GE Power Switching & Controls GE Power/Vac 7 Vacuum Distribution Recloser Power/Vac7 Type PVDR 15.5 kV and 27.0 kV Three Phase Vacuum Circuit Recloser GE Power Switching & Controls Introduces Power/Vac Vacuum Distribution Recloser An addition to the proven vacuum distribution product line. The GE Distribution Recloser is a • Reliable Arc Interruption Power/Vac (in-air), Type PVDR, four Arc interruption typically occurs at shot recloser for use in applications the first current zero after contact on distribution systems. separation. The high dielectric strength of the vacuum gap results The Vacuum (in-air) Distribution in an extremely short clearing time. recloser is available as a standard From a normal CLOSED position, offering utilizing the GE-Multilin F650- the recloser can complete fault Recloser Controller. This controller interruption in five cycles. package utilizes the Multi-function F650 relay, 10-pole test switch, 24 vdc battery • Long Service Life with charger (when station DC is not Power/Vac interrupters experience available), and a 120VAC GF-protected no significant contact erosion during receptacle. (Other relay configurations normal duty. They are designed and are available.) tested to meet or exceed performance requirements of applicable ANSI, The Type PVDR Recloser is rated 15.5 IEEE and NEMA standards. kV and 27.0 kV. They are high speed vacuum (in-air) reclosers designed to meet increased demands for uninter- • Low Maintenance rupted power on distribution circuits The Power/Vac interrupter element requiring single or multi-shot reclosing. is designed for 10,000 no-load and The PVDR is capable of interrupting at 5,000 full load operations prior to either 10,000, 12,000 or 16,000 amperes maintenance. After 18 full fault symmetrical fault current at rated volt- Side cross section of recloser showing interruptions, it is recommended location of the vacuum interrupter age, depending on the particular unit that the contact erosion indicator specified. Recloser’s have continuous be checked to estimate remaining The Power/Vac Distribution Recloser current ratings of 200, 400, 560, 800, interrupter life. offers these important features: or 1120 amperes. The duty cycle of each rating conforms to ANSI C37.60, • “E Coat” Paint Table 4, where applicable. • No Contact Maintenance “E Coat” is applied with a cathodic One set of contacts performs both electrodeposition method which GE introduced the world’s first vacuum main and arcing contact functions. bonds the paint to all surfaces to interrupter distribution breaker in the Maintenance is eliminated because resist adverse effects of harsh 1960’s. Today this proven design is the high vacuum environment environments. A final exterior incorporated in the Vacuum Distri- isolates contacts from exposure to finish coat provides extra protection. bution Recloser and is the same standard dirt, moisture and other pollutants. ANSI 70 Grey is standard. vacuum interrupter used in the (Other color options are available.) Power/Vac Metalclad Switchgear. • Quiet Operation To date, this design has accumulated Arc extinction is silent, and the sound over 800,000 interrupter years of reliable level of the mechanism is low. Quiet field service experience domestically and operation is particularly desirable in over 30 countries worldwide. near hospitals, residential areas and shopping centers. 1. Recloser Settings Table RECLOSER SETTINGS Description Range Number of Reclosers 1 to 4 Number of Repetitive Trips 1 to 50* Reset Time Available 1.0 to 600.0 seconds Hold Time 0.0 to 100.0 seconds Reclose Delay 0.1 to 600.0 seconds** 300 Operation Open/Close mechanical run-in test * Limited by Battery ** Mechanism needs 3 seconds to recharge springs 1 Rigid Quality Standards and Thorough Testing Assure High Reliability Power/Vac Distribution Recloser quality All reclosers are designed and tested to ANSI 4. High potential tests are made on primary begins with the basic materials: steel, copper, C37.60 and applicable industry standards. and secondary circuits, and the resistance aluminum, fiberglass, reinforced polyester of each pole assembly is measured against and porcelain - proven in both indoor and Some of the factory test procedures include: specification. outdoor use. All recloser elements and purchased components are thoroughly 1. Preliminary recloser adustments assure that 5. The breaker element mechanism is inspected to assure they meet specifications. all components are within specifications operated at maximum, minimum and rated In addition, the insulation in each recloser voltages. In addition, speed/time checks are receives numerous production and 2. Every recloser interrupter element made to assure reliable operation. laboratory tests. undergoes a 300 operation CLOSE/OPEN mechanical run-in test (most component 6. A series of tests are conducted to During manufacture, numerically-controlled failures occur within this period). Thus, verify operation of interlocks, auxiliary machines and high quality tooling are this stress test catches problems in the factory switches, wiring relays and other utilized to produce accurate parts. before they can impact system integrity. components for continuity and correctness. This helps reduce assembly and alignment problems and improves reliability. 3. Vacuum interrupter wipe, gap and stroke are adjusted to precise tolerances. Automatic Recloser Controller and Assembly - DRC GE Provides a standard designed DRC When instrumentation voltage transformers Controller unit that is being used in the are available at the substation, these will be Type PVDR Recloser that includes a GE used for the AC voltage measurements for multifunction F650 relay, 10 pole test switch, the relay. When these transformers are not 24 VDC battery with charger (when station available, the station service 120/120 VAC DC is not available), and a 120 VAC GF pro- transformers, which are required for spring tected receptacle. Other relay configurations charge motor, close and accessory circuits, are available. The F650 digital relay provides are used for single phased voltage and control of the tripping and reclosing circuits frequency information for the relay. of the ML-18 operating mechanism. This extremely flexible digital relay is designed Bushing transformers provided with to provide instantaneous and inverse time- the recloser are used for AC current current tripping to coordinate with other measurements. reclosers, breakers, relaying and fuses. It provides a single to four shot recloser that can operate with an instantaneous and three time delayed reclose shots. This allows DRC Controller featuring the F650 Relay the user to program which functions are allowed to trip after the shot. Features include: Additional features of the F650 relay, while controlling the recloser function, • All current transformer secondary leads also provide a digital protection, control, are continuous from the transformer to metering and monitoring system. It uses the short circuiting type terminal boards waveform sampling of the current and voltage or test plugs. inputs, together with appropriate algorithms, to provide distribution feeder protection. By • Terminal boards are positioned for ease incorporating the protection, control, meter- of access to facilitate connection of ing and both local and remote human inter- external leads. face in one assembly, it eliminates the need for expensive discreet components. The relay • Relays and controls are mounted on stores up to 256 events with the date and a swinging panel for easy access. time stamped to the nearest millisecond and • Recloser control switch and indicating captures current and voltage waveforms at 64 lamps are positioned for ease of operation. samples per cycle. From 2-16 oscillography records can be stored in memory. • Other devices are available. 2 Vacuum Interruption provides the most efficient protection At the heart of the distribution recloser With the development of the Power/Vac is the Power/Vac metalclad vacuum interrupter element in the 1970’s, interrupter. To date, this design has General Electric introduced the first accumulated over 800,000 interrupter medium voltage metalclad switchgear years of reliable field service experience. line to use vacuum exclusively. Today, this same proven breaker element is General Electric pioneered vacuum incorporated in the Power/Vac interruption technology in the 1920’s, Distribution Recloser. refined it with improved materials and new manufacturing techniques in the 1. Stationary Electrical Terminal 30’s and 40’s, and introduced the 2. Metal-to-Insulation Vacuum Seal world’s first vacuum interrupter distribution breaker and recloser 3. Insulating Vacuum Envelope in the 1960’s. 4. Vacuum Chamber 5. Electric Arcing Region 6. Electrical Contacts 7. Metal Vapor Condensing Shield 8. Flexible Metallic Bellows Assembly 9. Metal-to-Insulation Vacuum Seal 10. Movable Electrical Terminal 4 Modular Design Provides Easy Installation and Accessibility Easy Installation Distribution Reclosers are shipped com- Viewing Window pletely assembled ready for immediate Permits convenient visual check of installation, except for adjustable legs operations counter, OPEN/CLOSE which are easily installed in the field. indication, spring charge indication, manual CLOSE and TRIP buttons Bushings and Current Transformers and pull-to-trip lever. Designed to meet exacting ANSI standards. CT’s are readily accessible Pull-to-Trip-Lever (refer to Table 4 for ratings). This Located on the outside of the recloser design