CIRCUIT BREAKER

Fundamental Concept
CIRCUIT BREAKER
Fundamental Concept
Definition
Circuit breakers are switching devices which
according to the American National Standards
Association (ANSI) C37.100 [l] are defined as:
"A mechanical device capable of making, carrying and
breaking currents under normal circuit conditions and
also making, carrying for a specific time and breaking
currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions
such as those of short circuit."
Circuit breakers are switching devices which
according to the American National Standards
Association (ANSI) C37.100 [l] are defined as:
"A mechanical device capable of making, carrying and
breaking currents under normal circuit conditions and
also making, carrying for a specific time and breaking
currents under specified abnormal circuit conditions
such as those of short circuit."
Ratings
Rated characteristics to be given for all circuit-breakers
a) rated voltage;
b) rated insulation level;
c) rated frequency;
d) rated normal current;
e) rated short-time withstand current;
f) rated peak withstand current;
g) rated duration of short-circuit;
h) rated supply voltage of closing and opening devices and of auxiliary circuits;
i) rated supply frequency of closing and opening devices and of auxiliary circuits;
j) rated pressures of compressed gas supply and/or of hydraulic supply for operation,
interruption and insulation, as applicable;
k) rated short-circuit breaking current;
l) transient recovery voltage related to the rated short-circuit breaking current;
m) rated short-circuit making current;
n) rated operating sequence;
Rated characteristics to be given for all circuit-breakers
a) rated voltage;
b) rated insulation level;
c) rated frequency;
d) rated normal current;
e) rated short-time withstand current;
f) rated peak withstand current;
g) rated duration of short-circuit;
h) rated supply voltage of closing and opening devices and of auxiliary circuits;
i) rated supply frequency of closing and opening devices and of auxiliary circuits;
j) rated pressures of compressed gas supply and/or of hydraulic supply for operation,
interruption and insulation, as applicable;
k) rated short-circuit breaking current;
l) transient recovery voltage related to the rated short-circuit breaking current;
m) rated short-circuit making current;
n) rated operating sequence;
Basic of fault clearing
Consider a circuit breaker in open position with other side of its short circuited ,
connected to a generator at no load at rated terminal voltage.
Suppose at the instant of Phase B voltage is zero with respect to neutral the circuit
breaker is closed . In such case the short circuit current in phase B will have a maximum
DC component and waveform of current will be unsymmetrical about normal zero axis.
Consider a circuit breaker in open position with other side of its short circuited ,
connected to a generator at no load at rated terminal voltage.
Suppose at the instant of Phase B voltage is zero with respect to neutral the circuit
breaker is closed . In such case the short circuit current in phase B will have a maximum
DC component and waveform of current will be unsymmetrical about normal zero axis.
At t=0 the short circuit is applied and it reaches its maximum during the first
quarter cycle. The peak of the first major loop is OM and this is the maximum
instantaneous value of current during the short circuit. This peak instantaneous
value OM is called the MAKING CURRENT .
t=T1
At t=0 the short circuit is applied and it reaches its maximum during the first
quarter cycle. The peak of the first major loop is OM and this is the maximum
instantaneous value of current during the short circuit. This peak instantaneous
value OM is called the MAKING CURRENT .
As the relay detects the fault and sends signal to the operating mechanism both
takes a time about few cycle (T1) . Lets assume at t=T1 the CB contacts start
moving to get separate . The r.m.s value of short circuit at the instant of contact
separation is termed as BREAKING CURRENT .
Before t=T1 the contacts are closed and the voltage is zero. After the separation of
contacts at t=T1 the voltage across them increases. This voltage across the arc
column is in phase with current as the arc is resistive and due to the different volt-
ampere characteristics of the arc the wave form is pulsating with spikes like wave
form. During the subsequent half cycles this arc resistance increases so do the
voltage across it.
Before t=T1 the contacts are closed and the voltage is zero. After the separation of
contacts at t=T1 the voltage across them increases. This voltage across the arc
column is in phase with current as the arc is resistive and due to the different volt-
ampere characteristics of the arc the wave form is pulsating with spikes like wave
form. During the subsequent half cycles this arc resistance increases so do the
voltage across it.
At t=T2 when the arc gets extinguished at the final current zero a high frequency
voltage transient superimposed on the power frequency voltage appears across
the terminals . This high frequency voltage tries to restrike the arc , thats hy it is
called RESTRIKING VOLTAGE or TRANSIENT RECOVERY VOLTAGE (TRV) . This
voltage causes a severe dielectric stress between the contacts and if the dielectric
strength of the medium does not build up faster then the rate of rise of TRV then
the breakdown occurs and the arc reestablished.
Basic of fault clearing
Transient Recovery Voltage
TRV vanishes after less than o.1 millisecond after the current zero and after that
normal frequency recovery voltage established across the breaker contacts.
TRV in depth
All types of circuit interrupting devices can be considered as a link that joins two electrical
networks. As is illustrated in the Figure on one side of the device is the electrical network that
delivers power and can be identified as the source-side network. On the other side is an electrical
network that consumes power and consequently it can be identified as the load side network.
Whenever the interrupting device is opened, the two networks are disconnected and each of the
networks redistribute its trapped energy. As a result of this energy redistribution, each network
develops a voltage that appears simultaneously at the respective terminals of the interrupter,
shown as El and E2 . The algebraic sum of these two voltages represents the transient recovery
voltage, is which normally referred to as TRV.
All types of circuit interrupting devices can be considered as a link that joins two electrical
networks. As is illustrated in the Figure on one side of the device is the electrical network that
delivers power and can be identified as the source-side network. On the other side is an electrical
network that consumes power and consequently it can be identified as the load side network.
Whenever the interrupting device is opened, the two networks are disconnected and each of the
networks redistribute its trapped energy. As a result of this energy redistribution, each network
develops a voltage that appears simultaneously at the respective terminals of the interrupter,
shown as El and E2 . The algebraic sum of these two voltages represents the transient recovery
voltage, is which normally referred to as TRV.
Standard Values of TRV
Rated short-circuit breaking current (Isc)
The rated short-circuit breaking current is the highest short-
circuit current which the circuit breaker shall be capable of
breaking under the conditions of use and behavior prescribed
in the standard.
The rated short-circuit breaking current is characterized by two values:
r.m.s. value of its a.c. component;
the percentage d.c. component
AC component of the rated short-circuit breaking current
The standard value of the a.c. component of the rated short-circuit breaking current shall be
selected from the R10 series specified in IEC 60059.
* Note:
The R10 series comprises the numbers 1 products
by 10n.
The rated short-circuit breaking current is the highest short-
circuit current which the circuit breaker shall be capable of
breaking under the conditions of use and behavior prescribed
in the standard.
The rated short-circuit breaking current is characterized by two values:
r.m.s. value of its a.c. component;
the percentage d.c. component
AC component of the rated short-circuit breaking current
The standard value of the a.c. component of the rated short-circuit breaking current shall be
selected from the R10 series specified in IEC 60059.
* Note:
The R10 series comprises the numbers 1 products
by 10n.
Rated short-circuit breaking current (Isc)
DC component of the rated short-circuit breaking current :
The value of the percentage d.c. component shall be determined as follows:
a circuit-breaker which is tripped solely by any form of auxiliary power,
the percentage d.c. component shall correspond to a time interval equal to
the minimum opening time of the first opening pole Top of the circuit-
breaker plus one half-cycle of rated frequency (Tr).
The minimum opening time mentioned above is that specified by the
manufacturer.
The percentage value of the dc component ( % dc) is based on the time interval
(Top + Tr) and the time constant using the formula:
DC component of the rated short-circuit breaking current :
The value of the percentage d.c. component shall be determined as follows:
a circuit-breaker which is tripped solely by any form of auxiliary power,
the percentage d.c. component shall correspond to a time interval equal to
the minimum opening time of the first opening pole Top of the circuit-
breaker plus one half-cycle of rated frequency (Tr).
The minimum opening time mentioned above is that specified by the
manufacturer.
The percentage value of the dc component ( % dc) is based on the time interval
(Top + Tr) and the time constant using the formula:
Rated short-circuit breaking current (Isc)
a) standard time constant of 45 ms;
b) special case time constants, related to the rated voltage of the circuit-
breaker:
ms for rated voltages up to and including 52 kV;
ms for rated voltages from 72,5 kV up to and including 420 kV;
ms for rated voltages 550 kV and above.
These special case time constant values recognise that the standard value may be
inadequate in some systems. They are provided as unified values for such special
system needs, taking into account the characteristics of the different ranges of
rated voltage, for example their particular system structures, design of lines,
a) standard time constant of 45 ms;
b) special case time constants, related to the rated voltage of the circuit-
breaker:
ms for rated voltages up to and including 52 kV;
ms for rated voltages from 72,5 kV up to and including 420 kV;
ms for rated voltages 550 kV and above.
These special case time constant values recognise that the standard value may be
inadequate in some systems. They are provided as unified values for such special
system needs, taking into account the characteristics of the different ranges of
rated voltage, for example their particular system structures, design of lines,
Rated short-circuit making current
The rated short-circuit making current of a circuit-
breaker having simultaneity of poles is that which
corresponds to the rated voltage and the rated
frequency. The following values apply:
For a rated frequency of 50 Hz and the standard value of the time constant of
45 ms it is equal to 2,5 times the r.m.s. value of the a.c. component of its rated
shortcircuit breaking current ;
For all special case time constants it is equal to 2,7 times the r.m.s. value of the
a.c. component of its rated short-circuit breaking current, independent of the
rated frequency of the circuit-breaker .
The rated short-circuit making current of a circuit-
breaker having simultaneity of poles is that which
corresponds to the rated voltage and the rated
frequency. The following values apply:
For a rated frequency of 50 Hz and the standard value of the time constant of
45 ms it is equal to 2,5 times the r.m.s. value of the a.c. component of its rated
shortcircuit breaking current ;
For all special case time constants it is equal to 2,7 times the r.m.s. value of the
a.c. component of its rated short-circuit breaking current, independent of the
rated frequency of the circuit-breaker .
Rated Times Definitions
1.Opening time
For a circuit-breaker tripped by any form of auxiliary power, the opening time
is the interval of time between the instant of energizing the opening release,
the circuit-breaker being in the closed position, and the instant when the
arcing contacts have separated in all poles .
2.Arcing time (of a multi pole switching device)
interval of time between the instant of the first initiation of an arc and the
instant of final arc extinction in all poles
3.Break time
interval of time between the beginning of the opening time of a mechanical
switching device and the end of the arcing time
1.Opening time
For a circuit-breaker tripped by any form of auxiliary power, the opening time
is the interval of time between the instant of energizing the opening release,
the circuit-breaker being in the closed position, and the instant when the
arcing contacts have separated in all poles .
2.Arcing time (of a multi pole switching device)
interval of time between the instant of the first initiation of an arc and the
instant of final arc extinction in all poles
3.Break time
interval of time between the beginning of the opening time of a mechanical
switching device and the end of the arcing time
Opening operation
Rated Times Definitions
4.Closing time
Interval of time between energizing the closing circuit, the circuit-breaker
being in the open position, and the instant when the contacts touch in all
poles .
NOTE : The closing time includes the operating time of any auxiliary
equipment necessary to close the circuit breaker and forming an integral part
of the circuit-breaker.
5.Make time
Interval of time between energizing the closing circuit, the circuit-breaker
being in the open position, and the instant when the current begins to flow in
the first pole
6. pre-arcing time
interval of time between the initiation of current flow in the first pole during
a closing operation and the instant when the contacts touch in all poles for
three-phase conditions and the instant when the contacts touch in the arcing
pole for single-phase conditions
4.Closing time
Interval of time between energizing the closing circuit, the circuit-breaker
being in the open position, and the instant when the contacts touch in all
poles .
NOTE : The closing time includes the operating time of any auxiliary
equipment necessary to close the circuit breaker and forming an integral part
of the circuit-breaker.
5.Make time
Interval of time between energizing the closing circuit, the circuit-breaker
being in the open position, and the instant when the current begins to flow in
the first pole
6. pre-arcing time
interval of time between the initiation of current flow in the first pole during
a closing operation and the instant when the contacts touch in all poles for
three-phase conditions and the instant when the contacts touch in the arcing
pole for single-phase conditions
First-pole-to-clear factor (in a three-phase system)
When interrupting any symmetrical three-phase
current the first-pole-to-clear factor is the ratio
of the power frequency voltage across the
interrupting pole before current interruption in
the other poles, to the power frequency voltage
occurring across the pole or the poles after
interruption in all three poles
When interrupting any symmetrical three-phase
current the first-pole-to-clear factor is the ratio
of the power frequency voltage across the
interrupting pole before current interruption in
the other poles, to the power frequency voltage
occurring across the pole or the poles after
interruption in all three poles
Amplitude factor
Ratio between the maximum excursion of the
transient recovery voltage to the crest value of
the power frequency recovery voltage
Types of Circuit breaker
Types By Voltage Class
Types By Installation
Types By External Design
Types By Interrupting medium
Types By Voltage Class
Types By Installation
Types By External Design
Types By Interrupting medium
Types of Circuit breaker
CIRCUIT BREAKER < 52 KV
Types of Circuit breaker
Air Circuit Breaker
Types of Circuit breaker
Indoor 12 KV SF6 Circuit Breaker
Types of Circuit breaker
Outdoor 36 KV vaccuamCircuit Breaker
Types of Circuit breaker
145 KV OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
Types of Circuit breaker
More OIL Circuit Breaker
Types of Circuit breaker
LIVE TANK SF6 Circuit Breaker single
breaking
Types of Circuit breaker
LIVE TANK SF6 Circuit Breaker double
breaking
Types of Circuit breaker
LIVE TANK SF6 Circuit Breaker double
breaking
Selection
The following points are important when
selecting circuit breakers.
Maximum operating voltage on location
Maximum load current occurring on location
Maximum short circuit current occurring on
location
Network frequency
Duration of short circuit current
Switching cycle
Special operational and climatic conditions
The following points are important when
selecting circuit breakers.
Maximum operating voltage on location
Maximum load current occurring on location
Maximum short circuit current occurring on
location
Network frequency
Duration of short circuit current
Switching cycle
Special operational and climatic conditions
Name plate