point-on-wave switching

Point-on-Wave Switching

Point-on-Wave switching prevents high inrush currents commonly associated with the mechanical switching of transformers, reactors and capacitors. It offers a cost-effective and compact electronic solution to switching transients and can be installed at initial build stage or as a retrofit to existing circuit breakers.

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What is 
Point-on-Wave 
Switching?
What is 
Point-on-Wave 
Switching?
What is 
Point-on-Wave 
Switching?

What is
Point-on-Wave
Switching?

Point-on-Wave switching addresses the root cause of switching transients: it eliminates the random nature of mechanical switching by using precision timing to control the exact moment of conduction that results in the minimum inrush current possible. Point-on-Wave switching can be applied to transformers, capacitors, reactors and long lines. It offers a great solution to grid compliance and/ or site stability issues, such as Engineering Recommendation P28. Enspec is the official UK and Ireland partner and distributor of Vizimax Inc, Canada, and a recognised Centre of Excellence for their world leading SynchroTeq Controlled Switching Devices.

Requirements

The SynchroTeq is a manufacturer agnostic solution, meaning it can be applied to any stored energy mechanism circuit breaker. It is an electronic solution making it very easy to install during the initial build stage or as a retrofit. External device requirements are minimal, most of the time the required CT and VT devices are already installed for standard protection and monitoring purposes. We hold a constant stock of SynchroTeq devices, ensuring a short lead time and fast resolution to any grid code compliance issues.

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Our Solutions

The SynchroTeq comes in two versions, the SynchroTeq MVX for voltages up to 66kV, and the SynchroTeq Plus for voltages greater than 66kV. The functionality of each device is fundamentally the same:

  • Transformer Switching – SynchroTeq effectively mitigates high inrush currents and the associated voltage drops during transformer energisations. It does this through the application of a patented residual flux calculation algorithm to determine the optimum energisation point. It can be applied to any circuit breaker and works with 3-pole gang operated devices as well as individual pole operated ones.
  • Capacitor Switching – SynchroTeq effectively mitigates current and voltage transients when energising capacitors. Through monitoring of the capacitors residual charge, not only can it reduce transients for discharged capacitors, but also partially discharged capacitors. This allows for close-open-close (COC) cycles within seconds providing dynamic reactive power compensation and constant availability for voltage support.
  • The SynchroTeq can similarly be applied to shunt reactors and long lines to alleviate voltage or current transient issues.

3-pole Transformer Switching

The SynchroTeq can be applied to any 3-pole operated circuit breaker for transformer switching. In this application the SynchroTeq calculates the residual flux when the transformer is de-energised and then aims for a closing angle that will result in the lowest inrush current across all three phases. The performance of this type of application is a reduction of inrush current to 1.5 PU or lower.

Enspec have successfully applied the SynchroTeq to many different makes of circuit breaker including ABB, Siemens, Schneider, Alstom, Ormazabal and GE.

The SynchroTeq can be included at the design stage or fitted as a retrofit solution to sites that are already operational. Enspec can offer a full turnkey solution to retrofit applications carrying out the supply, installation and commissioning.

Further Information and Case Studies