Understanding Medium Voltage and the Push for Sustainable Alternatives
Medium-voltage Switchgear Electric voltage levels are categorized into distinct ranges for specific purposes in energy transmission and distribution. Generally, voltages between 1,000V and 52,000V are classified as medium voltage. However, according to the latest VDE standards, any voltage above 1,000V falls under high voltage. Within electrical engineering, the high-voltage category is further divided into:Medium-voltage Switchgear
- Medium Voltage: 3 kV to 30 kV
- High Voltage: 60 kV to 110 kV
- Extra High Voltage: 220 kV to 1,150 kV
High and extra-high voltages are predominantly used for long-distance energy transmission due to their lower energy loss compared to lower voltage levels.Medium-voltage Switchgear
The Role of Medium Voltage in Energy Distribution
Medium-voltage Switchgear Medium voltage grids play a crucial role in regional energy distribution, supplying power to districts, cities, and multiple localities. Facilities like small to medium-sized enterprises, hospitals, swimming pools, and airports often rely on dedicated medium-voltage connections. Additionally, renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and small hydropower plants feed electricity into the grid at the medium-voltage level.
The process of stepping down voltage from high to medium, and then to low voltage, occurs in substations. Substations consist of power transformers, switchgear (either open-air or gas-insulated), and equipment for measurement and control.
The Environmental Impact of SF₆ Gas in Switchgear
Gas-insulated switchgear often uses SF₆ (sulfur hexafluoride), a chemical compound of sulfur and fluorine, as an insulating gas. While SF₆ is highly effective, it is also 23,000 times more harmful to the environment than CO₂, making its reduction a critical priority in combating harmful emissions.
Switching to alternatives for insulation and arc-extinguishing gases is essential to mitigate SF₆'s environmental impact.
Alternatives to SF₆ Gas
There are several alternatives to SF₆ gas, each with its advantages and disadvantages:
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Air-Insulated Switchgear (AIS)
- Uses only air as the insulating medium.
- Disadvantage: Requires a significantly larger footprint compared to gas-insulated switchgear.
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NOVEC Gas
- An alternative to SF₆ that offers lower ozone-depleting potential.
- Drawback: Produces perfluoroacetic acid, a key contributor to acid rain, which raises toxicity concerns despite its ozone-friendly properties.
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Dry Air
- Composed of 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen, mimicking the air we breathe.
- A safer, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly insulating material.
- Companies like Siemens and CHNGS have embraced dry air for their new switchgear designs, such as AKTIF's AGIS, which supports insulation up to 36 kV.
Moving Towards Sustainable Solutions
Minimizing the use of SF₆ in energy systems is imperative, not only for insulation but also for arc extinguishing applications. Transitioning to sustainable alternatives like dry air represents a significant step toward reducing environmental harm without compromising performance. By adopting innovative solutions, the energy sector can ensure cleaner, greener, and more sustainable practices for the future.
Professional Medium-voltage Switchgear supplier and manufacturer
- Zhejiang GONGSHUN Electrical Co.,Ltd (electricgs.com), Our company was founded in the late 1990s, specializing in the production of inflatable cabinets, SF6 inflatable cabinets, and various high and low voltage complete sets of electrical equipment. It has multiple subsidiaries under its jurisdiction, including high-voltage load switch branch, high-voltage circuit breaker branch, high-voltage fuse branch, and technology development branch.Our technical expertise, comprehensive product portfolio and long-term rich experience are helping many customers in need to solve their power problems. We’re happy to help at any time. Whether you need application product advice or technical assistance, our global service team is committed to providing you with the right support. For more technical information about medium voltage earthing switch, feel free to contact us, send an email to gongshun@electric-cn.com
- Our company specializes in producing 12KV-40.5KV series high-voltage electrical products: FZN58, FLN48, FLN36, FZRN25, FZN21, FN18, ZFN16, FN12, FN8, FN7, FN5, XRNT, XRNP, VS1, ZN28, ZW8, ZW32, JN15, GN19, GN22, GN24, GN30, CLXGN15-12, HXGN □ -12, DXG-12 (L), DFW □ -12 high-voltage cable branch box, CLXGN □ -12 (SF6) series inflatable cabinet 12KV and 35KV cable accessories, etc; CLVXP-12 indoor AC high voltage fixed switchgear, CL-SIS-12 compact solid insulated ring main unit, professional assembly Schneider SC6 (SF6) series load switchgear, ABB produced SFG (SF6) series load switchgear and other series products; Distribution and agency of high-voltage load switches and inflatable cabinets produced by Schneider Electric and ABB; Siemens produces the 3AJ1 series of indoor medium voltage vacuum circuit breakers and other related products. The company has a complete range of products and has been operating safely on domestic and international power grids for a long time, receiving unanimous praise from both new and old users. Among them, multiple products such as FZRN25, FN12, FLN36-12, XRNT-12 have been exported to various countries and regions in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the United States.
