Ageing Switchgear can be given a life extension of up to 30 years by simple replacement of the circuit breaker.
P&B has been designing, manufacturing and installing retrofit switchgear or circuit breakers for more than 25 years and is now considered to be a global market leader in this specialist field.
Our experience includes medium voltage vacuum breaker design and type testing to replace air and oil breakers manufactured by a broad range of UK suppliers going back to the 1960s and sometimes earlier.
Benefits of Retrofit Switchgear
- Increased operating reliability and safety
- Enhanced short circuit ratings available
- Reduced maintenance and environmental impact
- Elimination of hazardous materials such as asbestos
- Service life can be extended by up to 30 years
Benefits over replacing complete switchboards
- Significant overall cost savings
- Minimal disruption to site and supplies
- No need to disturb or replace HV cables
Retrofits vs. Replacements
“Retrofitting” has become a generic term and can mean different things to different people. It will probably help if we explain the difference between what we at P&B describe as a retrofit and a replacement breaker. In both cases we provide a brand new modern vacuum breaker to replace the original circuit breaker, whether that was an air break, an oil break, or a more recent SF6 or vacuum break device.
In the products you see described on this website as retrofit breakers, this means we start with an original circuit breaker, from which we remove the old breaker, its mechanism and controls. Then we fit a new vacuum breaker into the original truck, comprising some new and some refurbished parts, but fully factory tested and then installed as good as, or often better than, when it was new. P&B retrofits are typically used for air break circuit breakers.
When it comes to bulk oil breakers, P&B provides a complete brand new vacuum breaker and truck, designed and built from scratch to fit directly into the original switchgear housing. The old breaker can be retained in service until the moment the new breaker is ready to be installed and the old breaker can then be disposed of.
P&B Retrofit Switchgear
Vacuum Retrofit for Air Break Circuit Breakers
| VACUUM RETROFIT FOR AIR BREAK CIRCUIT BREAKERS |
|---|
| requires return of original CB truck for retrofit and re-use |
| COMPANY |
PRODUCT |
kV |
Current, A |
kA Rating |
| English Electric |
E3, E7, E8, HD50 |
3.6 to 12kV |
630 to 3150 |
25 to 53* |
| Reyrolle |
S14 (contactor) |
3.6 |
400 |
10 |
|
S27A,S36A,S45A |
3.6 to 12 kV |
1250 to 3150 |
31.5 to 53* |
| Whipp & Bourne |
AK (contactor) |
3.6 |
350 |
10 |
|
AH (breaker) |
3.6 |
1600 |
26 |
Vacuum Retrofit for Oil Circuit Breakers (Type VOR-M and Type VOR-S)
| VACUUM RETROFIT FOR BULK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKERS – TYPE VOR-M (VOR-S available for some designs) |
|---|
| A complete new circuit breaker is supplied, minimizing downtime. |
| P&B VOR breakers are the first MV retrofits assessed and accepted by ENA for conformance with all relevant standards for use on the UK electricity supply system. |
| COMPANY |
PRODUCT |
kV |
Current, A |
kA Rating |
| AEI / EE / GEC |
BVP17, BVP3, OLX, OLX3, KBC, VMX |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 31.5* |
| British Thompson Houston |
JB721/QA |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
| Brush Switchgear |
R4/1, R4/2, VSI, VBA, VBC, VTD |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
| Ferguson Pailin |
FP400, FP 1200, FP 2000 |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
| Metropolitan Vickers |
V1R, V2R, QF, QA, MV400 ranges |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
| South Wales Switchgear |
CX, DX ranges, (Hi & Lo type), HG12 |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
| Statter |
AC01 |
12 |
630 to 1250 |
16 to 40 |
| Switchgear & Cowans |
A4, A6, UAE 64 |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
| Reyrolle |
LMT, LMT2, LSR |
12 |
630 to 400 |
16 to 25 |
Vacuum Retrofit for Vacuum and SF6 Circuit Breakers (Type VOR-M)
| VACUUM RETROFIT FOR VACUUM AND SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS – TYPE VOR-M |
|---|
| COMPANY |
PRODUCT |
kV |
Current, A |
kA Rating |
| GEC / ALSTOM |
VMX |
12 |
630 to 1250 |
20 to 31.5* |
| Reyrolle |
LMV, Hadrian |
12 |
630 to 1250 |
20 to 31.5* |
| Brush Switchgear |
VMV |
12 |
630 to 2000 |
20 to 40 |
| SWS |
Hawkgas12 |
12 |
630 to 1250 |
20 to 25 |
P&B has undertaken a vast range of retrofits to replace oil and air breakers in coal fired and nuclear power stations, utilities and industrial plants, including the steel and petrochemical sectors. See our Case Studies for some examples of our work.
Note: all 25kA VOR-M designs are type tested to cover a short circuit rating of 500MVA (26.2kA rms).
*Several retrofit breakers have been designed and typed tested beyond the ratings proven by the original manufacturer, including recent designs of vacuum switchgear.
