Fault Protection
PWE/PWVE Recloser
Kyle® Type PWE and PWVE electronically controlled, pad-mounted automatic circuit reclosers feature three-phase vacuum interruption in weatherproof and tamper-resistant enclosures. This provides an attractive, compact, and secure package for use in substations, commercial and residential areas, and other applications where low-profile construction is required. PWE and PWVE reclosers are designed for 15 and 27 kV system applications such as feeder protection, sectionalizing, and transformer high-side protection.
PWE and PWVE pad-mounted reclosers provide reliable and economical overcurrent protection for distribution systems utilizing UD cable. They feature vacuum interruption for long life and minimum maintenance. Using oil as the insulating medium contributes to the compactness of the weatherproof and tamper-resistant, pad-mounted enclosure.
PWE reclosers protect three-phase systems rated 2.4 through 14.4 kV; PWVE reclosers can be applied to systems rated through 24.9 kV. Basic voltage and current ratings for these reclosers are as follows:
| Voltage and Current Ratings |
Recloser Type |
| PWE |
PWVE |
| Nominal Voltage
(kV) |
14.4 |
24.9 |
| Related Maximum Voltage (kV) |
15.5 |
27.0 |
| BIL (kV) |
95 |
125 |
| Maximum Continuous Current (Amps)
|
560 |
560 |
| Maximum Interrupting Current (Amps)(sym.)
|
12,000 |
12,000 |
| Maximum Momentary Current (Amps)(sym.)
|
20,000 |
20,000 |
Sensing current transformers mounted in the recloser supply fault sensing information to the electronic control. Since there is a single CT ratio for all ratings, control minimum-trip values are independent of the continuous-current and interrupting ratings of the recloser. Flexibility in coordination with other protective devices is provided by dual time-current characteristics from a choice of available curves, minimum trip values, reclosing and resetting time settings, and a selection of accessories.
Contact-closing energy is provided by a closing solenoid, which also stores energy in the trip mechanism. High voltage closing solenoids are connected to the system on the source side of the recloser; selection of solenoid voltage rating is based on the system phase-to-phase operating voltage. Low-voltage closing solenoids can be used when auxiliary voltage is supplied to the recloser.
PWE and PWVE reclosers use vacuum as the arc-interrupting medium. Vacuum interruption provides long contact life and considerably longer duty cycles than oil interruption. All arcing is contained within the vacuum envelope. Low-energy arc interruption in a vacuum results in far less shock and demonstration than interruption in oil. Because interruption within the vacuum envelope does not add contaminants to the insulating oil, recloser maintenance is minimized and oil life is extended.
The recloser mechanism is housed in a rectangular, oil-filled tank, which forms an integral part of the pad-mounted housing. Painted with the most advanced coating system in the industry, the switchgear retains a like-new protective finish years after others have blistered, cracked, chalked, or rusted. The internal mechanism is suspended from the mechanism frame assembly so that the mechanism can be removed from the tank as a unit. The insulating supports from which the three interrupters are suspended are filament-wound glass epoxy for high electrical and mechanical strength and moisture resistance.
The recloser bushings and operating controls are brought out through the side of the tank into a cable termination compartment to provide deadfront construction. Lifting lugs provide lifting capability for either the entire unit or the recloser tank only.
The recloser tank is heavy-gage steel, treated with a corrosion-inhibiting epoxy primer, followed by a finish coat of thermosetting acrylic paint. A square-section gasket, confined in a groove, assures an oil-tight seal between the cover and the tank.
PWE and PWVE enclosures are provided with blind-hinged doors with three-point latch and pentahead locking bolt to prevent unauthorized access. These wide doors offer easy access to conveniently located operating levers on the face of the recloser tank. For added security, provisions are also made for a customer-supplied padlock.
PWE and PWVE reclosers can be equipped with universal bushing wells, which are compatible with all industry-standard plug inserts for load-break- and non-load-break-separable UD cable connectors rated for 200 amp, 15 and 27 kV service.
Connector parking-stand brackets are provided at each bushing. The recloser can be supplied with the following bushing arrangements:
- 600-amp bushings, source and load
- 600-amp bushings, source, 200-amp wells load
- 200-amp wells, source and load.
The recloser can be manually tripped at any time by lowering the yellow manual operating handle located in the upper left corner of the front of the recloser tank. With the handle down, the control cannot close the recloser. Raising the handle permits closure if the connected and energized control is not in the lockout position. Similarly, the recloser can be operated from the control front panel if the manual operating handle is up. A red flag adjacent to the manual operating handle provides contact position indication.
PWE and PWVE reclosers can be controlled by Kyle® FXB, Form 4C, Form 5, Form 5-LS, or Form 6 recloser controls:
- The FXB control is front-panel programmable and provides basic overcurrent protection and discrete SCADA contacts.
- The Form 4C control is front-panel programmable, provides basic overcurrent protection, discrete SCADA contacts, serial communications, and analog current metering.
- The Form 5 control provides overcurrent protection, power metering, load profiling, over/undervoltage and over/underfrequency protection. A Form 5 control with a peer-to-peer communication and loop automation accessory is also available.
- The Form 6 control provides overcurrent protection, power metering, load profiling, over/undervoltage and over/underfrequency protection, sync-check for co-generation applications, and oscillography for event diagnostics. The Form 6 control also offers the ability to customize the protection scheme to specific application requirements via the ProView™ Idea Workbench™ application software.
These controls have a wide variety of TCC curves and trip settings to facilitate coordination with other devices. When system requirements change, program settings are easily altered without sacrificing accuracy or consistency. Recloser and control accessories enable further tailoring of the protective program to achieve maximum system operating flexibility.
The control cabinet is mounted inside the padmount enclosure on the door as standard.
The recloser is provided with three 1000:1 sensing-current transformers, providing both phase and ground (zero sequence) currents. They are connected to the control cabinet via a plug-in cable (up to 125 ft. in length) to permit mounting of the control away from the recloser.
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PST
VACpac
VFI
MOST
PWE, PWVE
RVAC
Shrubline VFI
VACpac
VFI
MOST
RVAC
VACpac
FXA/FXB
Form 4C
Form 5
Form 6
Underground Distribution Switchgear Library
PWE/PWVE Three-Phase Padmounted Reclosers—The Three Phases of Reliability
Distribution Automation Tools—Get Your System Under Control
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