Reclosers

Reclosers are intelligent automatic switchgear serving as the core equipment for protection and automation of modern power distribution systems. Designed to automatically detect, isolate and restore overhead line faults without human intervention, they have become mainstream products to improve power supply reliability, reduce outage duration and lower operational costs for global power utilities. The following introduces their main application scenarios and core strengths.

Primary Application Scenarios

Protection for Distribution Network Trunk and Branch Lines

Widely applied to 10kV urban, rural and loop distribution networks, they are ideal for sectional protection of long-distance power lines. When matched with sectionalizers, they can accurately isolate faulty sections and stop power outages from spreading to normal grid areas.

Substation Outlet Switch Replacement

They can replace conventional high-voltage circuit breakers at 10kV outgoing circuits of 35kV and 110kV substations. Separate relay protection cabinets, control cabinets and DC power supplies are no longer needed, realizing fully unattended substation operation and effectively reducing construction and daily maintenance expenses.

Outdoor & Harsh Environment Installation

It supports multiple installation methods such as pole mounting and centralized control cabinet mounting, suitable for installation on utility poles, substation steel frames and other outdoor sites. Three-phase closed-type products feature strong resistance to harsh climates and avoid internal mechanism corrosion and clamping stagnation.

Smart Grid Integration Applications

As key equipment for smart grid construction, they realize real-time remote monitoring and data collection through SCADA systems. They are applicable to both decentralized and centralized automatic power supply restoration modes, and are fully compatible with single-phase and three-phase distribution networks.

Core Advantages

Reclosers possess four outstanding advantages over traditional switching equipment:

Built-in Intelligent Control Function

The biggest highlight of reclosers is the built-in intelligent control system. No external relay protection devices or independent operating power sources are required. It integrates fault current detection, logic sequence control and executive functions. It can automatically distinguish transient faults and permanent faults, execute preset switching operations, reset automatically after transient faults disappear, and lock up reliably when permanent faults occur.

Greatly Improved Power Supply Reliability

Statistics show that 80%–87% of distribution network faults are transient faults caused by lightning strikes, branch collisions, animal activities and other factors. The recloser can complete 3–4 times of automatic reclosing to quickly restore power supply and shorten average outage time. Accurate fault isolation also avoids large-scale power outages caused by local faults.

Economical Installation & Low Maintenance

It integrates switching, protection and control functions into one unit, replacing large traditional feeder switches, shortening construction periods, saving installation space and lowering initial investment. Vacuum reclosers feature long electrical life and zero fire hazard with low maintenance needs. Electrically controlled types support on-site and remote adjustment of tripping current, reclosing times and other parameters.

Strong Adaptability & Good System Compatibility

Available in single-phase, three-phase, integrated and split types, with vacuum and SF₆ two arc-extinguishing forms for selection. It is applicable to distribution networks with different neutral grounding modes. Its inverse-time phase-fault tripping characteristic achieves perfect coordination with fuses, circuit breakers and other power equipment.