responsible for an increase in global temperatures
over the past century.

In response, a global climate agreement was

reached in Paris in December 2015, under which
countries agreed to take action to limit the rise in
global temperatures to well below 2 degrees
compared with pre-industrial levels.

The 2-degree threshold is considered the

maximum that global temperatures can rise
without having an irreversible impact on the
earth’s ecosystems, for instance, through rising
sea levels.

ABB supports the Paris Agreement, which came

into force in November 2016, and considers it a
critical opportunity to limit global warming and
avert potential consequences of climate change.

ABB contributes to climate goals with pioneering

technologies that enable utilities, industry and
transport & infrastructure customers to deploy
clean energy and improve energy efficiency while
extending the lifecycle of their equipment and
reducing waste.
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Table of contents

2 Introduction

4 – 5 Technology Pioneer

6 – 7 Enabling a greener power grid

8 The disconnecting circuit

breaker option

9 Flawless performances

10 – 11 Dimensions and specifications

4 L I V E TA N K B R E A K E R A I R P L U S

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Technology Pioneer
In the electrical power industry, the sulfur
hexafluoride gas (SF6) has been used extensively
for decades because of its excellent insulating
and arc-extinguishing properties.

However, it is a greenhouse gas and for long

ABB has been working on finding alternatives.

2010
ABB achieved breakthrough in
research and development (R&D),
with a new eco-efficient gas mixture,
AirPlus, an alternative to SF6

Same technologies for Future proof to comply

high and medium voltage with environment
switchgear regulation changes

Scalability in voltage levels from MV to AirPlus has a Global

HV to Ultra High Voltage (UHV) in both Warming Potential (GWP)
interruption and insulation technology <=1 vs 23,500 of SF6

AirPlus is ABB's family of eco-efficient gas mixtures as an

alternative to SF6 for high and medium voltage products
 L E A D I N G T H E W AY F O R A G R E E N E R G R I D 5

TIMELINE

1960 - 2019

1960s
SF6 circuit breakers

2010
Pilot 145 kV Live Tank breaker
AirPlus installed in Sweden

2014 2014
72.5 kV Live Tank Breaker ABB launches the 72 kV Live
AirPlus installed in Sweden Tank Breaker AirPlus which
represented a breakthrough
in eco-efficient innovation.

2015
72.5 kV Live Tank Disconnecting
Circuit-breaker (DCB) AirPlus,
installed in Sweden

2019 2019
100th Live Tank Breaker The eco-efficient Live Tank
AirPlus delivered Circuit-breaker lineup has
been extended to the 145 kV
voltage level.
6 L I V E TA N K B R E A K E R A I R P L U S

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Enabling a greener
power grid
The LTB AirPlus, available for 72.5 and 145 kV,
uses a carbon dioxide (CO2)-based gas mixture
as the insulation and switching medium,
instead of SF6.

Designed to protect electrical networks

and prevent power outages, the technology
will minimize environmental impact.

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The new LTB AirPlus reduces
almost 100 percent of the
global warming potential
(GWP), compared with SF6.

GWP = 23.900

GWP

GWP = <1

SF6 AirPlus

The GWP, expressed as CO2 equivalent,

measures the amount of heat a gas traps
in the atmosphere over a time horizon
of 100 years.

Based on ABB’s well-proven high-voltage

breaker technology, and which has been
already in operation for decades, the LTB
AirPlus offers excellent switching
performance within the same space
requirements.
 L E A D I N G T H E W AY F O R A G R E E N E R G R I D 7

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Unlike SF6 where lifecycle
management requires careful
handling and reporting of
inventory, the LTB AirPlus
is future-proof and it complies
with the environmental
regulation changes.
8 L I V E TA N K B R E A K E R A I R P L U S

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The disconnecting
circuit breaker option
ABB pioneered the concept of Disconnecting
Circuit Breaking (DCB) in 2000.

The Live Tank Breaker AirPlus circuit

breaker is also available as a disconnecting
circuit breaker (DCB).

In a DCB the disconnecting function

is integrated in the breaker and no separate
disconnectors are required.

DCBs give the best results for equipment

reliability and availability and minimize
maintenance requirements.

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DCBs also further reduces the
environmental impact of the
switchyard

DCB provides space Eliminating the need of a DCB grants lower

saving of up to 60 stand-alone disconnectors electrical losses during
percent means lesser usage of the use phase
raw materials
 L E A D I N G T H E W AY F O R A G R E E N E R G R I D 9

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Flawless performances
Eco-efficient, compact and reliable, ABB’s AirPlus
technology has been helping our customers for years
to achieve their sustainability goals.

Over 100 units of LTB and DCB 72.5 kV

AirPlus are currently enhancing
the reliability, availability and
efficiency of electrical networks
throughout the world while minimizing
environmental footprint.

Notably, an LTB 145 kV AirPlus

concept breaker has been performing
flawlessly since 2010 as a pilot 132/45 kV substation in Sweden
installation at a 132/45 kV substation operated by Vattenfall.

in Sweden operated by Vattenfall.

The breaker has been performing about

100 breaking operations per year with
no reported issues.

More than 100

breakers delivered
worldwide

Protecting networks in:

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland,
South Africa and New Zealand
10 L I V E TA N K B R E A K E R A I R P L U S

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Dimensions and specifications
LTB and DCB AirPlus ratings

3674 255 255

20
735
1500 1500
C B A

1344
1214
145

20
1260
185

5204

3837
787
2487
2205

AA
1438

866

300 890
2530

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LTB Circuit Breaker LTB Disconnecting Circuit Breaker (DCB)

LTB 72.5D1 AirPlus DCB LTB 72.5D1 AirPlus

Voltage 72.5 to 84 kV Voltage 72.5 to 84 kV

Current 2750 A Current 2750 A

Breaking current 31.5 kA Breaking current 31.5 kA

Frequency 50 Hz Frequency 50 Hz

Ambient temperature -50 to +50°C Ambient temperature -50 to +50°C

Operation Three-pole Operation Three-pole

 L E A D I N G T H E W AY F O R A G R E E N E R G R I D 11

255
4200 510
1750 1750 270

20
1468

1635
184

20

1400
1240
245

5584

3901
2561
2197

200

490 875.6 1053.5

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LTB Circuit Breaker LTB Disconnecting Circuit Breaker (DCB)

LTB 145D1 AirPlus DCB LTB 145D1 AirPlus

Voltage 145 kV Voltage 145 kV

Current 3150 A Current 3150 A

Breaking current 40 kA Breaking current 40 kA

Frequency 50 Hz Frequency 50 Hz

Ambient temperature -50 to +50°C Ambient temperature -50 to +50°C

Operation Three-pole Operation Three-pole

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ABB Ltd.
High Voltage Products
SE-771 80 Ludvika
Sweden
Phone: +46 240 78 20 00
E-mail: circuit.breaker-sales@se.abb.com

abb.com/highvoltage

© Copyright 2019 ABB. All rights reserved.

Specifications subject to change without notice. 1HSM9543 E01/AC19