TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION – Distribution Switchgear

Higher Openshaw, Manchester, M11 1FL, England Tel: +44 (0)161 370 4000 Fax: +44 (0)161 370 3925
Internet: www.alstom.com
R100.0500
©ALSTOM - 2000 - ALSTOM, THE LOGO ALSTOM AND THEIR FRAMEWORKS ARE TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE TRADEMARKS OF ALSTOM. THE OTHER NAMES MENTIONED REGISTERED OR NOT, ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECIVE COMPANIES
T&D/PROB/VPR/uke/DB/05.00/UK/854
 VPR pole-mounted auto reclosers
for overhead lines –
a true sealed-for-life design concept
Designed for the future

With ever growing pressure on

electricity distributors to improve
quality of supply, reduce the
number of interruptions and reduce
customer minutes lost, a flexible and
reliable overhead line distribution
network is crucial in achieving the
performance today’s customers
expect.

ALSTOM’s new range of VPR pole-

mounted auto-recloser for overhead
lines gives operators the perfect tool
to achieve their distribution
objectives. VPR combines the
switching performance needed for
today’s networks with the reliability,
low lifetime costs and operating
flexibility demanded by operators to
ensure that they will provide an
efficient and effective solution for
many years to come.

VPR is a unique combination of

proven design features and
innovative concepts, brought
together to give a true sealed-for-life
maintenance-free unit.

• The latest generation of

ALSTOM vacuum
VPR15 with surge suppressors fitted
interrupters for high
performance switching,
long life and zero Integral disconnector a more reliable integrated solution
maintenance for down-line isolation, but also
The VPR design goes beyond the reduces system installation and
• Gas insulation to provide conventional limits of pole maintenance costs and offers the
an ideal controlled mounted reclosers. The trend-setting opportunity to design increased
environment with high- design also offers the unique facility flexibility into distribution networks.
dielectric withstand to incorporate an integral hand
operated in-line off-load The in-line disconnector is available
disconnector inside the sealed in the full range of VPR ratings.
• Fully welded anti-corrosion
recloser tank. The patented design
stainless steel tank
provides the full isolating gap
providing a sealed-for-life
required for maintenance purposes
enclosure
and guarantees full interlocking
between the circuit breaker and the
• Zero maintenance recloser disconnector, ensuring that in all
operating conditions the vacuum
• VPR – the cost effective interrupters always open before
solution for your overhead and close after the disconnector.
line switching requirements This novel design not only provides

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• A comprehensive range of • Controlled environment • Manual trip/lock-out
ratings up to 38kV, 630A, with insulating gas in (hook-stick) operation
12.5kA and 170kV BIL sealed tank
• EPDM vandal-proof
• Fully certified to ANSI • Magnetic actuator for bushings
C37.60 for auto-reclose reliable maintenance-free
duty and to IEC60694 operation • Optional pressure relief
plate
• Suitable for pole-mounted • Proven ALSTOM vacuum
or sub-station installations interrupter technology for • Optional manual in-line
long maintenance free life disconnector
• Light-weight design for
ease of handling and • A choice of battery- • Air insulated, 12kV/75kVp
installation powered relays giving BIL version available
comprehensive local and
• Sealed-for-life design with remote control, protection, • Sectionaliser (fault-make,
fully welded, corrosion- monitoring, recording and load-break) version also
free, stainless steel tank communicating capabilities available

Control for the future For standard schemes, the basic friendly control panels providing
D101L relay incorporates standard comprehensive facilities to
When designing the new VPR over-current and earth fault customise operating and protection
recloser, ALSTOM realised that it protection schemes, fault current schemes to meet local requirements.
was vital to have a recloser and a monitoring and local control For most projects the appropriate
control solution that not only met facilities. relay can be selected before
today’s diverse system operating completing detailed co-ordination
requirements but also had the The relay can be powered by studies – a distinct advantage for
flexibility to meet the rapidly integral lithium batteries or complex systems.
changing needs of tomorrow. rechargeable lead acid batteries.
Furthermore, all relays are
Our solution was to extend the VPR interchangeable, giving operators
design philosophy to the relays, by the ability to simply upgrade their
combining the best elements of control and protection schemes in
proven designs with the latest the future if changes in network
advances in technology. The result requirements makes this necessary.
is a choice of user-friendly control
relays, which cover all practical
network operational requirements. .
In addition to providing a flexible
range of auto-reclose switching Basic D101L local control relay
sequences, the easy to use relays
also provide the comprehensive For more complex schemes,
range of industry-standard and advanced relays provide additional
customised protection current, voltage and power
characteristics, monitoring and monitoring and protection functions
recording functions and plus comprehensive facilities for
communications capabilities remote control, monitoring and
required by today’s power utilities. communications using widely
established communication
protocols such as DNP3.
Advanced relay with enhanced features
The relays incorporate powerful for local and remote control and
microprocessors linked to user- communication

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Innovation based on experience
ALSTOM possesses unrivalled In-line disconnector As you would expect, the same
experience of vacuum switching, attention to detail has been given
gas insulation, high-efficiency A special feature of the VPR to every component in the recloser:
magnetic actuators and recloser is the patented integral in-
microprocessor-based control, line disconnector, available as an • The stainless steel tank forms a
protection and monitoring relays for option for all ratings. Housed in the fully welded, hermetically sealed
distribution applications. This controlled environment of the enclosure, which provides a
experience has been combined sealed tank, and mechanically safe, controlled environment for
with innovative design concepts interlocked with the circuit breaker, all the circuit breaker
and manufacturing techniques, the disconnector provides the full components.
including several patented features, isolating gap required for line • Specially designed power
and applied to every component in maintenance purposes, eliminating bushings, viewing window,
the recloser, to create the ultimate the need for a separate remote control socket, mechanical
in quality and reliability: disconnector. operating links and arc vent
disc are welded to pre-formed
Circuit breaker module This feature opens up a new range apertures in the main tank body.
of opportunities to increase system • The pre-assembled and tested
The heart of the VPR recloser is the reliability and flexibility and to circuit breaker is housed in the
circuit breaker module. As would reduce lifetime costs on overhead tank with current transformers,
be expected, the module line networks. travel detectors and pressure
incorporates state-of-the art vacuum monitor.
interruption with magnetic actuator • The final assembly is welded,
operation. purged of air and sealed with a
controlled atmosphere of
Load and fault interruption is insulating gas.
achieved using the latest generation • Extensive testing at all key
of ALSTOM vacuum interrupters, stages during assembly and
utilising over 40 years of unrivalled after seal-off ensures the quality
experience in the design, and reliability of every unit prior
manufacturing and application of to despatch.
vacuum switching technology.

Operation is by magnetic actuator,

an efficient and reliable mechanism
with operating characteristics
ideally suited to this application.

The combination provides a long

life, truly maintenance-free circuit
breake

Hookstick operation

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Bushings

Patented EPDM insulated bushings,

with conservatively rated copper
conductors giving long term life,
even in hostile environments.

Pressure-relief disc

An optional extra, the pressure

relief disc ensures controlled
venting of arcing by-products in the
unlikely event of a major internal
electrical fault in the recloser.

Umbilical connection

An umbilical cable with an earthed

screen links the pole-top recloser
with the down-pole control box. A
pressure-tight plug and socket
arrangement enables simple Viewing window
connection of the cable to the relay
and recloser after they have been Mechanical on/off position
installed. indicator, directly driven by the
circuit breaker, and clearly visible
from ground level

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Pressure monitoring Mounting brackets

Pressure switch to confirm the Designs to suit a wide variety of

pressure integrity of the tank. The wooden, concrete and metal poles,
signal can be programmed to act and even floor-mounted sub-station
as an alarm or a trip, to suit local applications.
operational requirements.
Ancillary equipment

Associated voltage transformers,

surge arrestors, modems, radios
and other accessories can be
provided to meet specific
requirements

Mechanical drive linkage

Flexible stainless steel bellows

permits external hook-stick
operation of circuit breaker or
disconnector, without compromising
the integrity of the welded tank
structure.

Current transformers

Standard CT’s are located on the

load-side connectors within the
Position Indicator controlled environment of the
recloser tank.
Inductive sensor – eliminating the
need for micro switches in the tank

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Recloser Dimensions

Weights: VPR15: Basic recloser: 111kg Recloser with disconnector: 121kg

VPR27/38: Basic recloser: 118kg Recloser with disconnector: 128kg

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Control Relays

Flexible control, protection and monitoring is as important as reliable operation of the

recloser. The VPR is controlled by a choice of microprocessor-based relays, designed
to meet any operational requirements you may have – now or in the future:
The functions and features of the relays are summarised below.
Full details are available on request.

Specification: Control Relays

Basic Advanced
Local Local station Remote station
Control
Local/remote control selector – ● –
Close ● ● ●
Trip ● ● ●
Auto-reclose sequence – close/trip – one shot to lock out ● ● ●
Protection in/out ● ● ●
Earth fault in/out – ● ●
SEF in/out ● ● ●
Alternative setting groups – ● ●
Protection
Phase overcurrent: Instantaneous ● ●
IDMT ● ●
VIDMT ● ●
EIDMT ● ●
Standard ANSI curves – ●
Standard IEC curves – ●
Customised curves – ●
Earth fault ● ●
Sensitive earth fault ● ●
Directional overcurrent protection – ● (1)
Under/over voltage – ● (1)
Under frequency – ● (1)
Protection setting groups – ●
Monitoring
RMS current in three phases – ●
Real power – ● (1)
Reactive power – ● (1)
RMS voltage: supply side single phase – ●
three phase – O (1)
RMS voltage: load side single phase – O (2)
Number of operations ● ●
Pressure ● ●
Battery status ● ●
Relay status ● ●
Recloser status ● ●
Fault history recording
Number of events 146 28
Date ● ●
Fault current ● ●
Number of close operations ● ●
Lock-out occurrence ● ●
Distance to fault indication – ●
Communications
Communication to hand held controller/pc ● ● –
Remote communications capability – ● ●
Remote communications protocol: DNP3 – ● ●
Others – O O
RS232 port ● ● –
RS485 port – ● –
Power supply
Integral lithium batteries ● –
Rechargeable lead acid batteries (require 110Vac supply) O ●
Key: ● = Standard Notes: (1) = Requires three phase voltage input
O = Optional (2) = Requires load-side VT
– = Not available

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Specification: Reclosers

Ratings Recloser Reference Disconector

VPR15 VPR27 VPR38 (Optional)

Rated Maximum Voltage 15.5kV 27kV 38kV

Nominal System Voltage 14.4kV 24.9V 34.5kV
Rated Impulse Withstand Voltage 110kVp 125kVp 170kVp
Power Frequency Withstand Voltage (1 min) – Dry 50kV 60kV 80kV
As recloser
Power Frequency Withstand Volta (10s) – Wet 50kV 60kV 80kV
Frequency 50/60Hz 50/60Hz 50/60Hz
Rated Normal Current 630A 630A 630A
Rated Withstand Current (3 second) 12.5kA 12.5kA 12.5kA
Rated Short Circuit Breaking Current 12.5kA 12.5kA 12.5kA Off-load (Interlocked
Making Current 31.5kAp 31.5kAp 31.5kAp with recloser)
Number of Mechanical Operations 10000 1000
Number of Electrical Operations – at 630A 10000 –
Number of Electrical Operations – at 12.5kA 50 –
Nominal Tank Pressure 0.5 barg 0.5 barg 0.5 barg As recloser
Gas Pressure for quoted current ratings 0 barg 0 barg 0 barg

Environment
Operating Temperature Range -30ªC to +50ªC (-40ªC option)
Relative Humidity 0 - 100%

Note: VPR38 is not available at this time.