Product Overview
XIRIA Plus is Eaton’s new solid-insulated ring main unit (RMU) designed for smart-grid applications. The system is characterised by its high level of operational safety and is suitable for applications up to 12 kV. It is positioned as a compact, environmentally friendly solution for the medium-voltage secondary distribution network.
The XIRIA Plus RMU is built around Eaton’s proven vacuum interrupters, which require no maintenance and are certified for 10,000 operation cycles. All live parts in the available panels are single-pole insulated. The materials are shaped specifically to provide optimum insulation combined with excellent thermal characteristics, and the insulation is configured to provide effective control over electric fields around the components, thereby minimising any risk of internal arcing.
Within the XIRIA Plus panels, both the primary parts and the mechanisms are housed in a fully enclosed housing that protects the whole system against environmental influences. The use of vacuum interrupters and solid insulation makes the XIRIA Plus environmentally friendly. These technologies ensure that the system is a conservative alternative to switchgear using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas for insulation. The cost of ownership is also significantly reduced, as no regular testing of gas pressure or other routine maintenance is needed, and there is no high end-of-life cost associated with ultimately disposing of the equipment.
With a compact design and provision for cable connection from the front, the XIRIA Plus system is economical in its use of valuable floor space and easy to accommodate even in the most restricted environments. The design is certified in accordance with GB standards; the type test was carried out by the Xi’an High Voltage Apparatus Research Institute (National High Voltage Apparatus Quality Supervision and Inspection Center) under report No. 1102305, with the commissioned entity being Eaton Power Equipment Co., Ltd.
Key Features
1 Safe in Use
- Visible isolation by means of inspection windows in the front (“what you see is what you get”).
- Compartments protected against penetration of objects; all high-voltage compartments are designed to IP65 degree.
- Capacitive voltage detection system (VDS) for verification of safe isolation from supply.
- Logical mechanical and electrical interlocks prevent misoperation; all interlocks directly block the mechanism.
- Internal arc tested safe metal housing; internal arc classification AFLR 20-1 tested to GB 3906-2006.
- Smooth, contemporary design that is safe to touch from the outside.
2 Environmentally Friendly
- Minimised number of components.
- No use of SF6 gas for switching and insulation (SF6 has a Global Warming Potential of 23,000).
- Minimal number of transition points in the primary design enables low energy loss during operation.
- Only re-usable and/or recyclable materials are used; XIRIA Plus can be completely recycled at end of life.
- Designed for a lifetime of at least 30 years, requiring no maintenance energy usage during this period.
- Environmental-friendly design with respect to the materials used (Cradle-to-Cradle principle).
3 User Friendly
- Cable connection and user interfaces for operation on the same front side of the panel.
- Ergonomic cable connection height.
- A customized low-voltage compartment is optional.
- Clear and simple, straightforward operation panels.
4 Core Components and Technology
Vacuum technology features:
- Eaton has an unsurpassed leadership in vacuum technology, with a heritage of innovation from companies such as Westinghouse and Holec.
- Pioneers in vacuum technology for over 90 years; the first vacuum interrupter was supplied at 15 kV-12 kA in 1967.
- First to develop and patent copper-chromium alloy content for contacts and center shields.
- Vacuum interrupters for contactor applications can perform up to 2.5 million mechanical operations.
- More than 5 million units delivered worldwide, operating safely and reliably in all types of networks.
Solid insulation system:
- More than 60 years of experience, with hundreds of thousands of functions operating worldwide without ageing concerns.
- High thermal conductivity; high electrical resistivity; low moisture absorption; high creepage-current resistance; high mechanical strength; optimized electrical field control.
- Fully insulated busbars to prevent phase-to-phase and phase-to-earth faults; optional extensible busbars.
3-position disconnector:
- All panels are equipped with a disconnector in the same sealed-for-life enclosure as the circuit-breaker.
- Manual-operated switch with 3 positions (service / isolated / earthed); maintenance-free; mechanically interlocked with the vacuum circuit-breaker.
- Auxiliary contacts for service / isolated / earthed; position indication via inspection windows and mechanical indicators.
5 Key Ratings
| Item | Ratings |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Rated voltage (kV) | 12 |
| Impulse withstand voltage (kV) | 95 (phase-to-phase/earth), 110 (isolation gap) |
| Power frequency withstand voltage (kV) | 42 (phase-to-phase/earth), 48 (isolation gap) |
| Rated frequency (Hz) | 50 |
| Internal arc classification (IAC) | AFLR 20-1 |
| Degree of protection in service | IP4X |
| Degree of protection with doors/covers open | IP2X |
| Ambient air temperature range (°C) | -25 to +40 |
| Busbar system | |
| Rated normal current (A) | 630 |
| Rated short-time withstand current | 20-4, 25-2 |
| Rated peak withstand current (kA) | 50, 63 |
| Load break switches | |
| Rated normal current (A) | 630 |
| Rated short-circuit making current (kA) | 50, 63 |
| Rated short-time withstand current | 20-4, 25-2 |
| Rated cable charging breaking current (A) | 31.5 |
| Mechanical endurance class | M2 10000x |
| Mechanical endurance class as 3-position disconnector | M1 3000x |
| Electrical endurance class | E2 100x |
| Circuit-breakers | |
| Rated normal current (A) | 630 |
| Rated breaking current (kA) | 20 |
| Rated short-circuit making current (kA) | 50 |
| Rated capacitive switching current class | C2 |
| Rated cable charging breaking current (A) | 31.5 |
| Mechanical endurance class | M2 10000x |
| Mechanical endurance class as 3-position disconnector | M1 3000x |
| Electrical endurance class | E2 |
| Rated short-time withstand current | 20-4 |
| Mechanism type | 0 – 180S – CO – 180S – CO |
| Fuse-switch panel | |
| Rated normal current (A) | 100 |
| Max. rated current of the optional fuse (A) | 125 |
| Rated breaking current (kA) | 50 |
| Rated short-circuit making current (kA) | 125 |
| Rated transfer current (A) | 3150 |
6 Compliance and Standards
XIRIA Plus is designed to GB standards and complies with the following standards (as listed in the product literature):
- GB/T 11022-2011 — Common specifications for high-voltage switchgear and controlgear
- GB 3804-2004 — High-voltage alternating-current switches for rated voltages above 3.6 kV and up to and including 40.5 kV
- GB 311.1-1997 — Insulation co-ordination for high voltage transmission and distribution equipment
- GB 1985-2004 — High-voltage alternating-current disconnectors and earthing switches
- GB 3906-2006 — Alternating-current metal-enclosed switchgear and controlgear for rated voltages above 3.6 kV and up to and including 40.5 kV
- GB 1984-2003 — High-voltage alternating-current circuit breakers
- GB 16926-2009 — High-voltage alternating-current switch-fuse combinations
- Quality assurance in accordance with ISO 9001
Application Scenarios
XIRIA Plus provides safe, reliable and efficient solutions for all applications in the medium-voltage secondary distribution network. According to the energy-supply-chain overview in the product literature, the system serves a wide range of applications across power generation, transmission, distribution and end-use, as summarised below:
| Application Area | Typical Scenarios |
|---|---|
| Power supply / distribution | Main stations, distribution substations, transformer stations, power generation |
| Industry | Heavy industry, process industry, mining, general industry |
| Green energy | Wind power and photovoltaic (solar) renewable integration |
| Commercial & public buildings | Commercial buildings, shops and offices |
| Residential applications | Residential districts and housing supply |
| Transport & infrastructure | Infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, rail transport |
| Offshore & marine | Offshore and marine facilities |
| Utilities | Water supply / public utility facilities |
In summary, XIRIA Plus is especially suited to medium-voltage secondary-distribution and smart-grid projects that require a compact footprint, an SF6-free environmentally friendly design, and low maintenance and total cost of ownership — such as commercial complexes, residential power distribution, renewable-energy integration, industrial plants and public infrastructure.
Note
This document is an English compilation of the product overview, features and application scenarios extracted from the Eaton XIRIA Plus 630 solid-insulated ring main unit brochure (PDF). All ratings, features and standard references are reproduced faithfully from the original source document.
