Need MV Loadbreak Switch

[OhioAviator]

Hello all,

I have a need for a loadbreak switch, fused or non-fused, that is rated 2,000 Amps @ 2,400 Volts AC. It needs to be metal enclosed, NEMA 3R outdoor. Of course, I can use a 5kV switch but I definitely need the 2,000 Amp continuous current rating. Anyone know where I can get one because so far I'm having no luck.

Thanks,

--John

 

[Zogzog]

I have many in stock that will work but I am not allowed to post my contact info here, so not sure how anyone can help you. Had a guy last week looking for a VCB and the thread was removed after I posted my info.

 

[davidbeach]

Zogzog, you can post a company URL without any problem. You can also mention a company name. Site management, based on years of experience, doesn't seem to like to have email addresses posted.

 

[jraef]

OhioAviator,
I don't know of any manufacturer who makes an LBS over 1200A, so if ZogZog has one, you had better nab it because it must be rare enough that you will not likely find it on the shelf anywhere else. Generally when you get above 1200A people tend to go with vacuum breakers in Metal-Clad switchgear, because the fault capacity of a system that needs a 2000A MV switch is likely high enough to warrant Metal-Clad construction.

It might also be useful to post where you are because industry standards are different in different parts of the worldm, and this is a global website (although we can probably assume you are in Ohio).





"If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe." -- Abraham Lincoln
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[Zogzog]

Zogzog, you can post a company URL without any problem. You can also mention a company name. Site management, based on years of experience, doesn't seem to like to have email addresses posted.

And I agreewith that policy but last week all I posted was our URL and the thread was deleted.

 

[Zogzog]

You know jaref is right (As usual) it is a VCB (GE VB1)5kV 2000A in a NEMA 3R enclosure that I have, just looked like a loadbreak at first glance because right now it has a kirk key on the front. I have seen 2000A loadbreaks in the past, but dont think anyone makes them anymore, since the 1980's anyhow. (About the time VCB's showed up huh jraef?)

Scott (Zog)

http://www.cbsnuclear.com

 

[davidbeach]

As far as I can tell, there are many reasons why threads get deleted. If the problem was just an email address or a web URL that part would have been edited out and the thread would have remained. For a thread to get axed seems to take a more egregious violation of site policies and that can happen in response to something that happens between visits to the site.

 

[jraef]

Sometimes if the context is an unsolicited tender offer, people get a little trigger happy around here . Post it again ZogZog, I'll send a message to mgt not to delete it if someone else red flags it. In this case you are responding to a specific request by the OP, I see no problem with that, especially since those of us in the industry (or at least recently out of it) know that lead times on equipment like this can be horrendous.


"If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe." -- Abraham Lincoln
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[OhioAviator]

Thanks guys.

Yes I am indeed in Ohio, but the actual location where the switch is needed is Kansas City.

The purpose of the switch would be to serve as a maintenance disconnect. It would be the first disconnect after the utility substation, which presently is feeding 2.4kV directly to an ancient (1940 vintage) Westinghouse ACB, which itself is being used as a motor starter for a 6,000HP synchronous motor. Every time we need to pull maintenance on the motor and drivetrain we have to rack out that ancient 2.4kV ACB, which requires a full 40-Cal moon suit.

I had considered a VCB, but we really do need something simple that non-electrical people can operate. They need to be able to see by visual observation that the power circuit is actually open, hence the loadbreak switch. I really didn't want to use a VCB because of the need to rack in/rack out each time.

Again thanks. And if anybody knows of something here in the good ol' USA please let me know.

--John

 

[Zogzog]

Have you looked at remote racking?

 

[Zogzog]

Jraef Sometimes if the context is an unsolicited tender offer, people get a little trigger happy around here . Post it again ZogZog, I'll send a message to mgt not to delete it if someone else red flags it. In this case you are responding to a specific request by the OP, I see no problem with that, especially since those of us in the industry (or at least recently out of it) know that lead times on equipment like this can be horrendous.

that was the case in the VCB, same type of request, someone looking for a specific VCB, legacy product. I posted my url and next day, whole thread gone. Maybe I missed out on something.

I am here to mostly learn, but if I can help out I would like to, I have resources no one else does.

 

[ScottyUK]

John,

Taking a step back, should non-electrical people be operating an MV switch in the first place? Most places have fairly tight rules on switching authorisations, and being 'non-electrical' would be a big obstacle to that authorisation in many of them.

If this isolation point is to allow electrical work to take place, do you already have provision for a circuit earth switch? If it's for isolation to allow mechancial work to take place then I would accept that a circuit earth is not needed.


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[jraef]

I had considered a VCB, but we really do need something simple that non-electrical people can operate.

Well, there's the problem right there. A 2000A Medium Voltage switch is any BUT simple and should NEVER be operated by "non-electrical" people! Opening a switch of that size under load, even accidentally, is no trivial thing. I know you WANT to use it as an isolation switch and may intend on it being opened only under no-load conditions, but in the world of MV equipment and Arc Flash protection, Murphy rules.

A better alternative might be to jettison that ancient ACB and replace it with new modern equipment that can be operated in a safe manner by qualified personnel. Many of the major manufacturers now offer what is called "Arc Resistant" switchgear designs that provide, among other things, racking of the cell through a closed door so that the risk to personnel is minimal. That does not however mean that non-trained personnel should be doing it.




"If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe." -- Abraham Lincoln
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[OhioAviator]

---

Zogzog....
No, I really hadn't considered remote racking, mainly (erroneously maybe?) due to the cost. I'll look into it.

ScottyUK...
I know where you're coming from. I'm quite familiar with European electrical practices, having worked in the coal mining industry in Queensland, Australia for a number of years. Sometimes I think we 'Yanks' would do well to adopt a few of the European's electrical practices. (Banning aluminium from coal mines is beyond silly, though The switching would be done both for electrical and mechanical maintenance work, so your points about limiting who does the switching and about an earthing switch are well taken.

jraef...
For a guy out on the 'left' coast you do indeed make a lot of sense ;-) I'm abandoning the idea of a loadbreak switch and will replace that ancient ACB with a new MetalCald VCB equipped with remote racking and a mechanically interlocked grounding switch... if I can pry the funds out of executive management's hands. It's a safety issue so that shouldn't be too difficult.

Thank you very much, gentlemen!

 

[Zogzog]

No need to replace the breaker you have to do remote racking, our system works for any breaker type, you could use it for the breaker in question and all the other breakers in your plant. I can set you up with a free on site demo at your plant if you like.

Upgrading to a modern VCB in metal clad wont change your arc flash hazard, you would need arc resistant switchgear for that, even then it should still only be operated by qualified persons.

 

[Zogzog]

Ohio,

I do have a GE SE100S in 5KV 2000amp , it is motor operated and I can put it in a NEMA 3R enclosure for you.

 

[apowerengr]

Southern States can mount their LLS-II 2000 amp interrupter on their disconnects down to this voltage level. It might look funny since the LLS-II is pretty big but it would work. Other switch mfgs can do this also. PASCOR, Pascor Atlantic, etc. Cleaveland Price, USCO and others make disconnects either SPST or gang-operated air-break in this size - I don't see why you need loadbreak?

 

[Zogzog]

Ohio Aviator,

Just had a call from Ohio on this same switch, never have had anyone ask for this before, only a few ever made, is this the direction you wanted to go, the 5kV 200A switch.

 

[OhioAviator]

Zogzog,

I think I want to leave well-enough alone regarding my existing 2.4kV, 2000A air breaker. It's working fine and I have a newly rebuilt spare breaker for it. I just don't want to be racking that thing in and out all the time.

That said, Yes, I do think I want to go with a 5kV, 2000A group-operated switch in an outdoor enclosure. It really doesn't need to be loadbreak.... I can simply lock it in the ON position since it will only be used to isolate the downstream equipment from the utility company during maintenance activities.

Thanks!