Power supply to electric furnaces

ISF2: Switch/circuit-breaker
for the control of
heavy duty furnaces

Building a New Electric World

Description

The ideal technology for electric furnace

control
Safety
The SF6 breaking technique is especially well suited to making and breaking
furnace currents while avoiding any overvoltages likely to damage equipment
on the furnace supply line.
The ratings, rated current breaking under rated voltage, are held at 0 relative bars.
Each pole-unit, filled to a pressure of 0.15 MPa (i.e. 1.5 relative bars), is fitted with
a safety disk and diagnostic system for continuous monitoring of the SF6 pressure.
Durability suitable for heavy duty
The mechanical durability of the ISF2 is 50,000 mechanical switching operations
with maintenance every 10,000 operations.
Reliability
The mechanical operating mechanism, based on energy storing springs, is a key
feature of the devices reliability: Schneider Electric has 25 years of experience
in these types of mechanism.
Because Schneider Electric fully masters the design and monitoring of sealing
systems, the device will give you lasting performances throughout its service life.
ISF2

Application
The ISF2 is a three-phase switch/circuit-breaker for
indoor use based on SF6 technology.
It carries out control of electric furnaces up to 40.5 kV
and complies with IEC standard publications 56 and 694.

Environmentally friendly
The ISF2 furnace switch has been designed for environmental protection:
b the materials used, insulators and conductors, are identified, easy to separate
and recyclable,
b the SF6 can be recovered at the end of the device service life and reused after
being treated.
Quality
Each switch undergoes systematic routine tests for checking quality and conformity:
b pole-unit sealing tested,
b correct mechanical operation of the device tested together with associated
locking systems,
b simultaneous contact closing tested,
b power frequency insulation level tested,
b main circuit resistance tested,
b auxiliary circuit insulation tested,
b switching operation speed tested,
b switching cycle tested,
b switching operation times tested.
The results obtained are recorded on each devices test certificate.
The entire switch creation and manufacturing process is quality controlled in
compliance with the French association for quality assurance (AFAQ): ISO 9002
certification. The ISF2 switch has passed type tests in compliance with IEC 56 and
265 standards.

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

Device description
The ISF2 is a disconnectable fixed device made up of:
b 3 separate pole-units, each being built into a sealed pressure system type
insulating enclosure; each pole-unit is filled with SF6 at low pressure (0.15 MPa,
i.e. 1.5 bars),
b a GMh type spring stored energy operating mechanism,
b a front panel with the manual operating mechanism and position indicators,
b upstream and downstream terminals for power circuit connection,
b a multipin socket for auxiliary circuit connection,
b a self-diagnosis system for continuous monitoring of SF6 gas in each of the 3 poles,
equipped with:
v 1 low threshold contact, for possible pressure drop indication,
v 1 high threshold contact, for indication of a rise in pressure due to abnormal
overheating of the pole-unit or the arcing contact wear limit being reached.

Principle of the breaking technique

auto-compression
This breaking technique has been widely tried and tested and produces high
performances.
The arc is blown and thus extinguished by forced convection.

b
Fig 1: The circuit breaker is closed.
Fig 2: When the main contacts open (a), the current is sent into the breaking circuit (b).
Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig 3: When the arcing contacts separate an electric arc appears: this is controlled
by the insulating nozzle; a piston (c) attached to the moving contact moves
downwards and compresses the gas in (d); the gas then escapes via the holes in the
piston into the tubular arcing contact zone, cools down and deionizes the electric arc
zone, thus extinguishing the arc when the current reaches 0 point.
Fig 4: The circuit breaker is open.

Ratings

c
d

Fig. 3

IEC 56
rated voltage
Fig. 4

insulation level

kV, 50/60 Hz

24

40.5(1)

r.m.s. kV, 50 Hz - 1 mn

50

85

kV, 1.2/50 s impulse

125

185(1)

rated current

2500

2500

Isc breaking capacity

r.m.s. kA

31.5

25

making capacity

peak kA

79

62.5

allowable short time

withstand current

r.m.s. kA, 3 s

31.5

25

rated switching cycle

peak kA
O - 3 mn - CO - 3 mn - CO

79
b

62.5
b

operating time

ms

electrical durability

number

opening

45 to 65

45 to 65

breaking

60 to 80

60 to 80

closing

70 to 90

70 to 90

time

10

10

total

see curve p.5

see curve p.5

(1) For voltage of 36 to 40.5 kV, suitable inter-phase barriers supplied with the device must be
installed by the contractor.

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

Application example

Simplified diagram
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

HV circuit breaker
HV/MV step-down transformer
Power factor correction device
Protective circuit breaker
Earthing switch
Isolation switch
ISF2 for furnace control
Voltage transformer
Current transformer
Surge arrester
RC circuit
Furnace MV/LV transformer
Furnace electrodes

HV MV
1

10 MV LV
4

6
5

9
5

12
11
13

Schneider Electric offers complete solutions for the power supply to your furnaces:
consult us.

ISF2 mounting in a cubicle

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

Maintenance

cycles
50000

Life expectancy of pole-units

40000

The stress that the device has to withstand is variable depending on the type of
installation and the operating rules. The life expectancy of the poles is essentially
proportional:
b to the number of load current making and breaking cycles,
b to the value of the furnace supply transformer rated current.

30000

20000

Example: for an arc furnace fed by a 100 MVA transformer at 30 kV (or 67 MVA at
20 kV) with a load cycle of 2000 A, the life expectancy of an ISF2 is 28,000 CO cycles
(or 50,000 CO cycles when the set of pole-units is replaced).

10000

Electrical durability
I (A)

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Fig 1 - Life expectancy of a set of pole-units (number of

CO cycles) depending on the furnace load current I.

This depends on:

b the furnace load current,
b the circuit configuration when the device switches:
v opening,
v closing,
b the rating of the furnace transformer and in particular of the inrush current during
no-load energization,
b the elements inserted in the furnace supply line, saturable reactor, non-saturable
reactor, etc.
The electrical durability can be estimated using the graph in figure 1 based on
the following operating hypotheses:
1 - Protection of overload currents above 2 In is carried out by the circuit breaker
located upstream.
2 - Switching operations are carried out with the electrodes out of the bath.
3 - The no-load inrush current of the furnace transformers is below 4 In.

Maintenance
SF6 breaking devices do not generally require special maintenance.
However, since the furnace operating mechanism undergoes heavy stress,
it is advisable to carry out basic maintenance involving the following operations:
b depending on the ambient environment, clean the surface of the insulating
enclosures,
b every 10,000 switching operations:
v measure the wear on the arcing contacts without removing the pole-units during
inspection and maintenance operations (the auto-diagnostic system monitors wear
on the pole-units throughout the device service life),
v clean the operating mechanism, grease it and check the nuts and bolts.

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

GMh stored energy operating mechanism

Operating mechanism
The ISF2 is fitted with a GMh type operating mechanism based on stored energy
which gives the device a closing and opening speed which is not dependent on the
operator.
The GMh operating mechanism is made up of:
b a stored energy mechanism which stores the energy required for device closing
and then opening in springs,
b a manual charging mechanism using a removable lever,
b an electrical charging mechanism with a motor which automatically recharges
the operating mechanism as soon as the device is closed,
b a mechanical opening-closing mechanism actuated by 2 pushbuttons located
on the front panel,
b an electrical closing mechanism including:
v 1 closing release for remote control,
v 1 anti-pumping relay,
b an electrical opening system, including 1 shunt opening release; an optional
undervoltage release can be added to this device,
b a mechanical position indicator with white-black or red-green mechanical
indicators,
b a switching operations counter,
b a 14 strong auxiliary contact block including:
v 2 contacts for the electrical operating mechanism,
v 1 contact for the shunt release,
v 11 available contacts,
b 1 closing contact for operating mechanism charged indication,
b 1 open position key-lock support (lock supplied),
b a multipin connector (male and female) with 36 pins and a 2 metre lead.

GMh operating mechanism

Operating mechanism low voltage auxiliaries

charging motor

closing release(1)

opening release

YF

YO1, YO2

AC (V)
50 Hz

50 - 110 - 127 - 220

50 - 110 - 127 - 220

50 - 110 - 127 - 220

AC (V)

120 - 240

120 - 240

120 - 240

24 - 48 - 60 - 110 - 127 - 230

24 - 48 - 60 - 110 - 127 - 230

24 - 48 - 60 - 110 - 127 - 230

AC

700 VA

120 VA

120 VA

100 VA

DC

570 W

70 W

70 W

10 W

YM

supply voltages

60 Hz
DC (V)(2)
consumption

Auxiliary contacts
rated current
breaking capacity

10 A
CA
CC

10 A at 220 V (cos 0.3)

3 A at 110 or 220 V (L/R 0.01 s)

(1) With anti-pumping relay.

(2) For other values, please consult us.

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

Operating mechanism wiring diagram

J
KN
M
M1-M2
M3
QF
SE
Sm1
Sm2-Sm4

Circuit breaker
Anti-pumping relay
Charging motor
End-of-charging limit switches
Operating mechanism charged contact
Circuit breaker auxiliary contacts
Trip hold contact
Closing pushbutton (external)
Opening pushbutton for shunt release
(external)
Opening pushbutton for undervoltage
release (external)
Closing disable contact (external)
Pressure switch contacts
Closing release
Shunt opening release
Undervoltage release

Sm3
Sn
SP1-SP2
YF
Y01-Y02
YM

Sm2

Sm1

Sn

Sm4

Sm3

M1
M
QF

J
M1

M2 KN
SE

Y01

M3

Y02

SP1

SP2

YM
YF

Dimensions and weights

690

Connection pad:
910

78

300

736
190

300

300

2 14

30
30

20

60

c
1060
1108

630

a:
b:
c:
d:
e:

35
1010

322
644

fixing lugs supplied on the frame are used to anchor the device to the ground
the device is fitted with rollers to facilitate handling and installation
multipin connector
inter-phase barriers delivered with the 40.5 kV version
removable charging lever

Approximate weight: 194 kg

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

A few ISF2 switch references

b Sam Montereau - 210 MVA - France

b Ugine LArdoise - 780 MVA - France
b Yazici Demir Celik - 1050 MVA - Turkey
b D.M.Z. - 700 MVA - Ukraine
b Posco - 330 MVA - Korea
b Samancor Silicon Smelt - 175 MVA - South Africa
b Siderar S.A.I.C. - 175 MVA - Argentina
b D.S.S. - 600 MVA - Ukraine
b Steco MC - 175 MVA - Canada
b Siam Saraburi - 125 MVA - Thailand

Schneider Electric Industries SAS

DMDA-ES
France Division
F-38050 Grenoble cedex 9
Tel.: +33 (0)4 76 57 60 60
http://www.schneider-electric.com

8AMTED397053EN
ART.78659

As standards, specifications and designs develop from time to time, always ask for confirmation
of the information given in this publication.
Design and production: Graphme
Photos: Schneider Electric
Printing: Imprimerie des Deux-Ponts

This document has been

printed on ecological paper

ISF2 switch/circuit-breaker

11/2002