The Brüttisellen transport hub in the northern metropolitan area of Zurich sees an average of 130,000 vehicles per day, making it a true traffic bottleneck. This important hub is where the A1 and A53 highways intersect, and vehicles from Zurich, eastern Switzerland, the Zurich Plateau, and the Zurich Plain pass through it.
Despite regular maintenance, the four-level grade-separated interchange that carries traffic on the A1 highway has seen its load-bearing capacity drop below manageable limits in recent years. Therefore, a large-scale overhaul of the interchange is currently underway. Against this backdrop, Peter Meister AG, a specialist in control and switching equipment, was tasked with developing a new control system for the section of road near Brüttisellen.
Surge protection features applicable to the future can achieve greater planning safety.
“A perfectly reliable traffic control system is crucial for the extremely busy Brüttisellen transport hub, as the only way to achieve safe traffic flow there is through dynamic displays that automatically adjust to the volume of traffic,” explains Fabio D'Ottaviano of Peter Meister AG. “One of our tasks was to install a system that operates flawlessly day and night. We met this standard through high-quality surge protection equipment and other means.”
A lightning strike is a discharge process with voltages reaching thousands of volts. Currents ranging from 50 to 200,000 amperes can accumulate in an extremely short time. Equipment components, especially electronic components, typically cannot withstand such massive surge voltages. To avoid downtime, Peter Meister AG selected Weidmüller's VARITECTOR PU series surge protection devices. These devices not only provide reliable protection but also ensure long-term, plannable safety.
“Only Weidmüller’s surge protection equipment meets the IEC/EN 61643-11:2012 standard, which came into effect in September 2012,” said Mr. D'Ottaviano. “Because we can use the latest technology to serve our clients, we helped them save the work required to adapt to the new national standard during the three-year transition period from EN to national standards. Especially for this large-scale construction project, we chose to proceed cautiously, thus saving on planning costs.”
Protective measures to address damage and downtime caused by thunderstorms are becoming increasingly important.
The newly introduced stringent IEC/EN 61643-11:2012 standard incorporates the increasingly important consideration of reliable surge protection. The number of large-scale thunderstorms globally has increased significantly in recent years, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts a further increase based on rising global average temperatures. “Compared to the impact of lightning strikes on people and production facilities, modern surge protection systems are very inexpensive. Furthermore, the longer a system operates, the higher the likelihood of surge damage,” explains David Schüz, Industry Manager at Weidmüller. “Therefore, I strongly recommended that Peter Meister AG use the latest surge protection technology to protect the entire system.”
The VARITECTOR PU surge protection device incorporates varistor exhaust technology. Rapid status reporting is a particularly crucial standard factor for Peter Meister AG. Remote signal contacts with "PUSH IN" plug-in sockets enable instant connection and continuous monitoring of the surge protection device's status. Furthermore, a large status window provides maximum overview of the product, offering a comprehensive view of the surge protection device's functional status within the cabinet. With these features, the VARITECTOR PU will ensure smooth traffic flow at the Brütisellen transportation hub after the renovation work is completed. In fact, well-designed safety features have already contributed to achieving this goal.
