Voltimum Founder Member company ABB has secured an order worth around £3.2m from Network Rail to supply 115 panels of ZX1.2 metal-clad gas-insulated MV (medium voltage) switchgear for substation and feeder sites in the Kent/Sussex and Wessex areas as part of a project for the renewal of existing assets in the South East territory:
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| A train in the South East. |
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This is ABB's first contract with Network Rail's major projects and investment department. The ABB ZX1.2 switchgear, which has technical acceptance from ENA (the Energy Networks Association) and Network Rail for use at 33kV for ratings up to 31.5kA and 2000A, will be installed at 26 sites to replace time-expired oil-filled switchgear that is now becoming unreliable. One of the key factors that enabled ABB to win this order was the ZX1.2's innovative busbar plug and socket assembly. This enables fast installation on site, combined with a high level cabling arrangement at a convenient, easy to use height of 1250 mm, hence reducing Network Rail's overall installation costs.
ZX1.2 background:
ABB has designed the ZX1.2 range with a modular, plug in approach to meet the specific needs of electricity distribution network owners and operators by providing compact, flexible substation configurations that offer reliable and cost efficient switchgear solutions for single busbar applications.
The key features of the ZX1.2 design include laser welded stainless steel enclosures, compact modular construction and the introduction of plug-in technology which facilitates simple, controlled connections of busbar, cable, test bushings and voltage transformer, without the need for 'on site' gas handling equipment.
All maintenance-free live components, such as switching devices and busbars are contained under SF6 in gas-tight enclosures, which eliminate the effects of ageing processes and environmental influences to ensure maximum operator availability and a long service life.
The ZX1.2 design also offers easy cable access at the rear with generous provision for conventional control and protection devices, dedicated cable test sockets and full mechanical interlocking between the disconnector/earthing selector and the circuit breaker.
The picture shows a train in the SE.
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