This is information about the current environmentally friendly switchgear from each of the three major brands (ABB, Schneider, Siemens).

The switchgear types are as follows

ABB: SafeRing / SafePlus Air Series

Schneider: RM AirSeT series

Siemens: 8DJH series

I. Environmental Performance

All three switchgear models adopt environmentally friendly gases, effectively reducing the impact on the atmospheric environment and meeting the requirements of sustainable development:

RM AirSeT: It uses dry air insulation, with a GWP < 1, being non-toxic and without by-products, and does not require gas recovery treatment.

8DJH 12: It employs clean air, with a GWP < 1 and an ODP of zero, without the risk of environmental acidification.

Safe Air: It substitutes dry air for SF6, with a GWP of 0.

II. Structural Design and Dimensions

(I) Protection and Sealing

RM AirSeT: The gas tank has a protection level of IP67, is fully insulated and sealed, and the stainless steel gas tank does not require gas replenishment throughout its lifetime.

8DJH 12: The switchgear gas tank has a protection level of IP67, and the enclosure has an IP3X/IP4X (optional) protection level, with the low-voltage compartment having an IP3X/IP4X protection level.

Safe Air: The gas chamber has a protection level of IP67, and the switchgear enclosure has an IP4X protection level.

(II) Dimensions

RM AirSeT: The width of the unit cabinet is 420mm, the depth is 770mm (850mm optional), and the height is 2000mm (including a 350mm low-voltage compartment).

8DJH 12: There are three widths available: 430mm, 500mm, and 840mm, the depth is 775mm, and the height without the low-voltage compartment is 1400mm.

Safe Air: The width of the single gas tank V/D cabinet is 420mm, the width of the common box cabinet is 370 * n + 50 (n ≤ 5) mm, the width of the PTC cabinet is 600mm, the depth is 850mm, and the height is 2000mm (including a 350mm low-voltage box).

(III) Expansion Function

RM AirSet: It supports 1 – 6 functions in a common box, with a maximum of 6 unit combinations. The unit-type and common box-type cabinet splicing is flexible, and the busbars are connected through A – link, with an expansion gap of 0mm. The rated current of the busbar (630A at 40°C) limits the expansion.

8DJH 12: The unit cabinet and combined cabinet are convenient for on-site expansion, and the busbar connectors ensure that installation, expansion, or replacement do not require gas operations, with various combined cabinet solutions available.

Safe Air: The functional units can be flexibly combined, with a maximum of five units in a common gas tank, and support side or top expansion connections.

III. Technical Parameters

(I) Rated Voltage and Insulation Level

The rated voltage of all three switchgear models is 12kV, and the insulation level can meet the requirements of a power frequency withstand voltage of 42/48kV and a lightning impulse withstand voltage of 75/85kV.

(II) Rated Current and Short-Circuit Breaking Capacity

RM AirSeT: The rated current of the load switchgear and busbar is 630A. The closing/breaking capacity of the C function is 50kA/630A, the breaking capacity of the F function is 31.5kA, and the short-circuit breaking current of the V function is 20kA.

8DJH 12: The rated current of the load switchgear, busbar, and circuit breaker cabinet is 630A. The rated short-time withstand current is 20kA (4s), 25kA (2s), the rated peak withstand current is 50/63kA, and the rated short-circuit closing current is 50/63kA. The switching capacity of the general-purpose load switch meets various test methods.

Safe Air: The rated current of the upper and lower isolation vacuum circuit breaker V cabinets is 630A (which can meet 1.1 Ir), the short-circuit breaking current is 20kA, and the short-circuit closing capacity is 50kA.

(III) Switching Technology

RM AirSeT: The parallel vacuum switching technology (SVI)TM is adopted to realize the function of 3-position load switch, C function can close/open the load current, Earthing switch/Ground switch has the short-circuit closing ability; F function is used for transformer protection; V function can realize short-circuit current opening. 8DJH 12: The load switching ability meets the requirements of various test methods, short-circuit opening current max. 50kA.

8DJH 12: Load switching capacity for various test methods, Earthing switch/Ground switch with short-circuit switching current up to 50 kA. Vacuum circuit breakers are available in types 1.1 and 2, with different short-circuit breaking currents and rated operating sequences, resulting in different mechanical lifetimes and number of short-circuit breaks.

Safe Air: The upper and lower isolated vacuum circuit breaker V cabinets have the corresponding opening and closing capacities.

IV. Application Scenarios

RM AirSeT: It is suitable for places with high environmental requirements and limited space, such as secondary power distribution systems in urban central substations, high-rise buildings, and commercial centers.

8DJH 12: It is widely used in secondary power distribution in public and industrial systems, covering power supply and public facility ring network equipment, user load stations, switching stations, various power generation stations, transportation hubs such as airports and railway stations, open-pit mining facilities, and high-rise buildings.

Safe Air: It is applicable to urban power distribution, real estate, light industry, box-type substations, and other fields. When combined with outdoor ring network cabinets, it can be used in industrial environments such as windy, sandy, humid, and polluted areas.

V. Cost-Effectiveness

RM AirSeT: There is no need for gas recovery, no CO₂ emission cost, and the insulating gas does not contain fluorine, saving training, transportation, installation, and maintenance costs. However, the equipment procurement cost may be relatively high.

8DJH 12: There is no need for gas recovery, reducing operating costs. Due to its compact structure and stable performance, it can reduce the occupied area and equipment maintenance workload, and the initial investment may be slightly higher than that of ordinary equipment.

Safe Air: The modular design facilitates installation and maintenance, and the use of dry air insulation avoids SF6 gas-related costs. However, there may be certain costs in equipment procurement and installation. In large-scale projects, the modular design may be more conducive to cost reduction.

VI. Degree of Intelligence

RM AirSeT: It has a relatively high degree of intelligence and can achieve distributed intelligent power distribution functions through Easergy T300, including condition monitoring, integrated monitoring of medium and low voltage, transformer temperature and outgoing line load monitoring, PLC framework automation function customization, etc. It can also be compatible with various communication protocols to achieve remote operation and monitoring, and realize predictive maintenance through intelligent sensors.

8DJH 12: The degree of intelligence is relatively low, mainly realizing some intelligent functions through some optional monitoring devices and protection systems. For example, the transformer monitoring device IKI – 30 can achieve the protection and monitoring of the transformer, and the short-circuit/ground fault indicator can assist in fault location. It can integrate digital solutions, but it is relatively weak in overall intelligent power distribution and system coordination.

Safe Air: It can be equipped with the Safe Digital digital solution, using ABB Ability™ cloud technology to provide equipment asset health management and operation and maintenance suggestions, ensuring power supply safety, improving the continuity and reliability of operation, extending the maintenance cycle, and reducing maintenance costs.

VII. Technological Innovation and R & D History

Schneider Electric (RM AirSeT): With a history of over 180 years, it has developed RM AirSeT based on the successful experience of the RM6 series, integrating parallel vacuum interruption technology, digital technology, etc. It adopts the SVI™ technology to achieve the 3-position switch function and realizes intelligent power distribution management through Easergy T300.

Siemens (8DJH 12): It has a profound technical accumulation in the field of switchgear. On the basis of the mature product series, 8DJH 12 has further improved by adopting clean air insulation technology. The R & D focuses on improving environmental protection, reliability, and compactness, adopts advanced processes to ensure product quality, and develops various monitoring and protection devices to enhance the degree of intelligence.

ABB (Safe Air): After summarizing the operation experience of the Safe product and conducting electric field optimization research, Safe Air was launched. The R & D is committed to improving performance and reliability, adopting dry air insulation, optimizing the structural design, and developing supporting digital intelligent monitoring and diagnosis functions.

VIII. Market Feedback and Customer Evaluation

Schneider Electric (RM AirSeT): The market feedback is good, and customers recognize its environmental performance and intelligent functions. However, the equipment procurement cost is relatively high.

Siemens (8DJH 12): It is renowned for its reliability and stability, and customers expect its degree of intelligence to be further improved.

ABB (Safe Air): The market recognizes its environmental and safety performance, and customers expect it to reduce the overall cost of the equipment and improve the price/performance ratio.