Dead tank high voltage circuit breakers in Europe

[clarky280]

Hi

While dead tank circuit breakers for high voltage air terminal substations certainly are uncommon in Europe, would there be any code/standards/regulations related issues that would prevent a private substation owner to use such a breaker, provided that it is IEC type tested to IEC 62271-100?

For example, can TSOs object to these breakers if they are not on the "approved" list of breakers they they install in their own substations. Can TSOs within Europe even dictate what breakers a customer can use, if that customer is going to own and operate the substation for private infrastructure only?

Thanks

 

[cuky2000]

The dead tank breaker is manufactured primarily for the ANSI marketplace but the components are coming from a global supply surce. The interrupter mechanism usually is manufactured in Europe and for several manufacturer this component are the same used in the live tank breaker. The aluminum vessel, insulator, CTs, and control box can be manufactured locally in a suitable European country. If a device meet the import/export rule usually an equipment with 80% made in Europe may qualify to be consider as an European equipment. As a suggestion, check the applicable EU import/export rules for this matter.

 

[ema157]

Europe does use hybrid/dead tank compact breakers. These are essentially dead tank breakers with integrated disconnector, earth switch, and VTs. The major EU OEMs all make versions: GE, Siemens Energy, and Hitachi Energy.

 

[FPelec]

I agree with ema157. The so-called "Hybrid Switchgear" are in practice dead-tank CBS with integrated disconnector / earth switch (they can ALSO include VTs and CTs), and they are widely adopted by european TSOs
See, f.i. Hitachi/ABB PASS (up to 420 kV)
https://new.abb.com/docs/librariesp...-day-colombia/reference-pass-ppt.pdf?sfvrsn=2
or GE Hypact (up to 170 kV):

HYpact | GE Vernova

HV/MV Equipment - HYpact Hybrid compact switchgear assembly

www.gevernova.com

 

[clarky280]

Thanks,

Yes, that was my understanding - that the "hybrid circuit breakers" (such as Hitachi PASS, or Siemens DTC) are in principle the same as dead tank breakers with additional components and are already adopted by utilities. But for pure dead tank circuit breakers (e.g. Siemens 3AP dead tank breaker) are much less commonly seen in Europe, and therefore unlikely to be on the list of pre-approved breakers by TSOs.

Which I guess is another question in itself - for privately owned substations for consumption use only - would the high voltage circuit breaker need to be on the list of TSO pre-approved breakers? Would the TSO be able to impose a specific product on a private substation, as long as the breaker is IEC and national regulations compliant, would the TSO be able to insist on a specific product?

Thanks

 

[System Protection]

I imagine there is an interconnection agreement between the TSO and customer.
The requirements should be laid out there.

Not sure about any other legal requirements in Europe though or the legal authority of the TSO to impose restrictions on the breaker construction.

I have not done any work there.