Features of Air Insulated Switchgear
- Adopting air insulation reduces equipment investment and maintenance costs, and creates a more cost-effective power distribution solution.
- It uses clean insulation and is equipped with a safety interlock design for environmentally friendly and safe operation
- Relying on Zhongshao’s mature technology and durable components, it has been operating stably for a long time in various substations and industrial scenarios.
- Modular design improves maintenance efficiency, reduces daily maintenance requirements, and minimizes downtime.
- Certified by DIN EN ISO 9001 and 14001, it adopts proven high-strength components.
Your professional Air Insulated Switchgear Supplier in China
Air-insulated switch cabinets use air as the insulating medium. It features an intuitive design and is highly cost-effective. Therefore, it has always been a very safe choice in medium and high-voltage power distribution systems, with no risk of gas leakage, and is more environmentally friendly and reliable.
Zhongshao is a professional manufacturer of air-insulated switch cabinets in China. Our products are durable, safe, and reliable, and we provide you with one-on-one solutions. If you need it, please contact us immediately.
An energy saving and durable industrial main unit air insulated switchgear with customizable rated voltage and customizable rated current for power distribution.
A customizable power distribution electrical air insulated switchgear made with high quality 304 stainless steel material and can be customized with different rated voltages and rated currents.
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An industrial high quality aluminum zinc plate material high voltage air insulated switchgear with 10-12kV rated voltage and a 630-1250Amp rated current.
A stainless steel material 12kV rated voltage and 1250Amp rated current compact design structure air insulated switchgear with 50Hz of frequency.
What is Air Insulated Switchgear？
Air-insulated switchgear is a distribution device with air as the main insulating medium, which realizes control, protection and isolation functions in the power system.
Unlike GIS, which uses SF6 gas encapsulation for insulation, AIS uses natural air to isolate the electrical components inside the cabinet, preventing them from being affected in case of faults.
Zhongshao’s AIS system has a greater cost advantage and lower daily maintenance requirements. It is widely used in buildings such as substations, power plants, energy storage stations, and industrial plants, providing you with stable and reliable power distribution capabilities.
The Characteristics of AIS
Simple structure
The metal casing of AIS has a simple structure. In the installation, daily operation and later maintenance of the equipment, you can do it more easily without relying on a large number of professional tools or complex processes. The AIS adopts a three-digit power output circuit. When a fault occurs or maintenance is required, the AIS circuit breaker can be disassembled.
Air insulating medium
Its insulation is made of natural air, completely avoiding the use of greenhouse gases such as SF6, and there will be no gas leakage. The operating environment is safer and it is environmentally friendly at the same time.
Flexible design forms
You can choose an open structure or a metal-enclosed structure, and install it indoors or outdoors according to different environmental and spatial requirements.
Robust and reliable construction
Zhongshao’s AIS is equipped with multiple safety interlocks and protection mechanisms. The system design is safe and reliable, and it can operate stably for a long time in harsh working environments.
The components of AIS
- Circuit breaker: When a system failure occurs, the circuit breaker will immediately cut off the current to prevent harm to the system and personal safety.
- Disconnector: It is used to separate the components of an isolation system during maintenance or in an emergency.
- Busbar: It is a metal bar that connects circuit breakers and disconnectors, and its function is to transfer power among various components inside the equipment.
- Transformer: It will adjust the voltage up or down according to the requirements of your power system to ensure the normal operation of subsequent equipment.
- Current transformer (CT): It measures the actual current and monitors data, enabling protection devices and monitoring systems to accurately determine if there is any abnormality in the current.
- Voltage transformer (VT): Monitors voltage conditions. If the voltage fluctuates too much, it will play a protective role to prevent your system from being damaged due to overvoltage.
- Control devices: These devices will help you monitor various data in the system to ensure the safe operation of switchgear. Once an anomaly is detected, it will respond automatically.
How does AIS work
In a typical AIS system, the main components include circuit breakers, busbars, disconnectors, and transformers etc. These components are installed inside the metal structure and can also be directly placed outdoors. There must be sufficient air distance between all live parts, which is the main insulation measure of the system.
When there is a problem with the line, the sequence of actions of AIS is as follows:
Fault detection
The protective relay first detects any abnormality in the circuit, such as a short circuit or severe overload, and then sends a trip signal to the circuit breaker.
A circuit breaker cuts off the current
The circuit breaker immediately acts to isolate the fault current, preventing the impact from spreading to other equipment and controlling the operation of the entire power grid.
Arc treatment
An electric arc will form at the moment of disconnection. When the arc passes through the arc extinguishing chamber, it is rapidly cooled by the air, ions are carried away, the arc is elongated and weakened, and eventually it is completely extinguished.
Protection against mild overload
If it is only a general overload, the electromagnetic trip will not act directly but will gradually heat up by the thermal element, causing the bimetallic strip to bend. The bimetallic strip pushes the control lever, causing the mechanism to trip and the main contacts to separate accordingly, thus achieving a power failure.
Protection in case of short circuit or severe overload
When the current exceeds the instantaneous tripping set value, the electromagnetic trip unit generates sufficient suction force to pull the armature and impact rod, causing the lock to open rapidly. The spring immediately releases energy to separate the contacts, and the power supply is quickly cut off.
Pros of AIS
Economical and practical
The total cost of ownership of AIS has a distinct advantage. Its initial investment is usually lower than that of gas-insulated equipment. At the same time, in long-term use, the required maintenance costs are also more economical, providing users with excellent cost performance.
Safe and environmentally friendly
AIS uses natural air as the insulating medium and does not require any other gases, which avoids the risk of harmful gas leakage and creates a safer working environment for relevant staff. Most of the components of the AIS system can be reused, promoting recycling.
Stable operation
The product design integrates multiple safety interlocks and anti-electric shock measures, effectively preventing misoperation. Its insulation performance and fault protection capability have been verified through long-term practice and can operate stably for a long time.
Flexibility
The AIS system adopts an open design. You can expand and modify the system according to the future growth trend of electricity demand. Due to its simple component composition, it has a high installation and usage efficiency and can adapt to various installation environments, from indoor to outdoor.
Easy to maintain
The internal design of the AIS equipment system is simple and orderly. Any component can be disassembled. Through inspection, testing and maintenance, problems can be quickly identified and solved.
Mature and reliable technology
Zhongshao’s AIS system technology is highly mature and has been widely applied and verified in the global power industry for decades.
Cons of AIS
It occupies a relatively large space
As air is used as the main insulating medium, sufficient safety distances are required between the internal components of AIS. The internal space design of GIS is compact, while the equipment volume and floor area of AIS are usually larger than those of GIS.
The operating environment has relatively strict requirements
Due to the open design of AIS, electrical components are directly exposed to the external environment. The long-term accumulation of dust and moisture can pose safety hazards to the metal parts of the equipment and affect its operation.
Maintenance work has become more frequent
AIS may be affected by environmental factors. If maintenance measures are not frequent, the long-term operation of the equipment may pose hidden dangers.
The heat insulation performance is relatively weak
GIS uses SF6 gas as the insulating medium. The internal space of the equipment is smaller than that of AIS, and the insulation effect is better. AIS can operate stably under medium-pressure conditions, but its heat insulation performance in high-pressure environments is not as good as that of GIS systems.
AIS vs GIS
| Aspects | AIS | GIS |
| Insulation method | Using air as insulation requires a larger safety distance. The overall structure is relatively open. | Form a compact and sealed space with insulating gases such as SF₆ |
| Volume and land occupation | Air gaps must be left between components, and they generally occupy a large area. | Compact in size, it can save approximately 40% of space |
| Structural characteristics | The metal casing structure and components are detachable. The circuit breaker can be pulled out for more intuitive inspection and maintenance. | The circuit breaker is designed as a fixed “lifetime sealed” type, with all components enclosed in a gas environment. |
| Installation conditions | It is large in size, heavy, and involves many installation steps | It is lighter in weight, smaller in size, and can be installed about 30% faster |
| Operation mode | Depending on the configuration, the operating space may need to be accessed from the back of the device. | It adopts the front-line operation and maintenance mode, which is more convenient for daily use. |
| Maintenance | The inspection cycle is short, and there are many items. A detailed inspection and maintenance are required every 1 to 2 years. | Most of the inspections are visual checks, with a long cycle. Usually, a simple inspection is only needed once every five years or so, and the maintenance volume is significantly lower. |
| Total cost | The initial investment is low, but maintenance is frequent, and the accumulated labor and downtime costs are relatively high. | The initial investment is relatively high, but the maintenance is less, and the life cycle cost is actually more cost-effective. |
The common applications of AIS
Substations and power facilities
In many indoor and outdoor substations, AIS can smoothly connect the power transmitted by power plants to the transmission lines.
Industrial facilities
AIS systems are used for power supply in factories, workshops, and data centers. They can distribute power safely and stably, save space, and ensure the continuous production of machines. They are quite common in urban factories.
Commercial building
Large office buildings, shopping centers, and other commercial buildings use AIS in their power distribution systems to provide stable and reliable power for the entire building.
Public power grid
Power companies widely adopt AIS systems in medium-voltage distribution networks. For areas with lower space requirements, AIS can economically meet the daily power supply demands of both urban and rural areas.
Transportation and public facilities
Air-insulated switchgear supplies power to railway terminal stations, subway stations, airports and similar facilities, ensuring the reliable operation of the transportation system.
The AIS of Zhongshao mainly includes circuit breakers, busbars, isolators and transformers. The components within the equipment system work together. When a problem occurs, the faulty part can be cut off while protecting the entire system.
Sure, both environments are applicable. If placed outdoors, it is usually necessary to install a cover or protective structure to reduce the additional pressure on the equipment caused by rain, sunlight, and dust.
AIS does not involve SF₆, avoids the use of high greenhouse gases, and there is no need to worry about emissions caused by gas leakage. Therefore, the environmental burden is smaller and more in line with the current low-carbon trend.
Our AIS is typically used in the medium-voltage range and can also handle some high-voltage applications. In the high-voltage field, you can choose GIS because it takes up less space and performs better when dealing with harsher environments.
In most cases, its service life ranges from 20 to 30 years. You only need to check and protect it regularly. It can usually operate normally outside this time range and can run for a long time.
