September 21， according to media reports， the world’s first 800 kilovolt/80 kiloampere high-capacity circuit breaker， jointly developed by the Electric Power Research Institute of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Co.， Ltd.， in collaboration with Henan Pinggao Electric Co.， Ltd.， Xi’an Jiaotong University， and other units， has successfully passed all type tests. The successful development of this equipment marks a significant breakthrough for China in the field of high-voltage， high-capacity interruption technology.
With the continuous improvement of the 750 kV main grid in Northwest China， the large-scale integration of new energy sources， and the rapid development of ultra-high voltage power transmission projects， the issue of power grid short-circuit current exceeding the standard has become increasingly prominent. To address this， the Shaanxi Electric Power Research Institute took the lead in initiating the “800kV/80kA AC Sulfur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker Short-Circuit Current Interruption Key Technology and Equipment Development” project. This initiative aims to break through the technical bottlenecks in high-capacity interruption technology， providing critical support for the safe and stable operation of the 750 kV grid in Northwest China.
According to Yang Dingge， Chief Expert of Grid Maintenance at State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Co.， Ltd.， the project team faced multiple technical challenges during the development process. These challenges included a 60% increase in short-circuit current energy compared to previous designs， a 27% rise in recovery voltage rate of rise， and insufficient resistance to arc erosion in core components.
Through collaborative efforts and cross-organizational problem-solving， the team successfully overcame the key technical hurdles for 800 kV/80 kA high-capacity interruption. This has significantly enhanced the ability of critical components to withstand extreme arc conditions and achieved a synergistic optimization of high-capacity interruption and operating characteristics.
This circuit breaker boasts international leading parameters， a stable and reliable structure， excellent insulation and mechanical performance， and strong engineering adaptability. It can provide crucial equipment support for managing over-standard short-circuit currents in the Northwest power grid， holding significant importance for ensuring the safe and stable operation of the grid and advancing the construction of a new type of power system. The successful development of such advanced equipment is a testament to China’s growing capabilities in high-voltage power transmission technology， crucial for handling the increasing demands of a modernizing energy infrastructure.
