Medium-Voltage Switchgear

- Then and Now -

Hans-Joachim Mller
25 Years Gas-Insulated Medium-Voltage Switchgear from Siemens

Evolution of Medium-Voltage Switchgear

Source: ABB

Local
installation
Workshop
manufacture

Factoryassembled,
type-tested

Year

Factoryassembled,
SF6-insulated

type tested

non type tested

Air-insulated

Factoryassembled,
compact

Cast-resin insulated

Air/solid-insulated

Gas-insulated

until 1950

until 1970

since 1970

since 1980

since 1982

Building

83 m3

47 m3

29 m3

24 m3

8 m3

Panel

19 m3

14.5 m3

8.7 m3

5.8 m3

2.2 m3

Page 2

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Situation in the Past

Yesterday, switchgear were air, oil or
cast-resin insulated with the following
features:

Huge dimensions
Dependent on pollution and climate
Maintenance at regular intervals
Human failure during maintenance
High fire risk
Not arc-fault tested
This means:

High investment for buildings

High costs for maintenance staff and system
transfer in the network
Breakdown of the network (longer downtimes)

Page 3

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Restricted Availability and Reliability of Supply

After short circuit at the rear side of an

epoxy-resin insulated switchgear

Page 4

June 07

Burned-out 10 kV substation: Fire after short

circuit in an epoxy-resin insulated ring-main unit

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Objectives for the Development of New Switchgear

Requirements for development:
Personal safety
Reliability of supply
Maintenance-free design
Suitability for all switching duties
Sufficient power reserves
Low fire risk
Small, light design
Concept options for new switchgear due to
availability of the following equipment:
Maintenance-free switching devices
Shockproof cable plugs and bar connections
Electronic measuring and protection devices

Page 5

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Implementation of the Development Tasks

Constructional implementation:
Solid insulation is replaced by insulating gas with
constant properties
Sealed enclosure of primary part
Installation of fixed-mounted, maintenance-free
switching devices:
- Vacuum circuit-breaker
- Three-position switch
- SF6-switch-disconnector
Shockproof cable plugs
Use of current and voltage transformers with low
susceptibility to faults
Verification of safe isolation from supply with capacitive
voltage dividers
Maintenance-free and reliable operating elements
with few parts inside the enclosure
Easiest operation
Pressure-resistant enclosure with defined pressure relief
Page 6

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Situation with Gas-Insulated Switchgear

Todays state of the art is gas-insulated
switchgear with the following main benefits:

Small, compact dimensions

Independent of environmental effects and climate
Widely maintenance-free
Maximum safety for staff
Low fire risk
Arc-fault tested
Advantages:

Low invest for buildings due to compact dimensions

and climate-independent design
Maximized power supply reliability
Maximum personal safety
Lowest life cycle costs
Reduced operational costs - no additional
maintenance costs

Page 7

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

First SIEMENS Gas-Insulated

Medium-Voltage Switchgear (April 1982)
Kulmbach / Germany
8DA10
16 panels
24 kV / 16 kA (3s) / 1250 A

Page 8

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Applications Today
Tibet / China
8DA10
205 panels
40.5 kV / 31.5 kA (3s) / 1250 A
Site altitude: 3000 5000 m

Page 9

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

First SIEMENS Gas-Insulated

Medium-Voltage Ring-Main Unit (April 1982)
Stadtwerke Lambrecht / Pfalz, Germany
Project:

Municipal power supply

Electrical data:

24 kV, 16 kA, 630 A

Typicals:

8DJ10, scheme 10

Page 10

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Switchgear Type 8DJ

Typical Application Examples

Page 11

June 07

Medium Voltage Division

Siemens AG 2006
Power Transmission and Distribution

Thank you very much

for your attention!

25 Years Gas-Insulated Medium-Voltage Switchgear from Siemens