A Chinese manufacturer of various types of vacuum circuit breakers has once again placed its trust in SECO/WARWICK, ordering two vacuum brazing systems for electrical components. These are the fifth and sixth SECO/WARWICK solutions installed at this Partner’s facility.
Single-chamber vacuum furnaces for brazing vacuum circuit breakers (VCB) ensure an exceptionally high vacuum level and temperature uniformity throughout the heating chamber, as well as a high-purity process atmosphere – parameters that are crucial for vacuum brazing. The design solutions applied ensure optimal technological conditions for manufacturing vacuum circuit breakers.
This Partner first purchased two SECO/WARWICK units in 2017. Another order followed six years later. The current contract confirms the reliability of the equipment and the high quality of the processed components.
“We have customers who own more than a dozen systems with our logo. Returning customers make us proud, and those who decide to purchase the same solutions again makes us even happier. Their willingness to increase production with us and their satisfaction with the operation of our equipment are clear signals that we are doing our job well. There is a lot of talk about the fact that sales should not end with the signing of a contract. We understand this and provide excellent after-sales service worldwide. We are known for one of the best service departments in the world, and repeat orders are proof of that,” says Maciej Korecki, Vice President of the Vacuum Furnace Segment at the SECO/WARWICK Group.
Manufacturing vacuum circuit breakers requires a high degree of cleanliness and precision, as the process demands a high vacuum level and temperature uniformity. For this project, an efficient pumping system consisting of turbomolecular and dry pumps, along with radiation shielding and an external cooling system, was required to reduce contamination. Only a small number of companies worldwide can produce equipment with these specifications; however, SECO/WARWICK systems offer the best parameters.
A vacuum circuit breaker is an electrical device used in power systems to protect circuits and equipment from damage. It operates by rapidly interrupting the current flow when a short circuit or failure occurs. Its key feature is that the arc-quenching process occurs in a vacuum environment, hence the term “vacuum arc-quenching circuit breaker.”
During contact separation in a vacuum, an electric arc forms due to ionization of metal vapors from the contacts. Because vacuum has excellent insulating properties, the generated ions and metal vapors condense quickly. As a result, the arc energy dissipates rapidly, extinguishing the arc. This effectiveness makes vacuum circuit breakers widely used in high-voltage equipment. Producing them requires precision and thermal uniformity.
Vector Furnace Family
Vector is a single-chamber vacuum furnace operating in more than 70 countries and processing millions of components every day, all in accordance with the highest standards. Vector vacuum furnaces offer a wide range of heat-treatment processes, and their compact, modular design enables customization to specific needs. This makes them one of the most recognized vacuum furnace solutions for metal heat treatment.
The systems ordered feature a unique pumping system achieving ultra-high vacuum using a turbomolecular pump. High temperature uniformity and fast heating, supported by seven control zones including a central heating element, ensure consistent quality of processed loads. The furnaces are also equipped with a horizontal gas-cooling system and an external cooling unit.
The Vector furnace family guarantees high surface quality and protection of processed components. Its uniform temperature distribution provides highly repeatable results. It is an ideal solution for applications requiring precision. At the same time, the system consumes low energy and process gas. Its low emissions contribute to environmental friendliness, aligning with the company’s SECO/ECO philosophy.
Turbomolecular Pump – The Key to Success
Vacuum inside the furnace is maintained by vacuum pumps. Depending on the application, this may be a single pump or a combination of mechanical, booster, diffusion and turbomolecular pumps. The turbomolecular pump used in the Partner’s equipment is a type of mechanical vacuum pump. It provides high pumping speed in the molecular flow region and a high compression ratio, consuming less energy than diffusion pumps and eliminating oil vapor contamination.
