The use of a vacuum interrupter as a tap changer inside oil-filled transformers has been employed since the 1960s. The fully enclosed arc chamber of the vacuum interrupter proves to be a major advantage.
When the vacuum interrupter opens while changing the taps,the resulting arc is fully contained and does not contaminate the oil with the by-products that result from an arc in the oil itself. The low currents involved result in a very long life for the contacts.This results in a very long bellows life
One consideration for the vacuum interrupter designer is to make sure that the oil filling the bellows has an unrestricted flow as the bellows chamber changes volume during the opening and closing operation.
vacuum interrupters have several technical advantages thanks to their fast dielectric recovery:
➤Improved arc quenching capability in demanding applications such as, phase shifting transformers,series reactors,industrial transformers and SVC transformers
➤HVDC converter transformers where steep zero crossing current curves translate into a need for greater contact gaps in traditional technology
In pic show vacuuminterrupters in OLTC from MR company.
Request please share details on Vacuum contactor tap changer its application and advantages
Dear Nisheeth
Thank you for your comment.
This post is about vacuum interrupters’ role in OLTC for transformers.
As you know vacuum contactors used vacuum interrupters for switching.
At the present time and in the foreseeable future, vacuum switching technology in OLTCs provides the
best solution for today’s expectations.
Now OLTC manufacturers used vacuum interrupters.
For example, MR company reached the remarkable number of 600000 operations under load conditions.
This is due to the extremely low loss of the contact material of vacuum interrupters. (RMV-II 2500 A vacuum interrupter)
You can find more information in On-LOAD TAP-CHANGERS FOR POWER TRANSFORMERS catalog from MR company.
Dear Sir,
I am sreekumar prabhakaran from macpower switchgear, what would be the braking capacity for vacuum interrupter for OLTC switching ?
Hi
Thank you for your comment.
For more information about vacuum contactor tap changer please see this video on the Youtube website:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2igDBb7VSY8