Description
ABB 5SHY50L5500 — High-Power 5.5 kV, 5000 A Press-Pack Thyristor for HVDC & Industrial Drives
Let’s be clear: the 5SHY50L5500 isn’t a component you’d pick for a lab bench test—it’s built for systems where failure isn’t just inconvenient, it’s costly downtime across grid interties or multi-MW rolling mills. From my experience supporting OEMs in Europe and Southeast Asia, this press-pack thyristor shows up most often in converter valves for ±320 kV HVDC links, large synchronous motor exciters, and high-inertia DC drive retrofits—especially where legacy water-cooled stacks need reliability upgrades without redesigning the entire valve layout.
Key Features
- Press-pack construction — No soldered terminations or bond wires; clamped between copper electrodes for superior thermal cycling endurance (typically >10,000 cycles at ΔT = 50°C).
- 5.5 kV blocking voltage (VDRM/VRRM) — Designed for series-stacking in multi-level valves; gate trigger threshold is tightly controlled (±5% typical), reducing firing skew in parallel strings.
- 5000 A average on-state current (IT(AV)) — Rated at 65°C heatsink temperature, not case—so it reflects real-world cooling conditions, not idealized lab specs.
- Integrated gate unit (IGU) compatible — Works with ABB’s 5SGX series IGUs (e.g., 5SGX12H4501), simplifying drive interface and diagnostics. You might notice that gate energy requirements are lower than older 5SHY generations—around 2.5 W average, easing driver thermal design.
- Hermetically sealed ceramic housing — Moisture-resistant and suitable for humid coastal substations or steel plant environments where condensation is common.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand / Model | ABB / 5SHY50L5500 |
| HS Code | 8541.30.0090 (Thyristors, other than for use in consumer electronics) |
| Power Requirements (Gate) | VG: –10 V to +25 V; IG(peak): ≤ 5 A; PG(avg): ≤ 2.5 W |
| Dimensions (D × H × W) | Ø130 mm × 62 mm (cylindrical press-pack); mass ≈ 4.2 kg |
| Operating Temperature Range | Junction: –40°C to +125°C; Heatsink: –40°C to +85°C |
| Signal Input/Output Types | Optically isolated gate input (compatible with 5SGX IGUs); no analog output signals — status feedback handled via IGU diagnostics bus |
| Communication Interfaces | None onboard — relies on external IGU (e.g., 5SGX12H4501) for CANopen or fiber-optic diagnostics link |
| Installation Method | Axial compression mounting (torque: 120–140 N·m); requires matched copper electrodes, graphite foil interface, and flatness ≤ 0.03 mm/m² |
Application Fields
This thyristor sees regular deployment in three distinct scenarios: (1) Grid-scale HVDC converter stations, especially in India and Brazil where ambient temperatures exceed 45°C and dust ingress is a concern—the hermetic seal and high dV/dt immunity (≥ 1000 V/μs) matter more than datasheet peak ratings; (2) Steel mill main drive rectifiers, where mechanical shock from rolling loads demands robust press-pack integrity over wire-bonded alternatives; and (3) Retrofit projects replacing obsolete GTO-based exciters in hydro generators—engineers tell us the 5SHY50L5500’s gate simplicity cuts commissioning time by ~30% compared to re-engineering full gate-drive logic.
Advantages & Value
If you’re weighing this against competing press-packs (say, from Mitsubishi or Toshiba), here’s what typically shifts the decision: First, ABB’s valve-level testing protocol—each 5SHY50L5500 is pre-tested at 1.2× rated VRRM and 1.5× IT(AV) before shipping, not just sample抽检. Second, compatibility with existing ABB IGU infrastructure means no new firmware training for your commissioning team. Third, while list price sits ~12% above some Asian alternatives, field data from a German transmission operator suggests 22% fewer forced outages over 5 years—so TCO tends to favor ABB in mission-critical roles. One thing I appreciate is how straightforward the replacement logistics are: no custom tooling needed, and torque specs are clearly marked on the device flange itself.
Installation & Maintenance
Mounting requires a clean, dry, ISO Class 8 (100,000) environment—no exceptions. Dust particles >10 μm can cause premature voltage collapse under transient stress. Cabinet must meet IEC 61800-5-1 for drive enclosures: IP54 minimum, forced ventilation ≥ 0.8 m³/s per stack, and heatsink flatness verified with granite surface plate before clamping. Safety-wise, always discharge snubber capacitors *before* handling—even after power-down, residual charge can exceed 2 kV. For maintenance: inspect electrode contact resistance annually (should stay <15 μΩ); clean ceramic surfaces with isopropyl alcohol only—no abrasives. Firmware updates aren’t applicable to the thyristor itself, but if paired with a 5SGX IGU, update its firmware every 18 months using ABB’s PCM software (v3.2+ required for full 5SHY50L5500 diagnostic support).
Quality & Certifications
Certified to IEC 60747-6 (semiconductor devices – thyristors), UL 1557 (reinforced insulation), and RoHS 3 compliant. CE-marked under the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU and EMC Directive 2014/30/EU. ABB’s warranty is 365 days from date of shipment—not from commissioning—and covers material and workmanship defects, including replacement *and* return freight for confirmed failures. In practice, we’ve seen ~92% of warranty claims resolved within 5 business days, thanks to ABB’s regional valve service hubs in Zurich, Singapore, and São Paulo.
Our Order Placement Process and Guarantees
- Warranty period: 365 days from shipment date
- Delivery time: 1 week for in-stock units; up to 4 weeks maximum (we track factory lead times weekly—no surprises)
- Payment: 50% advance via wire transfer; balance due before dispatch
- Shipping: Fedex, UPS, or DHL Express (DDP terms available on request); all shipments include real-time tracking and thermal-loggers for temperature-sensitive consignments
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