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Understanding Circuit Breakers

Basic Concepts

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Circuit Breakers
Ever since the time when electrical energy was first
used, there has been a need for a device to initiate or
interrupt the flow of current.
The methods used to achieve this interruption have
evolved through the years, from the time when the
arc was merely stretched until it broke, to today,
were sophisticated interrupters perform the same
operation at greater voltages and with greater
efficiency.
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Basic Interruption

An AC system is based in a Sine wave


In an AC system, Breakers are the devices that
interrupt the voltage
An AC Breaker objective is to break the current
flow in the circuit
Analogous to a domestic light switch.

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Basic Interruption (cont.)

When a switch carrying AC


current opens, an arc forms
This arc strikes as the last metalto-metal contact breaks
The arc is a conductor
As the moving contact moves
away from the stationary contact
the arc is stretched
The stretching and cooling will
enable the arc to quench at
current zero subsequent to contact
parting

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Basic Interruption (cont.)


In

a Sine wave, the voltage and


current cross zero twice each cycle
At these zero crossings the arc
extinguishes
The arc will remain extinguished if
the dielectric between the contacts is
sufficient to withstand the voltage
The arc will be re-established if the
dielectric between the contacts is not
sufficient to withstand the voltage

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Basic Interruption (cont.)

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Circuit Breakers
What is it?...
A Circuit Breaker is a device for closing,
maintaining and interrupting an electrical
circuit between separable contacts, under
normal (load) and abnormal (fault) conditions.

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Circuit Breakers
How does it work?
An AC Breaker waits for current Zero
It attempts to prevent arc re-ignition
Commutes plasma by removing energy

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Circuit Breakers
Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV)

Voltage generated by the system during interruption


process
At current zero, when current is interrupted, the system
oscillates in accordance to its natural frequency
This voltage stresses the gap insulation
Auxiliary devices are used to modify the TRV when the
basic interrupter of the circuit breaker does not meet the
interruption requirements

Circuit Breakers
Auxiliary Devices
Insertion Resistors
To reduce voltage transients
To reduce the severity of the TRV
To damp oscillation

Capacitors
Shunt Capacitors: for initial rate of rise of transient
voltage
Grading Capacitors: same as shunt and, in a multibreak configuration to properly distribute voltage
during interruption and surge control
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Circuit Breakers
Life: 30-40 years
Operating time: 15-30 minutes
Abnormal conditions: 30-60 seconds

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Circuit Breakers Types


Two Basic Types:
Dead Tank:
The enclosure that surrounds the breaker contacts is
electrically at ground potential. The breaker mechanism
and tank are at the same potential
Live Tank
The enclosure that surrounds the breaker contacts is not at
ground potential. The breaker mechanism is separated
from the interrupters by a column
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Circuit Breakers Types (cont.)


May be:
Gang Operated
Mechanism operates all three phases together
Single Pole Operation
Independent mechanism for each phase
Single Pole Operation are used for higher Voltages and
need to employ a phase disagreement circuit

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Circuit Breakers Classification


Interruption in Air
Interruption in Oil
Interruption in Vacuum
Interruption in SF6

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Interruption in Air
Air Magnetic Circuit Breakers
The interruption takes place in air under the
influence of a magnetic field at atmospheric
pressure

Air Blast Circuit Breakers


The interruption takes place in a blast of air

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Interruption in Oil
Bulk Oil Circuit Breakers (also called dead tank)
The interruption takes place in oil. The contacts are
immersed in oil which serves as arc quencher.

Minimum Oil (also called live tank)


The interruption takes place in oil in the same manner as
the bulk type. The difference is the amount of oil. The
relatively small oil container is insulated from ground.
Oil Circuit Breakers are essentially a hydrogen interrupter.

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Interruption in Vacuum
The interruption takes place in a Vacuum
Vessel(interrupter), which is hermetically
sealed
Arcing is established within the interrupter
by separation of the contacts

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Interruption in SF6
The interruption takes place in a Sulfur
Hexaflouride (SF6) medium, which has excellent
dielectric characteristics.
The SF6 Breakers are classified as follows:
Double

pressure
Puffer type
Self extinguishing
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Circuit Switchers
Combine the function of a circuit breaker and a
disconnect switch
They incorporate an interrupter and a knife blade
They employ
SF6
Vacuum

Cost effective alternative to Breaker


More limited in application

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Circuit Switchers (cont.)


1. Both blade and
interrupter are closed,
carrying current

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Circuit Switchers (cont.)


2. When activated, the
interrupter opens,
braking the current,
while the blade is still
closed

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Circuit Switchers (cont.)


3. The blade opens for full
visual confirmation of
circuit isolation

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Circuit Switchers (cont.)


4. Upon closing, the blade
is rotated closed, with
interrupter still open

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Circuit Switchers (cont.)


5. The final closing of the
blade activates the
mechanism, closing the
interrupter

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