Automatic Vacuum Recloser RFQ Checklist: Ratings, Protection, Control, and Communication

An automatic vacuum recloser RFQ checklist should make competing offers technically comparable before commercial evaluation begins. It must connect feeder studies and approved operating decisions to one identifiable primary device, controller, sensing package, control-power arrangement, communication interface, and evidence set. A catalogue designation or nominal voltage is not enough.

The practical output is a controlled procurement record. Each required input has a source and revision, each supplier value identifies the exact offered configuration, each interface has an owner, and each assumption or deviation has a disposition. This article provides that selection matrix, data pack, representative review, and technical-release logic without supplying universal ratings or protection settings.

Visual disclosure: all images are generated illustrative technical visualizations, not XIYA POWER factory, customer, product-test, installation, commissioning, or field photographs.

Freeze the Recloser Decision Before Issuing the RFQ

An automatic vacuum recloser RFQ becomes comparable only after its upstream decisions are frozen or named as holds. These decisions cover feeder role, phase architecture, line position, operating states, scope boundaries, and source-document revisions. Otherwise, suppliers price different packages and their headline ratings conceal different exclusions.

Use the Smart Grid equipment framework to locate the procurement boundary. First close whether a recloser is the correct device for the allocated duty through the recloser versus circuit breaker guide. Then close gang-operated three-phase, independent-pole, or single-phase fit through the recloser phase-configuration guide. This RFQ checklist starts after those decisions; it does not reopen them.

Readiness decision	Controlled source	RFQ field	Supplier return	Hold condition
Feeder role and position	Approved one-line and role statement	Position, normal and abnormal states	Capability confirmation	Role or state undefined
Phase architecture	Approved selection record	Pole count and permitted mode	Exact offered architecture	Architecture still under review
Package boundary	Scope schedule	Device, controller, cables, structure, RTU and accessories	Inclusions, options and exclusions	Disciplines assume different scopes
Installation basis	Site and layout inputs	Mounting, conductors, access and environment	Dimensioned arrangement	Interface data incomplete
Document basis	Controlled transmittal	Document list and revisions	Acknowledged revision list	Superseded inputs remain in use

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An open row is not solved by a supplier assumption. Either close it before issue or carry it as a named clarification with an owner and release gate.

State Ratings, Fault Duty, and Service Conditions From Controlled Sources

The Automatic Vacuum Circuit Recloser product owner explains the body-and-controller package, but a family page cannot select a project rating. Keep three columns separate: system input, specified device requirement, and supplier offered value.

The public scope of IEC 62271-111:2019 covers overhead, pad-mounted, dry-vault, and submersible single- or multi-pole AC automatic circuit reclosers above 1,000 V through 38 kV; it excludes equipment requiring dependent manual operation. That scope does not provide this feeder’s ratings, sequence, tests, or acceptance decision. Do not copy paid clauses or treat a standard reference as evidence that the offered configuration meets the project duty.

RFQ input	Controlled source	Supplier must return	Release check
Nominal and highest system voltage	Network standard and insulation study	Offered voltage class and declared highest voltage	Both fields match their separate sources
Frequency and earthing	Network data and earthing study	Configuration compatibility	Exact system basis acknowledged
Present and planning load	Load flow and forecast	Offered normal-current rating	Thermal basis covers the stated duty
Maximum and minimum fault cases	Position-specific short-circuit study	Interruption, making and relevant duty ratings	Evidence maps to the offered unit
Insulation basis	Approved insulation schedule	Offered withstand levels	Schedule and configuration agree
Service conditions	Project specification and site data	Confirmed limits and any derating	Altitude, temperature, pollution and installation are addressed
Operating duty	Approved operating philosophy	Offered capability and deviations	No assumed universal sequence

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Nominal voltage cannot determine highest voltage, insulation level, normal current, fault duty, or operating sequence. A maximum fault value also does not replace the minimum-fault case used by the protection study. Every requirement needs a source, revision, offered value, applicable release evidence, and reviewer.

Define the Primary Device, Sensing, Installation, and Control-Power Package

Describe the complete package rather than naming only an interrupter and controller. The primary-device return should identify pole count, operating mode, vacuum interrupter, mechanism, bushings, terminals, source/load orientation, and conductor interfaces. It should separately identify sensing, mounting, control cabinet, cables, auxiliary supply, earthing, surge interfaces, access, and any bypass or isolation boundary.

Package element	Project input	Normalized supplier return	Evidence or interface hold
Primary body and mechanism	Duty and operating philosophy	Exact configuration and mechanism data	Configuration-applicable evidence
Terminals and conductors	Type, size range, orientation and connection	Terminal arrangement and accepted conductor range	Approved connection drawing
Current/voltage sensing	Required quantities, locations, classes and burdens	Sensor types, ratios/ranges, accuracy data and wiring	Protection and metering interfaces closed
Mounting and cabinet	Pole/structure, cabinet location, access and environment	Dimensions, masses, attachment and cable routes	Civil, mechanical and access review
Control power	Source, range, burden and degraded-state requirement	Power demand and offered supply arrangement	Supply capacity confirmed
Battery and charger	Required autonomy and duty, when specified	Offered capacity, charger and calculation	Project autonomy basis closed
Earthing and surge boundary	Connection points and project scope	Included items, interfaces and exclusions	Earthing and surge drawings agreed

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Do not assume a sensor, voltage transformer, battery, surge arrester, connector, mounting frame, modem, or bypass device is standard. Require the supplier to mark each item as included, optional, or excluded. Product data, project specification, drawings, calculations, and evidence must describe the same configuration.

Specify Protection and Reclosing Inputs Without Writing the Settings

The recloser technical foundation owns the basic switching, sensing, controller, reclosing, and lockout concepts. The RFQ should convert the approved protection philosophy into capability and interface requirements, while the utility or project protection authority retains setting calculation and approval.

Control item	Project authority provides	Supplier returns	Release owner
Protection functions	Approved function list and study revision	Supported functions and limitations	Protection authority
Sensing	Sources, locations and required performance	Compatibility and exact offered inputs	Protection/metering reviewer
Reclose and lockout philosophy	Permitted modes and required behavior	Implementable modes and deviations	Protection and operations owners
Close permissives and interlocks	Required logic and external signals	Logic capability and I/O mapping	Protection/control reviewer
Records	Required event, alarm and disturbance outputs	Formats, storage and retrieval method	Protection/SCADA reviewer
Configuration control	Settings owner, approval route and change rules	Firmware/software versions, file formats and backup method	Named configuration owner

The RFQ may request capabilities for directional, earth-fault, overcurrent, voltage, frequency, cold-load, inrush, or other functions only where the approved design requires them. It must not invent pickup values, curves, shot counts, dead times, reclaim times, synchronism thresholds, or line-operating procedures. A supplier proposal is not an approved protection setting file.

Normalize Communication, Evidence, Deviations, and Supplier Return

Communication needs more than a protocol name. State the physical medium, protocol/version/profile, addressing, point-list revision, command authority, local/remote permissions, time synchronization, and event requirements. Also define user roles, configuration backup, cybersecurity boundary, loss-of-communication state, and gateway or RTU ownership. Mark unfinished details as controlled holds rather than accepting catalogue defaults.

Build one normalized RFQ checklist and data pack so every bidder answers the same fields:

Required return	Release evidence	Reviewer	Technical-release condition
Configuration-specific data sheet and drawings	Revision-controlled manufacturer data	Technical lead	Offered package is uniquely identified
Ratings and duty schedule	Project specification and short-circuit study mapped to the offer	HV/protection engineer	Every rating has a source and applicable evidence
Protection and I/O capability matrix	Approved function list, point list and logic narrative	Protection/control team	No unsupported function or assumed setting
Communication profile	Protocol profile, addressing, time and cybersecurity interfaces	SCADA/IT owners	End-to-end ownership is closed
Design/type evidence applicability matrix	Evidence identifies the offered configuration and justified differences	Technical/quality team	Applicability accepted
Routine and FAT plan, where required	Approved inspection and witness plan	Quality/project owner	Scope and acceptance sources agreed
Software, licenses, cables, tools, spares and training	Itemized supply and O&M schedule	Asset owner	No hidden operating dependency
Assumptions, exclusions and deviation register	Nil return or disposition for every departure	Named approvers	All deviations closed or formally accepted
Document schedule	Deliverable, revision, owner and date	Project manager	Release documents are committed

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A price-complete quotation is not technically complete. The one-line, installation drawings, manufacturer data, project specification, load and fault studies, protection study, and communication documents must identify one offered configuration. Release evidence, deviations, and approvals must use the same controlled revisions.

Hold an Illustrative 22 kV RFQ Until the Data Pack Closes

Representative engineering review, not a XIYA POWER customer, utility, factory, test, FAT, site, installation, commissioning, outage, service, or field case. All values are illustrative and non-universal.

The review position is a 22 kV, 50 Hz effectively earthed overhead feeder with a selected gang-operated three-phase, pole-mounted automatic vacuum recloser. Available controlled inputs show a 310 A present peak load, a 420 A planning load, and a 12.5 kA maximum symmetrical fault basis at that position.

The draft schedule asks suppliers to return a 27 kV-class offer with at least 630 A normal current and a 16 kA interruption basis. These are preliminary request fields, not XIYA POWER product ratings or an approved final specification; each must be confirmed against the complete duty and configuration-applicable evidence.

The available pack contains single-line diagram revision D, a fault study, a load forecast, protection-coordination study revision A, and a draft SCADA point list. It proposes IEC 60870-5-104 over the utility private radio network, while the exact profile and gateway boundary remain open.

Decision: hold technical release. The voltage/insulation schedule, conductor/terminal data, sensor/CT/VT package, protection-function list, settings ownership, reclose/lockout schedule, and control-power basis are incomplete. The communication profile, time synchronization, cybersecurity, mounting, earthing, surge scope, evidence applicability, routine/FAT requirements, and deviations also remain open. Close those records in a normalized supplier return before comparing technical compliance; no test or operating outcome is claimed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information should an automatic vacuum recloser RFQ include?

Include the frozen feeder role and phase architecture, system/fault basis, service conditions, and complete device/sensing package. Add mounting, control power, protection ownership, communication interfaces, drawings, applicable evidence, deviations, deliverable schedule, and named release holds.

Can a supplier select the recloser rating from nominal system voltage alone?

No. Highest system voltage, insulation basis, normal current, making and interruption duties, minimum-fault sensitivity, service conditions, and operating duty come from separate controlled project sources. The supplier should return an offered value against each field, not infer the package from nominal voltage.

Should protection settings be included in the RFQ?

Include approved functional requirements, sensing inputs, logic ownership, file format, and workflow. Do not publish invented pickups, curves, shot counts, dead/reclaim times, or thresholds. The named utility or project protection authority calculates and approves settings using the controlled studies.

What communication data is required for a SCADA-ready recloser?

State medium, protocol/version/profile, addressing, point list, commands and permissions, time synchronization, records, cybersecurity boundary, loss-of-communication state, and gateway/RTU ownership. A generic “SCADA-ready” declaration does not close interoperability.

What documents should suppliers return with a recloser quotation?

Require configuration-specific data sheets and drawings, a completed ratings schedule, protection/I/O and communication matrices, and an evidence-applicability table. Add the routine/FAT plan where specified, software and O&M supply lists, assumptions, exclusions, deviations, and a controlled document schedule.

When is a recloser quotation ready for technical release?

Release it only when all required inputs, supplier values, interfaces, evidence, deviations, and approvals identify the same configuration and revision. Any open rating basis, sensing, control-power, communication, evidence-applicability, or deviation hold prevents technical release.