Posted to News on 18th Nov 2010, 00:00
IEC medium voltage circuit breakers are compact, reliable and environmentally friendly
Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today launched its new W-VACi vacuum circuit breakers, designed specifically to offer reliability, safety and value for money in a compact, environmentally friendly package. The new product is an addition to the comprehensive family of Medium Voltage switchgear products from Eaton's Electrical Sector and is based on the company's proven vacuum interrupter technology. The units are entirely free of SF6 gas, which contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect, and as a result they have excellent environmental characteristics. The new W-VACi medium-voltage circuit breakers are suitable for a wide range of applications including switching transformers, capacitor banks, motors and cables.
>The breakers are available with IEC ratings of 12 kV and 17.5 kV (50 kA) for use at currents up to 3,150 A, or with forced cooling up to 4,000 A, and in IEC 24 kV (25 kA) versions for use up to 2,500 A. All types have been verified by third party testing as fully compliant with the latest IEC 62271-100 and IEC 62271-1 standards. As confirmation of their reliability and durability, they also meet or exceed the electrical and mechanical endurance requirements of E2 and M2 in accordance with IEC 62271-100.
>The vacuum interrupters used in Eaton's W-VACi breakers are sealed for life and require no maintenance. Their design ensures that contact erosion during switching operations is negligible and they are suitable for 20,000 operational cycles. The interrupters are complemented by encapsulated pole units with long-life solid resin insulation of high mechanical strength. The same universal modular operating mechanism is used for breakers of all frame sizes and requires only a minimum of inspection during its long working life.
>To provide users with maximum flexibility, W-VACi circuit breakers are offered in both withdrawable and fixed configurations. They can also be supplied as an integral part of Eaton's new Unitole UX MV switchgear system, or packaged with Eaton's circuit breaker compartments for convenient use by panel builders.
>Other products in Eaton's MV family, some of which were formerly sold under the Holec product series, include Xiria 24 kV ring main units, SVS/08 and SVS/12 modular switchgear solutions, MMS compact double-busbar switchgear, FMX single-busbar switchgear and the soon to be launched Unitole UX withdrawable switchgear.
