Overhead Feeder Protection
Clearing temporary faults automatically on 11, 22 and 33 kV overhead lines and isolating permanent ones.
Switchgear
Reclosers for MV overhead networks.
Premium, state of the art three phase pole mounted reclosers for 11 to 33 kV overhead networks, including 60 Hz 13.8 and 34.5 kV systems, rated 15.5, 27 and 38 kV and 630 or 800 A.
In house vacuum interrupters are cast into field shaped solid epoxy poles with built in current and voltage sensing, with no SF6 or insulating gas. A permanent magnetic actuator gives fast, consistent operation, every rating is independently type tested above its rated insulation levels, and each recloser comes with an advanced controller ready for remote control and feeder automation.
- Rated voltage
- 15.5, 27 and 38 kV
- Rated current
- 630 and 800 A
- Breaking current
- 16 kA
- Insulation
- Solid epoxy, no SF6
The range
Our reclosers detect a fault on the overhead line, trip and reclose automatically at set intervals. Most faults on overhead lines, such as lightning, wind blown debris and wildlife, are temporary and clear on the first or second reclose, so supply is restored without a site visit. Permanent faults are locked out and isolated so the rest of the network stays in service. Each recloser is type tested to IEC 62271-111 (IEEE C37.60).
General Type Reclosers
For radial feeders. The recloser senses fault current on the load side, interrupts it and recloses on a set sequence, up to four operations before lockout.
Bi-Directional Reclosers
For feeders with solar farms, generators or other distributed generation. A directional overcurrent element works out which side of the recloser the fault is on, so the recloser does not trip wrongly on fault current flowing back from the generation side.
15.5 kV, 27 kV and 38 kV Ratings
A 15.5 kV recloser rated 630 A for 11 and 13.8 kV networks, and 27 kV and 38 kV reclosers rated 800 A for 22, 24.9, 33 and 34.5 kV networks. All are rated for 50 and 60 Hz.
Recloser Controller
A microprocessor controller with protection, automatic reclosing, power quality monitoring and SCADA communications, housed in a pole mounted cabinet with battery backup. See Recloser controller below.
Specifications
Typical ratings for the standard range. Final values are confirmed for each project.
Customised designs available. If your project needs ratings, features, design requirements or arrangements outside the standard range below, we design and manufacture to your requirements and application.
Technical dataReclosers
| Parameter | Standard | Optional or on request |
|---|---|---|
| Recloser types | General type; bi-directional type | |
| Rated maximum voltage | 15.5, 27 and 38 kV | |
| Rated continuous current | ||
| 15.5 kV | 630 A | |
| 27 and 38 kV | 800 A | |
| Rated frequency | 50 and 60 Hz; breaking tests at both | |
| Rated short circuit breaking current | 16 kA | |
| Rated short circuit making current | 41.6 kA | |
| Rated short time withstand current | 16 kA for 3 seconds | |
| Rated peak withstand current | 41.6 kA | |
| Rated operating sequence | O – 0.2 s – CO – 1 s – CO – 1 s – CO (four operations to lockout) | |
| Minimum tripping current | Phase 50 A; earth 25 A | |
| Line and cable charging breaking current | ||
| 15.5 kV | 2 A line; 10 A cable | |
| 27 kV | 5 A line; 25 A cable | |
| 38 kV | 5 A line; 40 A cable | |
| Neutral earthing | Effectively and non effectively earthed systems | |
| Power frequency withstand voltage | ||
| 15.5 kV | 50 kV | Type tested at 60 kV |
| 27 kV | 60 kV | |
| 38 kV | 70 kV | Type tested at 75 kV |
| Lightning impulse withstand voltage (BIL) | ||
| 15.5 kV | 110 kV | Type tested at 150 kV |
| 27 kV | 125 kV | Type tested at 150 kV |
| 38 kV | 150 kV | Type tested at 180 kV |
| Interruption and insulation | Vacuum interrupters in solid cycloaliphatic epoxy poles; no SF6 | |
| Operating mechanism | Permanent magnetic actuator; manual open and lockout handle | |
| Control supply | 24 V DC; 220 V AC, 50 or 60 Hz | |
| Weight | ||
| 15.5 and 27 kV | 160 kg | |
| 38 kV | 190 kg | |
| Standards | IEC 62271-111 (IEEE C37.60), type tested at an independent accredited laboratory | |
Design and performance
A premium, state of the art recloser engineered in detail, from the vacuum interrupter to the controller, for decades of outdoor service with minimal maintenance.
No SF6 or Insulating Gas
Each vacuum interrupter is cast into a solid epoxy pole, so there is no gas to monitor, leak or recover at end of life, and no low pressure lockout. If an arc occurs, it stays inside the vacuum interrupter, with no flame, gas or particles released.
Vacuum Interrupters Made In House
The manufacturer designs and builds its own vacuum interrupters, so the most critical component is controlled from raw material to final test. Spiral contacts create a rotating magnetic field that moves the arc around the contact face and helps it clear quickly, an arc shield captures metal vapour, and metal bellows and a twist protection plate keep the moving contact sealed and running straight.
Field Shaped Epoxy Poles
Each pole is a single epoxy casting with internal shields at both ends of the interrupter that even out the electric field, reducing electrical stress on the insulation and the risk of partial discharge over the life of the recloser.
Precision Contact Connections
The moving contact connects through precision spring contacts, giving a consistent, low resistance current path over the life of the recloser.
Magnetic Actuator
A permanent magnet holds the contacts in the open or closed position, and a short pulse from the capacitor bank moves them. With very few moving parts, operation is fast and consistent over many cycles.
Integrated Current and Voltage Sensors
Current sensors and capacitive voltage sensors are embedded in each epoxy pole, measuring both the source and load sides, so the controller reads the line accurately without separate current or voltage transformers.
Independently Type Tested
Each rating has passed the full IEC 62271-111 type test programme at an independent laboratory accredited under ILAC-MRA, including short circuit breaking at both 50 and 60 Hz, artificial pollution tests on the outdoor insulation, mechanical operation at low and high temperatures, IP rating of the tank and control cabinet, partial discharge, and surge withstand of the control electronics. Insulation was tested above the rated levels, by up to 36%, giving a margin beyond the rating.
Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Bushings
Bushings are moulded in cycloaliphatic epoxy, a resin made for outdoor high voltage insulation.
Manual Open and Lockout
A handle on the tank opens and locks out the recloser from the ground with a hot stick, for safe isolation during line work.
Control Cabinet
The controller, actuator driver, capacitor bank and battery backup keep the recloser working through supply interruptions. A heater with its own controller stops condensation, and a modem mounting supports remote control and monitoring.
Recloser controller
Every recloser is supplied with a microprocessor controller that handles protection, automatic reclosing and communications. It monitors the line continuously, clears temporary faults automatically, and reports every operation to the control room.
Protection and Reclosing
Up to four reclose operations with separate fast and delayed curves for coordination with fuses and upstream protection, sensitive earth fault, negative sequence and high current trip, and four setting groups for seasonal or switching changes.
Feeder Automation
Voltage sensing on both sides of the recloser lets it act as an automatic open tie point, closing to restore supply from the other side when one source is lost, and confirms live or dead line conditions before switching.
SCADA Communications
DNP3.0 and IEC 60870-5-101 and 104, over fibre Ethernet or serial links with modem control, for remote control, monitoring and event reporting.
Power Quality Monitoring
Harmonics to the 31st, THD, sags, swells, interruptions, unbalance and frequency deviations are recorded at the recloser, giving a view of supply quality along the feeder.
Fault Records
1,024 fault records, 30,000 time stamped events and 8 fault waveforms, downloadable to a PC for fault analysis.
Technical dataRecloser controller
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Protection | Automatic reclosing (79), up to four reclose operations; phase and earth overcurrent with separate fast and delayed curves; definite time; high current trip; negative sequence overcurrent; sensitive earth fault |
| Additional functions | Sequence coordination; cold load pickup; inrush restraint with 2nd harmonic blocking; broken conductor and open phase detection; breaker failure (50BF); synchronism check; under and over voltage; earth overvoltage; hot line tag |
| Time current curves | 55 curves, including IEC and ANSI inverse curves, traditional recloser curves and four user defined curves |
| Setting groups | Four |
| Automation | Automatic loop scheme for open tie points; live line detection on source and load sides |
| Power quality | Harmonics to the 31st; voltage and current THD; sag, swell and interruption; voltage and current unbalance; under and over frequency |
| Measurement | Phase and earth currents; source and load side voltages; active, reactive and apparent power; energy in both directions; power factor; frequency; demand and daily peak load |
| Inputs and outputs | 16 digital inputs; 8 digital outputs |
| Records | 1,024 fault records and 30,000 events, time stamped to 1 ms; 8 fault waveforms |
| Communications | |
| SCADA protocols | DNP3.0 (serial and TCP/IP); IEC 60870-5-101 and 104 |
| SCADA ports | 100 Mbps Ethernet (100Base-FX); RS232 with modem control |
| Local | Front RS232 port for setting and download software |
| Display | 7 inch graphic LCD with status LEDs and front panel controls |
| Control supply | 24 V DC (18 to 36 V); 20 W or less |
| Operating temperature | −25°C to +55°C |
| Controller enclosure | IP54 |
| EMC and insulation | IEC 60255-5; IEC 60255-22 series; IEC 61000-4 series |
Applications
Delstar supplies reclosers for:
Feeder Automation
Remote control and monitoring of feeders, with reclosers dividing lines into sections that can be restored separately.
Distributed Generation
Bi-directional reclosers on feeders with solar farms, wind and diesel generation.
Long Rural and Island Lines
Reducing site visits on long radial lines where faults are frequent and travel times are long.
Spur and Tee Off Protection
Protecting branch lines so a fault on a spur does not take out the main feeder.
Industrial and Mining Networks
Protecting overhead distribution on mine sites, plants and private networks.
Sourcing and quality assurance
These are premium, high quality reclosers from an established Asian manufacturer of medium and high voltage switchgear, whose group has supplied switchgear to its national utility since the 1980s and builds equipment to nuclear power plant quality standards. Vacuum interrupters and controllers are designed and made in house, and every rating is type tested to IEC 62271-111 (IEEE C37.60) at an independent laboratory accredited under ILAC-MRA, with full test reports available on request. Delstar delivers to site across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.
Lifecycle support
- Specification and configuration: we help select the rating, recloser type, protection settings and communications for each site.
- Spares and asset management: batteries, control modules and other parts can be held locally.
Talk to our team
Specify your recloser requirement.
Send us your network voltage, load current, fault level, protection scheme and communications requirements, and we will recommend the right recloser and confirm availability, lead time and local support.