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Press Release04 July 2017Energy ManagementErlangen
First use in the high-voltage grid: SF6-free circuit breaker from Siemens for Netze BW
First use in the high-voltage grid: SF6-free circuit breaker from Siemens for Netze BW.
Distribution grid operator Netze BW GmbH is a member of the EnBW Group. It operates the power distribution grid in large parts of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, as well as in outlying areas of adjacent federal states.
The high-voltage circuit breakers and gas-insulated switchgear from Siemens – with vacuum-interruption and clean-air technology in the high-voltage range – are upgrades to the circuit breakers and switchgear that work with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as the insulating, switching, and extinguishing gas and will remain in the product line. A vacuum-interrupter unit switches and extinguishes the arc, while technically prepared and purified air in a mixing ratio of 80 percent nitrogen to 20 percent oxygen (known as clean air) provides the insulation for the current-carrying conductors inside the housing. Siemens has further developed its existing insulation and extinguishing technology according to climate-neutrality requirements by combining vacuum-interruption systems for switching and for arc extinguishing with clean air as the high-voltage insulating medium.
Siemens has been using its vacuum-interruption technology in its medium-voltage switchgear and in high-voltage circuit breakers up to 72.5 kV for more than 40 years. With its new circuit breakers and switchgear, the company is expanding the application of vacuum-interruption technology for a rated voltage of up to 145 kV, a rated short circuit-breaking current of up to 40 kiloamperes (kA), a rated current up to 3,150 A, and operating temperatures between -55° Celsius and +55° Celsius. This broad range of applications makes the new circuit breakers and encapsulated switchgear suitable for many purposes in both outdoor and indoor installations. Due to the lower insulating capacity of natural gases, the gas-insulated clean-air switchgear have slightly larger dimensions than the SF6 switchgear. However, its energy transmission efficiency is equally high in practice. The vacuum-interruption technology combined with clean-air technology provides operators with many advantages, including easier handling during shipping, installation, and operation as well as during maintenance and recycling. In addition, reporting the quantity of gas used in the devices isn't required.
For further information on circuit breaker, please see https://www.siemens.com/global/en/home/products/energy/high-voltage/hv-switchgear/circuit-breakers.html
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2016, which ended on September 30, 2016, Siemens generated revenue of €79.6 billion and net income of €5.6 billion. At the end of September 2016, the company had around 351,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.