For years, car builders and operators have been looking for a smart and efficient solution to mitigate against vehicle inrush currents or/and Electromagnetic Interferences (EMI) induced by switching transients when closing the AC vacuum circuit breaker. It has been a top priority for Sécheron to meet our customers’ needs by developing such a solution. After thorough system test validations and site field tests, we are now proud to propose this unique option on the MACS.

Closing and opening the AC circuit breaker is made in most cases independently from the phase of the line voltage supplying the vehicle, meaning that the main contacts of the breaker will close and open on any phase angle of the line voltage from 0 to 360 degrees. Operating the circuit breaker this way forces car builders to design their equipment considering all cases, and mitigating as much as possible the impacts that aleatory switching may have on the vehicle operation.

To help car manufacturers and operators address these issues, while simplifying their equipment, Sécheron has designed a unique Point-on-Wave/Synchronous switching function that can be installed on our AC circuit breakers type MACS or BVAC, for new vehicles as well as for vehicles already in service.

This optional function enables to achieve a synchronous repetitive and accurate closing and/or opening of the MACS with a predefined phase angle of the line voltage. The setting of the phase angle on which the MACS has to switch is adjustable and function of the objectives defined by the customer for this function. The Point-on-Wave switching function is available for network line voltage 25 kV (50 or 60 Hz), 15 kV (16.7 Hz) and 12.5 kV (25 Hz).

Typical examples

Synchro-MACS_BIG_Fig1_Scheme_POW_03

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