ABB VD4 EL-PT Series 17.5kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker

# **ABB VD4 EL-PT Series 17.5kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker — Smart, Safe, and Reliable Power Control**
In today’s rapidly evolving power industry, **safety, reliability, and intelligence** have become the defining factors of modern medium-voltage (MV) switchgear systems.
As industries move toward digitalization, renewable energy integration, and smarter grids, traditional circuit breakers can no longer meet the demands of efficient, real-time, and sustainable power distribution.
To meet these new challenges, **ABB has developed the VD4 EL-PT Series 17.5kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker**, designed in full compliance with **IEC 62271-100 standards**.
It represents ABB’s long-standing expertise in vacuum technology and offers a next-generation solution for intelligent medium-voltage distribution and protection.
## **1. Design Philosophy: From Protection Device to Power Management Solution**
ABB’s VD4 series has long been recognized as a benchmark in vacuum circuit breaker technology.
The **VD4 EL-PT series** is an enhanced version built for **fixed and withdrawable switchgear applications**, with **rated voltage up to 17.5kV**, **rated current from 1250A to 3150A**, and **breaking capacity up to 31.5kA**.
The core design concept can be summarized in three principles:
* **Reliability First** – Based on ABB’s advanced vacuum interruption technology ensuring safe operation even under high switching frequency.
* **Intelligence at the Core** – Integrated motorized mechanisms and monitoring functions enable digital supervision and diagnostics.
* **Green & Sustainable** – 100% SF₆-free design, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, aligned with global decarbonization goals.
## **2. Core Technologies: Performance Built to Last**
### **1) Advanced Vacuum Interruption Technology**
The heart of the VD4 EL-PT lies in ABB’s proprietary **vacuum interrupter chamber**, providing clean, arc-free switching.
Electric arcs are extinguished within milliseconds in a high-vacuum environment, minimizing energy loss and contact erosion.
* **Electrical endurance:** up to **30,000 operations**
* **Mechanical endurance:** exceeds **50,000 operations**
* **Maintenance-free operation:** no gas refilling or contact replacement required
This ensures the VD4 EL-PT operates reliably for decades, even in demanding industrial environments.
### **2) Electric Spring Operating Mechanism**
Equipped with a **motor-charged spring mechanism**, the VD4 EL-PT offers fast, stable, and precise operations.
The control circuit, managed by a microprocessor-based logic, ensures **consistent closing and opening speeds**, with a response time of less than **50 milliseconds**.
This enables superior protection coordination in high-performance power systems.
### **3) Exceptional Insulation and Environmental Resistance**
The main circuit poles are fully embedded in **epoxy resin**, providing outstanding insulation and mechanical strength.
This ensures resistance to moisture, dust, and corrosion, while maintaining long-term stability.
* **Power frequency withstand voltage:** 38kV / 1 min
* **Lightning impulse withstand voltage:** 95kV (peak)
* **Operating temperature range:** -25°C to +70°C
These parameters guarantee safe and reliable operation even under extreme conditions.
## **3. Intelligence and Connectivity: A Smarter Medium-Voltage Solution**
The VD4 EL-PT is not just a protection device — it is a **smart data terminal** for digital power networks.
When integrated with ABB’s **Ekip Control and Monitoring Unit**, it provides real-time supervision and analytics, transforming traditional switchgear into an intelligent protection system.
Key digital features include:
* **Live monitoring** of operation count, spring charge status, and coil condition
* **Environmental data tracking** (temperature, humidity, insulation trend)
* **Fault recording and waveform capture**
* **Predictive maintenance alerts**
It also supports multiple communication protocols such as **Modbus RTU/TCP, Profibus-DP, and IEC 61850**, making it fully compatible with **Smart Substation Automation Systems (SAS)**.
Through **ABB Ability™ Energy and Asset Manager**, users can remotely access breaker data, perform diagnostics, and optimize system performance in real time.
## **4. Installation and Maintenance: Simple, Safe, and Cost-Effective**
ABB engineers have designed the VD4 EL-PT for maximum user convenience and operational safety.
* **Modular design** for easy component replacement and upgrades
* **Withdrawable configuration** compatible with ABB UniGear and KYN28 switchgear systems
* **Maintenance-free vacuum poles** for long-term reliability
* **Mechanical interlocks and visual indicators** to ensure safe operation
The VD4 EL-PT reduces total maintenance costs by up to **30%** compared with traditional breakers, while minimizing system downtime.
## **5. Typical Application Fields**
The VD4 EL-PT series is ideal for a wide range of medium-voltage applications, including:
1. **Medium-voltage substations** – Incoming, outgoing, or bus-tie breaker roles ensuring system stability.
2. **Industrial power distribution** – Protecting motors, transformers, and feeder lines.
3. **Railway and metro systems** – Reliable performance under vibration and temperature variation.
4. **Hospitals and data centers** – Continuous, monitored power supply for critical operations.
5. **Renewable and storage systems** – Smart protection for solar, wind, and battery integration.
## **6. Standards and Global Certification**
The VD4 EL-PT complies with the latest international standards:
* **IEC 62271-100** – High-voltage switchgear and controlgear
* **IEC 60694 / IEC 62271-1** – Common specifications for switchgear
* **GB/T 1984** – Chinese national standard
It is certified by **CE, KEMA, and CCC**, ensuring full compliance for global markets.
Today, VD4 breakers are widely used across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas — trusted by industries where uptime and safety are non-negotiable.
## **7. Conclusion: The Future of Medium-Voltage Protection**
As the world moves toward **digital grids and sustainable energy**, the **ABB VD4 EL-PT Series 17.5kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker** stands as a benchmark for reliability, intelligence, and eco-efficiency.
It’s more than a circuit breaker — it’s the **brain of modern power distribution**, enabling real-time control, monitoring, and optimization.
With its advanced vacuum technology, smart diagnostics, and digital connectivity, the VD4 EL-PT ensures **safe, efficient, and future-ready** medium-voltage protection for all critical applications.
**Choose ABB VD4 EL-PT — choose intelligent protection for a smarter energy future.**
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