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VS1-24 VSG-24 Vacuum Circuit Breaker
VS1-24 and VSG-24 vacuum circuit breakers are three-phase indoor MV circuit breakers rated at 24kV, available in both fixed panel-mount and withdrawable handcart configurations. Built to IEC 62271-100, these VCBs feature vacuum interrupters with a 230mm pole-center distance for compact 24kV switchgear integration. Rated from 630A to 2500A with short-circuit breaking capacity up to 25kA, the spring operating mechanism supports manual and motor-assisted charging. These 24kV circuit breakers serve utility substations, industrial facilities, and renewable energy projects where 24kV distribution networks require reliable protection and switching.
- Overview
- Applications
- Technical Data
- Services
- Quality Control
- Recommended Products
VS1-24 / VSG-24 Indoor Vacuum Circuit Breaker - 24kV
VS1-24 and its withdrawable counterpart the VSG-24 are three-phase indoor vacuum circuit breakers for 24kV distribution networks, built to IEC 62271-100. They are the switching and protection element in KYN28-24 metal-clad switchgear and in fixed 24kV panels serving 20kV and 22kV systems.
WHY 24kV IS A DIFFERENT BREAKER, NOT A BIGGER ONE
Pole centre distance increases from 210mm at 12kV to 230mm at 24kV, and the insulation level rises to 50kV power-frequency and 125kV lightning impulse withstand. Those two changes drive larger vacuum interrupters, longer insulating pull rods and greater phase-to-phase clearance throughout. A 12kV breaker cannot be adapted for 24kV service, and any supplier suggesting otherwise is proposing a dielectric failure. Conversely, specifying 24kV where the network runs at 11kV adds cost and panel size with no benefit.
WHERE THE 24kV CLASS APPLIES
- 22kV networks in the UAE, Qatar and parts of the wider Gulf.
- 20kV networks across Eastern Europe - Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia - where 20kV is a mainstream distribution voltage.
- 20kV urban networks in Russia and CIS.
- 22kV municipal reticulation in Africa, notably South Africa.
VACUUM INTERRUPTION
The arc is extinguished in a sealed chamber below 10-3 Pa, condensing at the first natural current zero. No oil, no SF6, no arc chute servicing. For EU and Eastern European buyers this removes F-Gas reporting, leak-checking and end-of-life gas recovery obligations entirely - a procurement advantage that is increasingly explicit in tender documents. Rated endurance is 30,000 mechanical and 10,000 electrical operations.
MECHANISM AND CONFIGURATION
A spring stored-energy mechanism with motor charging (AC/DC 110V or 220V) supports auto-reclose duty. Closing and shunt-trip coils are matched to the station battery voltage, and auxiliary switch blocks provide position and spring-status signalling to protection relays and SCADA. Available as a fixed panel-mounted unit or as the VSG-24 withdrawable handcart with side-mounted or top-mounted mechanism for compact 24kV switchgear.
Every unit is function-tested at minimum, rated and maximum control voltage, so the breaker operates when the station battery is depressed during a real fault rather than only at nominal conditions.
PRIMARY APPLICATIONS
- Incomer and feeder protection in KYN28-24 metal-clad switchgear.
- Transformer primary protection on 20kV and 22kV distribution networks.
- Industrial plant MV distribution where the incoming supply is at 22kV.
- Renewable energy collection switching, where solar and wind farms collect at 22kV to reduce cable losses over long runs.
- Municipal and district distribution in Eastern European 20kV networks.
- Large commercial development substations taking a 22kV supply.
- Bus-section and bus-coupler duty in 24kV substations.
- Capacitor bank and reactor switching at 20kV and 22kV.
- Retrofit replacement of obsolete 24kV oil and air-magnetic breakers.
REGIONAL FIT
- UAE and Qatar: 22kV distribution alongside 11kV, subject to DEWA and KAHRAMAA material approval.
- Eastern Europe: 20kV mainstream distribution to EN 62271-100. Vacuum technology avoids F-Gas obligations.
- Russia and CIS: 20kV urban networks, GOST R certification with GOST 15150 climatic versions available.
- Africa: 22kV municipal and industrial reticulation, notably South Africa.
RETROFIT
Where a 24kV panel is still serviceable but the breaker is obsolete, send us the existing model, pole centre distance and mounting arrangement. Replacing the breaker rather than the switchboard avoids both the capital cost and the extended outage that a full panel replacement requires.
NOT SUITABLE FOR
10kV and 11kV networks - specify VS1-12, which is correct and more economical. 33kV and 35kV systems - specify the 40.5kV class. Outdoor pole-mounted duty - specify ZW32-12.
TECHNICAL DATA - VS1-24 / VSG-24
| Category | Item | Specification |
| Compliance | Standards | IEC 62271-100, GB/T 1984 |
| Electrical Ratings | Rated voltage | 24 kV |
| Rated insulation voltage | 24 kV | |
| Rated frequency | 50 Hz / 60 Hz | |
| Power-frequency withstand (1 min) | 50 kV | |
| Lightning impulse withstand (BIL) | 125 kV peak | |
| Rated normal current | 630 / 1250 / 1600 / 2000 / 2500 A | |
| Short-circuit breaking current | 20 kA / 25 kA | |
| Short-circuit making current | 50 kA / 63 kA peak | |
| Short-time withstand current | 20 kA / 25 kA for 4 s | |
| Operating sequence | O – 0.3s – CO – 180s – CO | |
| Endurance | Mechanical life | ≥30,000 operations |
| Electrical life at rated current | ≥10,000 CO operations | |
| Opening time | 30–60 ms | |
| Closing time | 40–100 ms | |
| Arcing time | ≤15 ms | |
| Operating Mechanism | Type | Spring stored-energy |
| Spring charging motor | AC/DC 110 V or 220 V | |
| Manual charging | Provided as backup | |
| Closing coil | DC 110 V / 220 V | |
| Shunt trip coil | DC 110 V / 220 V | |
| Under-voltage release | Optional | |
| Auxiliary switch | Up to 13NO+13NC | |
| Anti-pumping | Mechanical and electrical | |
| Mechanical | Pole centre distance | 230 mm |
| Mounting | Fixed panel-mount or VSG-24 withdrawable handcart | |
| Mechanism position | Side-mounted or top-mounted for compact panels | |
| Weight (approx.) | 120 kg (630 A) – 180 kg (2500 A) | |
| Service Conditions | Ambient temperature | −30 °C to +55 °C |
| Altitude | ≤1000 m standard; ≤2000 m on request with derating | |
| Relative humidity | Daily average ≤95% |
OPTIONS
Withdrawable handcart configuration (VSG-24) | second shunt trip coil | under-voltage release | additional auxiliary contacts | operations counter | low-temperature grease for GOST 15150 climatic versions | anti-condensation heater | retrofit adapter plate
PRE-SALES SELECTION
- Application review against your duty: rated current, breaking capacity, operating sequence, and expected switching frequency.
- Retrofit and replacement sizing. Send us the existing unit's model, pole-centre distance and mounting dimensions and we will confirm interchangeability before you order.
- Grid verification: 12kV class for 10kV (Russia/CIS) and 11kV (Middle East/Africa) networks; 24kV for 20kV and 22kV; 40.5kV for 35kV. Saudi Arabian supply verified at 60Hz.
- Coil, motor and auxiliary-contact configuration specified to your control voltage (AC/DC 110V or 220V) and SCADA interface requirement.
- Low-temperature variants with cold-rated grease and anti-condensation heating for CIS winter service.
MARKET ACCESS AND DOCUMENTATION
- Type-test reports to IEC 62271-100 / IEC 62271-102 / IEC 62271-103 as applicable, issued with the shipment.
- Third-party certification (KEMA, ASTA, CESI, TUV) available where tender documents require witnessed evidence rather than a manufacturer's report.
- Certification support for SASO SABER, SONCAP, KEBS PVoC, ICIGI and GOST R submissions, including HS-code classification (Nigeria has required 10-digit HS codes since March 2025).
TESTING AND DELIVERY
- 100% routine testing before dispatch: power-frequency withstand, contact resistance, mechanical characteristic curve, timing test, and auxiliary circuit verification.
- Individual test report supplied per serial number.
- Export packing with desiccant and moisture barrier; palletised for consolidated shipment.
- Documentation: routine test report, type-test certificate, dimensional drawing, wiring schematic, O&M manual, spare parts list.
AFTER-SALES
- Installation and commissioning guidance, remote support or engineer dispatch.
- Maintenance training covering mechanism inspection, contact wear measurement and vacuum interrupter integrity testing.
- Wear parts (coils, contacts, mechanism components) held in stock for rapid replacement.
- Technical response within 24 hours; multilingual manuals in English, Russian, French and Arabic.
- Warranty: 18 months from delivery or 12 months from commissioning, whichever expires first.
TYPE TESTING
- Type tested to the applicable IEC standard - IEC 62271-100 for circuit breakers, IEC 62271-102 for earthing switches and disconnectors, IEC 62271-103 for load break switches.
- Verified for rated short-circuit breaking and making capacity, short-time withstand current, power-frequency and lightning impulse withstand, temperature rise, and mechanical endurance across the full rated operating sequence.
- Third-party certification from KEMA, ASTA, CESI or TUV available where the tender requires witnessed evidence.
VACUUM INTERRUPTER CONTROL (where applicable)
- Every interrupter is vacuum-integrity tested before assembly; vacuum degradation is the dominant failure mode in a VCB and is not visible externally once installed.
- Contact stroke, over-travel and contact wear allowance measured and recorded per pole.
- Interrupters sourced only from qualified manufacturers with batch traceability.
IN-PROCESS INSPECTION
- Insulating components partial-discharge tested before assembly.
- Mechanism spring force and charging characteristic verified against specification.
- Pole-centre distance and mounting interface dimensions checked against drawing - critical for retrofit interchangeability.
- Plating thickness on current-carrying contacts verified per batch.
ROUTINE TESTING - 100%, NO SAMPLING
- Power-frequency withstand voltage across the open contacts and to earth.
- Main circuit contact resistance measurement.
- Mechanical characteristic curve: closing time, opening time, contact bounce, and three-phase simultaneity.
- Operating mechanism function at minimum, rated and maximum control voltage - a unit that only operates at nominal voltage will fail during a real disturbance when station battery voltage sags.
- Auxiliary switch continuity and position signalling verification.
- Serialised routine test report issued with every unit.
TRACEABILITY AND SYSTEM
- ISO 9001 quality management system.
- Serial number traceability to vacuum interrupter batch, mechanism batch and insulation component batch.
- Test records retained for the warranty period and available on request.
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATION
Where the destination environment exceeds IEC reference conditions we qualify against it: elevated-ambient temperature-rise verification for Gulf service, salt-spray testing for coastal sites, and low-temperature operation verification with cold-rated lubricant for GOST 15150 climatic versions.
