Answers for energy.

Vacuum switching technology and components for medium voltageFor all applications. Everywhere.

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Vacuum switching technology – an innovation that wrote history

Innovations and precision – a passionEfficient power distribution requires a long service life and a high avail-ability from medium-voltage switching devices. This is not least the reason why more than 70 percent of system operators decide in favour of vacuum switching technology. As a pioneer for this technology, we are committed to meeting your high demands concerning quality and reliability of supply. We take care of that by means of consistent optimisation of our product portfolio and our manufacturing processes. In the centre of interest there are not only innovative technologies and maximum internal quality de-mands, but also environmental protection – even during development and production.

High performance, quality and reliabilityYou can rely on vacuum switching technology from Siemens. The decisive advantage is that its properties remain constant throughout the entire life cycle, due to the hermetically tight vacuum interrupter which elimi-nates any external influences – polluting decomposition products have no chance. Our comprehensive know-how is reflected even during produc-tion: enhanced cleanroom conditions and special production units for the vacuum brazing technique such as the vacuum furnace form the basis for the highest product quality – in the long term.

Maintenance-free – throughout the whole lifetime of the productThe vacuum interrupter always operates reliably throughout its entire service life – without any maintenance. This is a result of:

Reduced wear due to an extremely low arc voltage. � Minimum energy conversion in the contact gap due to the short �arcing time. Very low contact resistance, as the contacts do not oxidize in the �vacuum – for a maximum number of operating cycles.

Cost-efficient on principleThe life cycle costs of a product are a decisive factor for its profitable appli-cation. Here also, vacuum switching devices from Siemens are convincing: As they are maintenance-free, this important cost factor is omitted – for your advantage.

Contents

Vacuum switching technology – an innovation that wrote history 2–3

Vacuum switching technology – the production processes 4–13

The right solution for each task 14–15

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To prove the atmospheric pressure, in 1654 Otto von Guericke created a vacuum with the Magdeburg hemispheres for the first time in his-tory. More than 35 years ago, Siemens developed vacuum switching technology, leading it to series production. What was then a fundamental in-novation has been developed further to a proven technology, which now has a worldwide market share of about 70 percent. Vacuum switching technology from Siemens meets all the require-ments placed on circuit-breakers and contactors in medium-voltage switchgear up to 40.5 kV, and is now an integral part of many applications because of its clear advantages.

Siemens vacuum recloser 3AD – a vacuum circuit-breaker with monitoring function for overhead-line distribution systems

Vacuum generator circuit-breaker 3AH37 – the first generator circuit-breaker worldwide for normal currents up to 6,300 A according to IEEE C37.013

SION vacuum circuit-breaker – the circuit-breaker with the lowest mounting depth on the market

Vacuum generator circuit-breaker 3AH38 for 17.5 kV – the first generator circuit-breaker worldwide for rated short-circuit currents up to 72 kA and rated normal currents up to 4,000 A according to IEEE C37.013

Vacuum contactor 3TL71 – the first contactor world-wide for 24 kV, application in the Transrapid

Vacuum circuit-breaker modules for gas-insulated switchgear NXPLUS C

3AH vacuum circuit-breaker – the first completely maintenance-free circuit-breaker worldwide

Vacuum switching technology in gas-insulated switchgear 8DA10

3AF vacuum circuit-breaker – the first circuit-breaker worldwide with vacuum switching technology

3TL vacuum contactor – the first contactor world-wide with vacuum switching technology1972

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Vacuum switching technology – the production processes

To be able to generate, transmit and use electrical energy in a reliable, secure and economic way, you have to rely on safe, trouble-free switching processes at any time – not only as a power generator and supplier, but also as an industrial user. High quality and availability as well as a long service life are the decisive key factors for competition.

As a pioneer for vacuum switching technology, Siemens contributes comprehensive know-how. Decades of experience in development and produc-tion support our position as a technological leader. Our proven solutions and services meet all require-ments. And, of course, our quality claim is already reflected in the production of our vacuum switching technology.

Only modern, highly automatic machines and pro-duction processes are applied in our factories, with quality standards and manufacturing accuracy ex-ceeding the demands of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 by far. In this way we obtain high-quality products with a long working life, guaranteeing a constantly high production quality which is reproducible at any time.

Please visit us and convince yourself!

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Contact material processing

Siemens is the only manufacturer of vacuum interrupters worldwide to produce the contact material itself. The basic raw materials copper and chrome are combined to a powerful contact material by means of the arc-melting procedure. The result-ing raw parts are processed to RMF or AMF contact discs, whereby the slotted AMF discs are deburred at the end. All processing steps are electronically recorded for quality purposes.

Contact rod processing

In our numerically controlled multi-axis lathes, the raw parts are given the external contour and the slots of the contact carrier surface in just one single operation. The fully automatic process reduces the error rate to a minimum. A constantly high quality characterizes the produced parts.

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Endurance test for bellows

To enable them to meet the requirements for high endurance in real practice, the bellows are regularly subjected to an endurance test every three months. The test is carried out in a fully automatic test cabin with the travels adjusted to the respective type.

Metallography

To fulfil the highest quality demands, samples of the contact material are examined by metallography. Here, the homogeneity of the contact material, the quality of the melting process as well as the brazed connection between the contact material and the contact rod are checked.

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High-vacuum brazing furnace

In the high-vacuum brazing furnace, the joints of the vacuum interrupters are brazed at temperatures up to 900 °C and a pressure of 10-6 mbar. Thus, the interrupters fulfil the quality requirement “sealed for lifetime”. Thanks to the fully automatic production process, the high quality can be constantly reproduced at any time.

Vacuum interrupter assembly under cleanroom conditions

After having finished and cleaned the surfaces by electroplating and performed an optical inspection of the surface consistency of all single parts, the interrupter is assembled. The high-vacuum solder is applied at the joints of the components, the parts are aligned, and the interrupters are fixed. As cleanliness during assembly is especially important, all opera-tions are done under air-conditioned cleanroom con-ditions – in this way we can guarantee a constantly high quality of the interrupters and maximum pos-sible ratings up to 72 kA according to IEEE C37.013.

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Forming and high-voltage testing of vacuum interrupters

During forming, the definitive internal dielectric strength of the vacuum interrupter is established with gradually increasing voltage, and this is veri-fied by a subsequent lightning impulse voltage test. Both operations are done with higher values than those specified in the standards, as evidence of the extraordinary quality of the Siemens vacuum inter-rupters. This is the prerequisite for a long endurance and a high availability.

X-ray test

The evaluation of the interrupters by means of the X-ray procedure is used to verify the positions as well as the completeness of the internal compo-nents, and the quality of the brazing points. In this way we ensure the high quality of our products.

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Laser welding

Laser welding provides a completely positive mate-rial joint between individual components – as a pre-requisite for highly resistant, dynamically stressable assemblies such as the operating mechanism box. Its superiority over conventional welding becomes apparent, above all, by the fact that no hollows are produced – which would be susceptible to humidity – and that the material cannot loose shape anymore. The consequence: a high dimensional accuracy with the lowest tolerances possible – and thus, reduction of later adjustments to a minimum.

Switching device production

The switching device production is set up as a direct flow production. Various assemblies are prefabricat-ed in parallel and combined at the mounting place of the switching device. The flow production reduces the order lead times, and thus the delivery times of the switching devices to a minimum.

Stamping and laser cutting

In the pre-production, the steel plates are processed by highly automatic and highly productive stamping and laser cutting machines – providing the assured adherence to minimum tolerances, even with high quantities. The high degree of automation results in a process-safe, trouble-free production with short lead times, almost without any down time. Load-ing, operating and programming is possible with the machine running, without interrupting the produc-tion process.

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Surface Treatment

Electroplating is used to improve the material surfaces and to protect them against corrosion. By plating with a second material, the mechanical and electrical properties of the carrier materials are sustainably improved. This provides an optimised surface – which is decisive for a longer service life of the product and its permanently maintenance-free design.

Final assembly of switching devices

For all switching devices, the individual construc-tional units are pre-assembled in parallel. During final assembly, the different constructional units, the pole structure as well as the operating mecha-nism box are combined, and the device is equipped with the order-specific secondary system. Parallel work operations reduce the production lead time of the switching device to a minimum – sometimes even short-term customer requirements can still be implemented.

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Stock-keeping

A modern stock-keeping concept provides most rapid availability of the materials to be processed. For you, this means: fast delivery times, even for customer-specific special designs.

Test cabin for circuit-breakers

To guarantee our high quality, the switching devices undergo a series of tests which are, of course, adjusted to the circuit-breaker types and individual customer specifications. The computer-controlled test sequence ensures that – despite the high variety – only those circuit-breakers will leave the factory that have passed all test operations completely and successfully.

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Packaging

The packaging for our switching devices is made exclusively of environmentally compatible and recy-clable material such as timber, cardboard and PE foil – modularly adjusted to the transportation method and route. To save you having to dispose of waste, the type and amount of packing material is reduced to the necessary minimum.

Final inspection and testing of circuit-breakers

After having passed the routine and high-voltage tests successfully, the circuit-breakers are inspected at the final testing station to detect visible sources of faults. The rating plate is not attached until this last visual inspection has been completed successfully, and then the circuit-breaker is released for dispatch. To reduce complaints to a minimum, the order is checked for completeness and conformity before leaving – after all, you are expecting quality in every detail.

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3AF0/3AG0(Live Tank)Catalogue designation:

HG 11.41

SDV6(Dead Tank)Catalogue designation: HG 11.41

Vacuum circuit-breaker forstandard applicationsup to 24 kV rated voltageup to 40 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 3,150 A rated normal current

Vacuum circuit-breaker for standard applicationsup to 36 kV rated voltageup to 31.5 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 2,500 A rated normal current

Vacuum circuit-breaker for frequent-operation applicationsup to 36 kV rated voltageup to 40 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 4,000 A rated normal current

Vacuum circuit-breaker for traction applicationsup to 27.5 kV rated voltageup to 50 kA rated short-circuit breaking current up to 2,500 A rated normal current

Vacuum circuit-breaker for high-current applicationsup to 36 kV rated voltageup to 63 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 4,000 A rated normal current

Vacuum circuit-breaker for outdoor applicationsup to 40.5 kV rated voltageup to 40 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 2,000 A rated normal current

Vacuum circuit-breaker for outdoor applicationsup to 38 kV rated voltageup to 40 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 3,000 A rated normal current

SIONCatalogue designation: HG 11.02

3AH5Catalogue designation: HG 11.05

3AH4Catalogue designation: HG 11.04

3AH47Catalogue designation: HG 11.52

3AH3Catalogue designation: HG 11.03

The right solution for each task

Whatever your requirements for medium-voltage vacuum circuit-breakers and contactors may be – with the Siemens vacuum switch-ing technology you are always on the safe side:

For large numbers of operating cycles and high ratings, mainly as �required by the industry. For small currents and infrequent switching operations, mainly as �required by power supply companies.

Even for duties requiring the use of switch-disconnectors, disconnec-tors and earthing switches, fuses, instrument transformers, or surge arresters, Siemens offers the complete product range.

Please find more information in our catalogues. Just tell your local sales partner the catalogue designation you need – he/she will be pleased to send the information material to your address.

Or visit us online at:www.siemens.com/energy

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3TLCatalogue designation: HG 11.21

3TL6 SSKCatalogue designation: HG 11.22

3DCatalogue designation: HG 11.31

3CJ2Catalogue designation: HG 12.21

Siemens Vacuum RecloserCatalogue designation: HG 11.42

Vacuum circuit-breaker for outdoor applicationsup to 38 kV rated voltageup to 16 kA rated short-circuit breaking currentup to 800 A rated normal current

Vacuum contactors up to 24 kV rated voltageup to 800 A rated normal currentup to 3 million operating cycles

Contactor-fuse combinationup to 12 kV rated voltageup to 450 A rated normal currentup to 1 million operating cycles

Disconnectors and earthing switches up to 36 kV rated voltageup to 63 kA rated short-time withstand current (1 s)up to 3,000 A rated normal current

Switch-disconnectorup to 36 kV rated voltageup to 25 kA rated short-time withstand current (1 s)up to 630 A rated normal current

Vacuum switch up to 24 kV rated voltageup to 20 kA rated short-time withstand current (3 s)up to 800 A rated normal current

Vacuum interruptersup to 40.5 kV rated voltageup to 72 kA rated short-time withstand current (1 s)up to 6,300 A rated normal current

Instrument transformersup to 52 kV rated voltage

HV HRC fuse-links and fuse-basesup to 36 kV rated voltageup to 80 kA rated short-time withstand current (1 s)up to 250 A rated normal current

Surge arresters and limitersup to 40.5 kV rated voltageup to 300 kA rated short-circuit current

Vacuum interrupters

4MCatalogue designation: HG 24

3GCatalogue designation: HG 12.31

3ECatalogue designation: HG 21

3CGCatalogue designation: HG 12.11

www.siemens.com/energy

Published by and copyright © 2008:Siemens AGEnergy SectorFreyeslebenstr. 191058 Erlangen, Germany

Siemens AGEnergy SectorPower Distribution DivisionMedium VoltageNonnendammallee 10413623 Berlin, Germany

For more information, please contact our Customer Support Centre.Phone: +49 180/524 70 00Fax: +49 180/524 24 71(Charges depending on provider) E-mail: support.energy@siemens.com

Power Distribution DivisionOrder no. E50001-G710-A106-X-4A00Printed in GermanyDispo 40402GB 071239 103471 WS 10083.0

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All rights reserved.All trademarks or product names used in this document are the property of Siemens AG, its associated companies or the respective owners.

Subject to change without prior notice.The information in this document contains general descriptions of the technical options available, which may not apply in all cases. The required technical options should therefore be specified in the contract.