PASS

steps up
ABB hybrid switchgear technology
is now available for 420 kV

ALBERTO ZULATI – ABB’s trademarked Plug and Switch System (PASS)

is a high-voltage hybrid switchgear that is preassembled, pretested and
easy to transport. With no high-voltage testing required on-site, installa-
tion and commissioning is rapid. ABB recently stepped up the voltage
level of PASS and it is now available for 72.5 kV to 420 kV applications.

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 With a PASS
installed base
of more than
8,000 units, in
2013 ABB
announced the
launch of the
420 kV high-volt-
age hybrid switch-
gear PASS M0S
420 kV.

F
or many, the world of high-volt- PASS bines a lot of advantages of AIS and GIS
age equipment has always been PASS combines the best of the AIS and and leads to a good compromise” [1]. In
divided between air-insulated GIS worlds into hybrid technology a case study, CIGRE concluded that”...
switchgear (AIS) and gas-insulat- switchgear, or, as it is termed by CIGRE, substantial savings in total ownership
ed switchgear (GIS). Previously, space costs, even when
requirements usually predicated which basic equipment
option was chosen – with GIS allowing a
far more compact, though more expen-
With the introduction of this costs are higher,
could be achieved
sive, substation footprint. Stated simplis- new 420 kV module, the PASS by adopting MTS
tically: AIS was the preferred choice in equipment. The
rural areas while GIS was usually chosen product family now covers savings produced
in urban settings. This picture changed
dramatically some 20 years ago when
voltages from 72.5 to 420 kV are directly linked
to land cost. Over-
ABB introduced PASS. with breaking currents from all construction
times are also re-
31.5 to 63 kA. duced. These con-
clusions were veri-
mixed technology switchgear (MTS). fied by a pilot project for the construction
Even if basic equipment costs are higher of three substations in suburban areas.
than AIS, MTS delivers a lower cost of Unanticipated benefits included easier
Title picture ownership – usually related to lower land permitting due to the reduced visual im-
ABB’s PASS switchgear combines the best features
costs and shorter construction times. pact of the substation and less compli-
of air-insulated and gas-insulated switchgear into a
hybrid product. PASS technology is now available CIGRE states, “...  the comparison of cated negotiations with land owners due
for applications up to 420 kV. technologies indicates that MTS com- to the lower land take required” [2].

PASS steps up ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­4 3

 The 420 kV PASS 1 MTS technology fits in between AIS and GIS

hybrid module is a Functional integration GIS

High
- Circuit breaker

technical break- Hybrid modules

- Circuit breaker
- Current transformer
- Voltage transformer

through as, despite

- Current transformer - Disconnector
- Voltage transformer - Earthing switch
- Disconnector - Busbar/Busducts

its larger size, it - Earthing switch

retains all of the Dead tank breaker

- Circuit breaker

Medium
PASS family ben-
- Current transformer

Live tank breaker

efits, so that each - Circuit breaker

PASS module is
equivalent to a
Low

complete switch-
Encapsulation

No Partial Full

gear bay.
PASS adopts GIS for the main interrupt- − In harsh climatic conditions, or in
ing components of the circuit breaker heavily polluted sites like industrial or
and the disconnector/earthing switch, mining installations. PASS is very
thus guaranteeing high reliability and suited to these conditions as all live
compactness. At the same time, PASS parts are SF 6-insulated and protected
uses AIS to connect to the grid, thus po- in a grounded aluminum tank. PASS
sitioning itself between AIS technology already has a substantial number of
and GIS technology  ➔ 1. such reference installations.
− Fast-track projects where a quick
The PASS concept provides a reliable, connection to the grid is required –
low-maintenance solution to substation eg, in emergency recovery situations,
construction. Its modular and flexible or in remote or dangerous areas.
­d esign makes it a recommended solution PASS is transported fully assembled
in a number of cases: and tested so no high-voltage test is
− Where space is a constraint, as it required on-site and installation and
allows a 50 to 70 percent space commissioning is rapid.
saving when compared with a − For railways, because single-phase or
standard AIS substation. double-phase modules at various
frequencies can
be used. Over
The preassembled and fac­ 200 modules are
currently in service
tory-tested PASS M0S 420 kV in frequency
converters or
can be easily transported and traction substa-
quickly installed, without the tions.

need to assemble any active PASS M0S 420 kV

Since the launch
parts at the installation site. of PASS, hybrid
technology has be-
come a very ap-
− On skid-mounted or mobile applica- pealing alternative to AIS or GIS and
tions because the compactness of the other manufacturers have followed ABB’s
module itself allows the whole bay to lead by adding hybrid switchgear to their
be transported more easily. offering. However, ABB maintains its
− For extension and retrofitting, as it is technical leadership position by expand-
compatible with any type of GIS, AIS ing the PASS portfolio to suit more
or hybrid substation. ­applications and markets.

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2 PASS M0H

3 A PASS module integrates the functionality of many sub-systems into one product.
The PASS M0S
420 kV is the only
420 kV switchgear
Space
savings
of 50%

module that can

be mounted and
Just like multiple applications are
integrated into a smartphone . . .
ABB’s innovative 420 kV
hybrid high-voltage
The new 420 kV
hybrid switchgear
transported on a
PASS switchgear
integrates the circuit
(PASS M0S 420 kV)
trailer or skid as a
complete mobile
breaker, instrument
transformers and
disconnectors into a
single switchgear
module. solution from the
factory.
With a PASS installed base of more than and voltage transformers, so that each
8,000 units, in 2013 ABB announced the PASS module is equivalent to a complete
launch of the 420 kV high-voltage hybrid switchgear bay ➔ 3. The preassembled
switchgear PASS M0S 420 kV. and factory-tested PASS M0S 420 kV
can be easily transported and quickly in-
With the introduction of this new 420 kV stalled, without the need to assemble
module, the PASS product family now any active parts at the installation site.
covers voltages from 72.5 to 420 kV with The PASS M0S 420 kV is the only 420 kV
breaking currents from 31.5 to 63 kA. In switchgear module that arrives on site
addition to standard modules, a special completely assembled, so installation
solution called PASS M0H offers a com- and commissioning is rapid ➔ 4. PASS
plete high-voltage switchyard with an “H” M0S 420 kV has further advantages:
configuration as a single transportable − Maintenance is easy. For example,
unit ➔ 2. since all active parts of the equipment
are gas-insulated, there is no need to
The 420 kV PASS hybrid module is a regularly clean the switchgear
technical breakthrough as, despite its contacts. Encapsulation also reduces
larger size, it retains all of the PASS fam- overall servicing time and cost, and
ily benefits – such as the integrated func- enhances reliability and availability.
tionality of a circuit breaker, disconnector Often, operations can be carried out
and earthing switch, as well as current without the need for an outage.

PASS steps up ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­4 5

 4 The ease of transport of the PASS M0S 420 kV is one of its unique features.

24
hours

The new PASS for 420 kV is preassembled,

factory tested and shipped as one bay.
Site installation time: only 24 hours.

The key innovation 5 PASS M0S 420 kV bushings in the transport position

in PASS 420 kV is
its rotating bushing
concept.

− It is highly customizable according to The geometrical principle is simple: Each

clients’ needs, yet, due to the bushing is fixed to the rest of the equip-
modular design, it still has a short ment by means of two, curved, gas-insu-
delivery time. lated junctions, each made of an alumi-
− The steel structure is compact so less num enclosure and internal electrical
civil engineering is needed. connections. This means the interface
− It can be mounted and transported on between the two parts is slanted, so that
a trailer or skid as a complete mobile the rotation of the upper part (to which
solution from the factory. the bushing is mounted) moves the
− Energization time is shorter – less bushing from the nearly horizontal posi-
than one week for a 420 kV bay. tion required for transportation to a near-
ly vertical position for service ➔ 5 – 6.
Rotating bushings
One of the biggest design challenges The rotation is performed with the equip-
was the transportability of a fully assem- ment filled by gas at 0.2 bar (relative), which
bled 420 kV module, given its large di- is the pressure level typically used during
mensions. As often happens, a major transportation. One of the most significant
challenge like this provides the driving features of the rotating interface is that it is
force for innovation. The key innovation exceptionally gas-tight during the rotation –
in PASS 420 kV is its rotating bushing as well as afterward, when the equipment is
concept. To make transportation of the filled to the working pressure.
fully assembled product possible, the in-
sulators (3.6 m, 350 kg) are rotated in the The curved junctions are well sealed. The
factory from the in-service position to the lower enclosure hosts the grooves for two
transport position, and back again at the gaskets (one is a backup), protected by two
installation site. This is made possible by backup rings that are located above and
an innovative and very safe bushing rota- below the gaskets. The backup rings are
tion design. The rotation takes less than made from a special composite material
30 seconds per bushing. that can withstand huge radial loads with
no deformation, while ensuring very low
friction.

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6 PASS M0S 420 kV bushings in the service position
To make transpor-
tation of the fully
assembled product
possible, the insu-
lators are rotated in
the factory from
the in-service posi-
tion to the trans-
port position, and
back again at the
installation site.

The upper enclosure interacts with the The bushing rotation facility is critical for
gaskets and the backup rings via a ma- the transport of this 420 kV device. With-
chined cylindrical shoulder inserted in the out it, the many benefits of PASS tech-
lower junction. nology could not be made available to
customers.
Bushing rotation is performed typically
only twice: into the transport position at Since its launch, PASS 420 kV has
the factory and back to the service posi- caught the interest of several utilities with
tion at the installation site. The sealing orders received from the United States,
system was tested by performing over Italy and Algeria, among others, and ad-
50 rotations on the same equipment – vanced technical discussions have taken
with no leakage. ABB guarantees a leak- place with entities in Spain and the Unit-
age rate of under 0.5 percent/year, as is ed Kingdom. These parties recognize the
usual for ABB’s SF6 high-voltage devices. advantages of being able to quickly con-
nect to the grid a solution that is deliv-
Besides the insertion coupling for seal- ered fully assembled and tested.
ing, the two enclosures are also flanged Alberto Zulati
and tightened with 12 bolts. Finally, a ABB Power Products
sliding ring is fixed to the flange of the Lodi, Italy
lower tank in order to reduce friction [email protected]
­d uring rotation.

The torque required for the rotation of References

such heavy components is provided by a [1] W. Degen et al., Cigre Working Group B3-20,
Brochure 390 “Evaluation of different switchgear
commercial motor, which is applied to the technologies (AIS, MTS, GIS) for rated voltages
rotation interface by means of a special of 52 kV and above,” November 2008.
tool, whose concept was patented by [2] W. Degen et al., Cigre Working Group B3-20,
ABB in 2012. The rotation of the motor is Brochure 390 “Evaluation of different switchgear
technologies (AIS, MTS, GIS) for rated voltages
fairly slow (around 2 rpm) but a complete of 52 kV and above, Appendix A: “Introduction
rotation from the transport to the service to Mixed Technologies Switchgear,” pp. 44–56,
position takes only around 30 s. November 2008.

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