ULTRA FAST ACTING ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BREAKER

The project is designed to shut down the power supply when it is overloaded. Conventional
circuit breaker like MCB based is on thermal bimetal lever trip mechanism. It is very slow and
the trip time is dependent upon the percentage of overload.
This project senses the current passing through a series element and the corresponding voltage
drop is compared against the preset voltage proportional to the current by a level comparator to
generate an output for the load to trip.
The concept of electronic circuit breaker came into focus realizing that conventional circuit
breakers such as MCBs take longer time to trip. Therefore, for sensitive loads it is very important
to activate the tripping mechanism at the shortest possible time, preferably instantaneously.
This project is demonstrates fast tripping mechanism as against the slow one like MCB.
Electronic circuit breaker is based on the voltage drop across a series element proportional to the
load current, typically a low value resistor.
This voltage is sensed and rectified to DC which is and then compared with a preset voltage by a
level comparator to generate an output that drives a relay through a MOSFET to trip the load.
The unit is extremely fast and overcomes the drawback of the thermal type. It uses a
microcontroller from 8051 family.
Further the project can be enhanced by using a CT for galvanic isolation between mains and
control circuit. Power electronic devices such as thyristors / IGBTs can be used for ultra fast
operation compared to all the methods.
BLOCK DIAGRAM

Hardware Requirements

8051 series Microcontroller

Op-amp

Transformer

MOSFET

Diodes

Capacitors

Resistors

LED

Crystal

LCD

Voltage Regulator

Relay

Lamps

ELECTRONIC SOFT START FOR 3PH IM

The project is designed to provide a soft and smooth start to a 3 phase induction motor. The three
phase induction motor during the initial starting condition draws up much higher current than its
capacity and the motor instantly reaches the full speed. This results in a mechanical jerk and high
electrical stress on the windings of the motor. Sometimes the windings may get burnt. The
induction motor should start smoothly and gradually catch up the speed for a safer operation.
This project is designed to give a soft start to the induction motor based on the SCR firing
triggered by heavily delayed firing angle during starting and then gradually reducing the delay
till it reaches zero voltage triggering. This results in low voltage during start and then gradually
to full voltage. Thus the motor starts slowly and then slowly picks up to full speed.
This project consists of a six anti-parallel SCRs, two for each phase, the output of which is
connected to a set of lamps representing the coils of a 3 phase induction motor. The charging and
discharging of capacitors is interfaced to comparators resulting in delayed firing pulses during
start and then gradually reducing the delay till the motor runs at full speed. Output from the
comparators is fed through opto-isolators to trigger the SCRs.
Further the project can be enhanced by using IGBTs in place of SCRs with PWM control to
reduce harmonic distortions often encountered in SCR triggering mechanism.
BLOCK DIAGRAM

Hardware Requirements

Op-amps as comparators

Opto-isolators

Thyristors

Transistors

Regulator

Diodes

Transformers

Resistors

Capacitors

LEDs

Lamps

Q: What is soft start?

A: Gradually increasing the supply voltage to the motor is called soft start

Q: Why bulb is used instead of motor?

A: In order to visualize the soft start it is better to use a bulb.

Q: What is the rating of motor to be used in this project?

A: A 3 phase HP motor is used in this project.

Q: Does this project use any microcontroller?

A: No it is a non-microcontroller based project