COELME-EGIC

Railway Electrification

With sixty years experience, COELME-EGIC is specialized in the design, manufacturing, tests and sales of High Voltage disconnecting switches from 17 to 800 kV and associated operating mechanisms.

Today, we have a large portfolio of products, including; switches, disconnectors and operating mechanisms that allow COELME-EGIC to address the railway market as a global supplier.

We are homologated by the main railway companies such as SNCF (France) in March 2011, TCDD (Turkey) in March 2017, IP (Portugal) in March 2018 for the switchers. From 2012 to 2019, more than 780 single and bipoles VSV switchers were delivered to SNCF Reseau, making this product the first choice for SNCF.

More Than a Disconnector: The Switcher

The switcher is a device which can open and close a circuit in “on-load” condition. Each COELME-EGIC switcher has been designed to meet specific network-related needs, providing the ideal solution in terms of operation. All COELME-EGIC switchers have been designed to ensure a regular and long service life and to work properly also under the most severe operating conditions (in coastal and/or industrial areas, geothermal areas, in the presence of ice, at extreme temperatures, in seismic areas…).

Catenary Switchers / Catenary Circuit Breakers: VSV

The VSV is an outdoor switch specifically designed to meet the needs of railway electrification
(comply with EN 50152-1, EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-100, IEC 62271-103), for application both in overhead lines (at catenary level) and in feeder substations.

It could be supplied either in unipolar or bipolar version. It is provided with a vacuum interrupting chamber operated by an electromagnetic actuator.

Main Features:

Suitable for 25 kV or 2×25 kV catenary systems (up to 2500A)
Developed according to SNCF specifications
Including the latest technical innovations
Maintenance free
Designed for long life (10,000 cycles)

Main Advantages:

Emergency manual opening AND closing available
Low environmental impact by using N2 (SF6 free)
The absence of mechanical connections between the pole and the operating mechanism makes on-site installation quick and simple and requires no adjustments.

Railway Load Switcher: LBS

The LBS is an outdoor switch-disconnector with visible open gap, specifically designed for railway applications (comply with EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-103).

It can be used whenever short-circuit breaking capacity is not required.

It provides visible isolating distance (“disconnector function”, made by a vertical break disconnector) and is capable of switching its rated continuous current as well as its rated short-circuit making current, without external arcs (“switch function”, made by a vacuum interrupter).

Main Features:

Suitable for 25 kV or 2×25 kV catenary systems (up to 2000A)
Compact design mechanism
Combines disconnector and breaking device
NO external visible arc
Long life performance

Main Advantages:

Low environmental impact (SF6 gas free)
Prevent erroneous operation sequence
One apparatus for a double function

DC Switcher: ACS

The ACS is an outdoor switcher specifically designed for direct current railway applications
(comply with EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-103).

It is featured by simple design and easy mounting on catenary poles.

Main Features:

Suitable for 3 kV catenary systems (up to 3000A)
Developed according to RFI (Italy) specifications
Including high quality material and advanced technology
Designed to be maintenance free
Designed for long life (5,000 cycles)

Main Advantages:

Manual emergency lever available at ground level
Rated short-circuit making current: 40kA

Disconnector: A Safety Device at the Heart of the System

Disconnectors are basically safety devices, since their main goal is protecting the staff working, providing “VISUAL evidence” of circuit opening.

A disconnector is also capable of:

Carrying currents under normal circuit conditions and carrying, for a specified time, currents under abnormal conditions such as those of short-circuit.
Opening and closing a circuit when either negligible current is broken or made, or when no significant change, in the voltage across the terminals of each of the poles of the disconnector, occurs.

Different models of disconnectors exist, according to the type of connection established within the circuit (horizontal or vertical), the type of break (single or double), the movement of main circuit, etc.

Side-Break Disconnector: SBD

The SBD is an outdoor disconnector with visible open gap, specifically designed for railway applications (comply with EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-102).

It provides visible isolating distance.

Main Features:

Suitable for 25 kV catenary systems (up to 2500A)
Simple design
One-pole and bi-pole versions
With/without breaking capacity
Designed for long life (10,000 cycles)

Main Advantages:

New push-pull type operating mechanism (manual and motor)
No need for special maintenance even under the harshest environmental conditions

Centre-Break Disconnector: CBD

The CBD is an outdoor disconnector with visible open gap, specifically designed for railway applications (comply with EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-102).

It provides visible isolating distance.

Main Features:

Suitable for 25 kV catenary systems (up to 2500A)
Simple design
One-pole and bi-pole versions
With/without breaking capacity
Designed for long life (10,000 cycles)

Main Advantages:

Vertical shaft operating system
No need for special maintenance even under the harshest environmental conditions

Double-Break Disconnector: TCB

The TCB 24-52kV consists of a supporting base on which three insulators are mounted; two of these insulators are bolted directly to the base, while the third one is fastened to a rotating support. Designed for railway applications (comply with EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-102).

Main Feature:

Suitable for 25 kV systems (up to 2500A)

Main Advantage:

High reliability for many years of service. The mechanical endurance performance exceeds IEC standard requirements.

Vertical-Break Disconnector: SHD

The main circuit of each pole consists of a swivel arm and a fixed contact, both made of copper flat bars. The swivel arm is made of two copper blades, hinge connected to a bent copper plate, which is bolted to one of the two porcelain post insulators; the fixed contact consists of a bent copper plate, bolted to the other post insulator; the outer ends of copper plates make the HV terminals. Contact points are silvered.

Designed for railway applications (comply with EN 50152-2, IEC 62271-102).

Main Feature:

Suitable for 25 kV systems (up to 2500A)

Main Advantage:

High reliability for many years of service. The mechanical endurance performance exceeds IEC standard requirements.

Operating Mechanisms: Allow for Both Local and Remote Motor Operation of Any COELME-EGIC Disconnector

CD101, for motor operation of switchers and disconnectors without earthing blades.

The CD101 is provided with one output vertical shaft (to be connected to the switcher/disconnector transmission system), whereas models CD201, CD211 and CD212 can count on two output shafts coming from the same box (one to be connected to the switcher/disconnector transmission system, the other to the transmission system of the built-on earthing switch): thanks to this configuration the mechanical interlock between the disconnector and the earthing switch is located in the optimal position, i.e. as close to power sources as possible.

Main Features: