ABB opens climatic test chamber for energised MV switchgear

Global technology company, ABB, has invested €700,000 ($750,000) to create a test facility to energise medium-voltage (MV) switchgear, which will be the first of its type in Europe.

The chamber will simulate harsh climatic site conditions, from lows of minus 50 °C to temperature highs of up to 80 °C as well as pollution conditions. It will also test for 0-100% humidity and water condensation, all of which can cause switchgear to age faster.

A climatic test chamber in Brno, Czech Republic, will be used to test all ABB energised indoor MV switchgear panels, to ensure they keep the power on 24/7 in the harshest of operating environments.

Martin Stefanka, ABB’s global technology manager for distribution solutions, stated: “Our new climatic test chamber will help us to understand the limits of our switchgear beyond the requirements of current standards.

“By simulating the harshest of conditions, from the coldest Arctic temperatures to the stifling heat of the Sahara, we will enhance product reliability and grid resilience to help our customers to keep the power supply on 24/7”.

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The enhanced testing, which can take from four to eight weeks to complete for each component, will take ABB’s switchgear beyond current standards, to comply with the new (IEC/TS 62271-304 from Class 1 to Class 4) regulation.

It aims to improve the quality and reliability of ABB’s energised MV indoor switchgear solutions when operating in extreme climatic site conditions and polluted environments, to reduce failures and unplanned downtime at customer sites.