ABB Launches 800V AC Fusegear For Higher-Voltage Solar Power Plants

High-voltage products help new solar power plant architectures reduce transmission losses

ABB has introduced a selection of Fusegear with 800V AC ratings to support the higher voltage architectures in solar power plants. The InLine II, EasyLine XLP and SlimLine XR Fusegear ranges now offer solutions for applications such as solar AC combiners where 800V is used to reduce power losses.

Giampiero Frisio, head of ABB’s Smart Power business line, said: “ABB innovations enable industries to evolve. The addition of these 800V AC Fusegear to our portfolio maintains ABB’s technological leadership and supports the growth of an important trend in renewables. ABB’s 800V AC Fusegear solutions will help new solar power plants introducing string inverter architectures to lower overall system costs.”

The use of string inverters for large photovoltaic systems with 20MW or less of installed power is set to increase. Operating at higher voltages reduces the transmission losses and cabling costs of these plants, while limiting the impact of any faults, reducing downtime and maximizing productivity. Higher voltage ratings will also mean fewer DC combiner boxes and less wiring complexity.

Inverters with higher power ratings are smaller, lighter and easier to handle, making installations and replacements manageable for just one or two staff. Higher voltage also helps photovoltaic plants reduce the number of components needed and makes logistics easier. Installation times are shorter and wiring costs are lower, with significant overall savings of up to 20 percent.

ABB’s 800V AC rated Fusegear have AC-22B utilization categories with a rated operational current of up to 400A. The fuses are designed to provide short circuit protection up to 50 kA.

The InLine II range of vertical fuse switch disconnectors is typically used in cable distribution cabinets and on the low voltage side of small secondary substations, in solar applications they find their place preferably in AC combiner boxes. The new devices now available are:

• InLine II ZLBM3 and ZHBM3, rated for 400A, short circuit protection up to 50kA,
• Inline II ZLBM1 and ZHBM1, rated for 160A, short circuit protection up to 50kA
• InLine II ZLBM00-100, rated for 63A, short circuit protection up to 30kA

Meanwhile, the new EasyLine XLP00-3P and XLP1-3P Fusegear are suitable for capacitor banks, power distribution panels and in AC combiner boxes. They are rated for 63A and 160A respectively and provide short circuit protection up to 30kA.

Finally, the SlimLine XR range is used in energy distribution, powerplant switchboards and data centers, often as part of ABB’s System Pro E power enclosures. The new XRM1-3P has a rated operational voltage of 800 VAC and a rated operational current of 160A, while providing protection up to 50kA short circuit currents.