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Switchgear and Transformer

Toshiba Group contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions through the development of products designed to minimize the environmental impact, including switchgears and transformers, which are required in order to provide a stable power supply.

Contributing to Reducing CO₂ Emissions through the Development of Switchgear Designed to Minimize the Environmental Impact

Solid insulated switchgear (SIS), which function as breakers that receive electricity, are installed in facilities such as large buildings and factories that use a large amount of electricity. Toshiba has developed 24/33-kV SIS switchgear models that eliminate the use of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) gas, which has a global warming potential 23,900 times larger than carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to reducing the environmental impact.

Previous gas insulated switchgear (C-GIS) models used 5 kg of SF₆ gas (equivalent to 120 tons of CO₂ emissions). By developing high performance epoxy resin, we have succeeded in insulating the main circuit without using SF₆ gas. As a result, we are able to reduce CO₂ emissions by about 62%* compared with the C-GIS model of the same voltage class.

Another important point about the minimization of the environmental impact by the 24/33-kV SIS is the effective use of resources made possible by reducing the size and weight of the products. We reduced the weight by more than half and the size by 40%* compared with C-GIS models. We also adopted a BMA (Balanced magnetic actuator) and simplified the product structure, thereby reducing the number of parts to less than half. As a result of these design changes, we were able to simplify the maintenance and inspection procedures and reduce the environmental impact simultaneously. These basic technologies are being developed not only for products for domestic markets, but also for products for overseas markets. In FY2008, we started the development of largecapacity (2500 A) solid insulated switchgears for the global market.

* In the case of 24-kV SIS

Transformers Also Designed to Greatly Reduce the Impact on the Environment

Transformers are used to drop the voltage from the power grid to 100 or 200 V in order to make it possible to use the electricity in buildings. Toshiba has reduced the power loss of transformers by approximately 40% compared with previous models (Comply with JIS C4306-1999) by using its unique technologies and improved the ease of storage by reducing the area required for installation. We have also succeeded in reducing CO₂ emissions by 4 tons* annually compared with previous models. Using these transformers in combination with switchgears will make it possible to provide a stable power supply and to reduce the influence on the environment.

* In the case of the 500-kVA Transformer