The VD4 is ABB's medium-voltage vacuum circuit breaker, with a spring mechanism and ratings up to 4,000 A and 63 kA. It is accompanied by the VD4 evo with integrated sensors, the VD4/R for secondary distribution, the VM1 with a magnetic actuator and the SF6 HD4. They go in switchgear such as UniGear ZS1 and PowerCube, in distribution substations and industry.
What it is and where it is used
The ABB VD4 circuit breaker is ABB’s medium-voltage vacuum power circuit breaker; the manufacturer reports more than two million units installed worldwide. Alongside it are the VD4 evo, with integrated sensors; the VD4/R, for secondary distribution; the eVD4, an earlier version with integrated protection and sensors; the VM1, with a magnetic actuator; and the HD4, which interrupts in SF6.
They are installed in switchgear such as UniGear ZS1 and PowerCube, in distribution substations, industrial plants, mining, oil and gas, and on transformer, motor and capacitor bank feeders. For the operating principle, see medium-voltage vacuum circuit breaker and medium-voltage switchgear.
Variants: VD4, VD4 evo, VD4/R, eVD4, VM1, HD4 and VD4G
| Model | Application | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| VD4 | Vacuum, primary distribution | Spring mechanism, up to 4,000 A and 63 kA depending on the version |
| VD4 evo | Vacuum, new generation | Integrated sensors, up to 17.5 kV |
| VD4/R | Vacuum, secondary distribution | Version for secondary distribution switchgear |
| eVD4 | Vacuum with integrated protection | Name of an earlier version (2012 brochures) |
| VM1 | Vacuum with magnetic actuator | Up to 24 kV, mechanically interchangeable with the VD4 |
| HD4 | SF6 | Up to 40.5 kV according to ABB brochures |
| VD4G | Generator circuit breaker | Up to 15 kV |
The exact voltage, rated current and breaking current are read from the nameplate and the technical catalog of each version.
Main characteristics
- Vacuum interruption inside sealed bottles, with no gas to monitor, in the VD4, VD4 evo, VM1 and eVD4.
- Spring mechanism in the VD4, with charging motor, closing and opening coils and auxiliary contacts (operating mechanism).
- Magnetic actuator in the VM1, which ABB advertises with 30,000 mechanical operations without a major overhaul.
- Fixed or withdrawable mounting, depending on the switchgear.
A circuit breaker only opens when the relay or the control tells it to; the protection of the switchgear depends on the whole chain: current transformers, relay, trip circuit and circuit breaker.
Communications and integration
The breaker does not communicate by itself: its statuses reach the relay or the switchgear controller through auxiliary contacts, and from there the SCADA over IEC 61850, DNP3 or Modbus. In the VD4 evo the integrated sensors deliver condition information to the switchgear system. See circuit breaker auxiliary contacts and trip circuit supervision.
VD4 catalog data
Published ratings. The technical catalog of the VD4 for 12 to 24 kV (630 to 3,150 A, 16 to 40 kA) declares for each rated voltage:
| Rated voltage | 12 kV | 17.5 kV | 24 kV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power-frequency withstand voltage | 28 kV | 38 kV | 50 kV |
| Lightning impulse withstand voltage | 75 kV | 95 kV | 125 kV |
| Rated short-circuit breaking current | 16, 20, 25, 31.5 and 40 kA | 16, 20, 25, 31.5 and 40 kA | 16, 20 and 25 kA |
| Normal current | 630 to 3,150 A | 630 to 3,150 A | 630 to 2,500 A |
At 12 kV the catalog lists making currents of 40 to 100 kA peak, and at 24 kV of 40 to 63 kA. The rated operating sequence is O - 0.3 s - CO - 15 s - CO. The times it publishes are: opening of 33 to 60 ms, arcing of 10 to 15 ms, total break time of 43 to 75 ms and closing of 60 to 80 ms. Those times are the reference when comparing the result of the operating time test.
Order code. The breaker name is read from left to right: for example, “VD4 12.12.32 p210” indicates a voltage of 12 kV, a current of 1,250 A, a breaking current of 31.5 kA and a pole center distance of 210 mm. The pole distances are 150, 210 and 275 mm, with widths of 450, 570 and 700 mm. Knowing that code avoids ordering the wrong spare or installing in a cubicle a breaker of another rated current.
Construction. The vacuum interrupters are embedded in resin poles, which protects them from impact, dust and humidity; some high currents, such as 3,150 A, use assembled poles. The mechanism is a stored-energy spring type, with a standard mechanical anti-pumping device, charging motor and manual lever, mechanical position indicator and operation counter. There is a fixed and a withdrawable version. The withdrawable one is offered for UniGear ZS1 and ZS8.4, and for the PowerCube and Powerbloc enclosures. The catalog intends them for cables, overhead lines, transformers, motors, generators and capacitor banks.
Operating safety. Keys and padlocks can block closing, opening and the movement of the truck. A device allows the breaker to be withdrawn or inserted with the door closed, and the insertion interlocks prevent putting into a cubicle a breaker of another rated current or with the breaker closed.
Service life and maintenance. The installation and service instructions of the range (12 to 36 kV) set an expected life of up to 30,000 operations for the interrupters, depending on their type. For the mechanism they set up to 30,000 under normal conditions and with regular maintenance. They add up to 1,000 insertion and withdrawal movements. The interrupters need no maintenance during their service life, whereas the mechanism does require inspections and functional checks, following the inspection, servicing and repair concepts of IEC 61208 and DIN 31051. The manual also includes a chapter on X-ray emission with open contacts. Its tests by the German institute PTB conclude that, at the rated operating voltage, the use of vacuum is safe.
Factory tests. The catalog declares type tests: temperature rise, power-frequency and impulse withstand voltage, short-time and peak withstand current, mechanical endurance, and making and breaking capacity. It also declares routine tests: insulation of the main and auxiliary circuits, measurement of the main circuit resistance, and mechanical and electrical operation. The resistance and timing values of the factory report are the reference for maintenance and later tests.
Frequently asked technical questions
- Where is the VD4 documentation? The technical catalogs and the installation, operation and maintenance instructions are in the ABB library, separated by version.
- The VD4 does not close: it is usually the uncharged spring, the closing coil, the truck interlock or the anti-pumping function. See circuit breaker control cabinet.
- Wear of the interrupters: it is monitored with timing, contact resistance and the vacuum integrity test.
- VD4 or VM1 for an existing switchgear: it depends on the switchgear and the control; the VM1 is mechanically interchangeable, but its control circuits are different.
How we help
We do not sell circuit breakers. At Tiza Group we test medium-voltage circuit breakers (timing, contact resistance, insulation, vacuum and mechanism), verify the control and protection circuits and support the commissioning of the switchgear, in Colombia or elsewhere on request. See circuit breaker testing within testing and commissioning. If you are going to replace an old breaker with a VD4, we design the change in primary engineering. Write to us through the contact page.
Related guides
- Medium-voltage vacuum circuit breaker
- Circuit breaker operating time test
- Contact resistance test
- Vacuum integrity test
- Medium-voltage switchgear
- Circuit breaker operating mechanism
References
- IEC 62271-100, high-voltage alternating-current circuit-breakers.
- IEC 62271-200, AC metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear for rated voltages above 1 kV and up to and including 52 kV.
- ABB, product pages VD4/VD4 evo and VM1, technical catalogs of the VD4, VD4/R and HD4, and OEM products brochure (2012).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the VD4 and the VM1?
Both are ABB vacuum circuit breakers for primary distribution. The VD4 uses a spring mechanism; the VM1, up to 24 kV, uses a magnetic actuator. ABB states that the VM1 is mechanically interchangeable with the VD4 and compatible with UniGear ZS1 and PowerCube switchgear.
Is the ABB HD4 a vacuum breaker?
No. The HD4 is ABB's medium-voltage breaker with SF6 as the interrupting medium, at voltages up to 40.5 kV according to its brochures. That is why the gas pressure or density must be monitored in addition to the mechanism.
Where do I find the VD4 manual?
In ABB's document library, where technical catalogs and installation, operation and maintenance instructions are published for each version of the VD4. Identify the designation on the nameplate first, because there are different manuals by voltage and current.