“Circuit breakers are mechanical switching devices, capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions — and also making, carrying for a specified time and breaking currents under specified : abnormal circuit conditions such as those of a short circuit... ron he tein of ews fei by hana ng anda raking ones en ein nes ur tome ene oes radia amas etek Spiel cis Got code i sss at ce Sriraotebadebeneitrarsy ann, _clasafcation of Grou Breakers | This very essential equipment plays the important role for the an oy San pred quenching medium immediate disconnection of power supply for any kind of fault occurrence Se ee eee nee Ast rot tr EC) iio stn y gogo ese yo pee eres mim Ot Get beer (MOC) Te aod ay Tahar dang he daoenecin, ent { SHOU Ct Beer (B0CB) ynching mediums are generally provided ck and fe amv yo ny ine] Pe ‘Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF,) Circuit Breaker isconnecton, suitable operating mechanisms are used. i Definition of Circuit Breaker:- General dafntion by the Intematonal According to the operating mechanism 4. Pneumatic (compressed air provides the required thrust ) Eletotectrical Commission (IEC) : “Circuit breakers are mecharical switching devices, capable of 2 Hyeraulie (high pressure hydraulic all of approximately 310 Kolo used for opening and closing operations making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions‘ering (During cose, charged spring discharges and simultaneously harges the opening pring) cording to breaking type Sage break ccut breaker Double break circuit breaker Thee break crcuit breaker Four break circuit breaker jording to on number of quenching chamber nd break ‘Single break’ One quenching medium per pole with one fixed and ‘one maving contact for breaker operation. “wo quenching mediums por pol with two fied and ‘wo moving contact for breaker operation. Three quenching mediums per pole with three main and three maving contacts for breaker operton. Four quenching mediums per pole wth four main and four moving contacts for breaker operation Based on voltage 1 Low-less than 1kV I Nedium- 1kV to 52K GE HigtEatra High-66KV to 765KV. B. Utra High above 765kV Based on application 4, Indoor 2 Outdoor Based on external design Dead tenk 2 Live tank Choice. of the Breaker This equipment isthe final breaking point forthe interruption of power ow in the circuit, So, during this break the electrical parameters like Yotage and current on this instument change - and to avoid the Double break: Thee broak: Four break Dead Tank. Vhs ae ff Us of number of interrupting chambers ‘The voltage dealing across this equipment and break point omit the ‘park in the quenching chamber, the use ofthe chamber is decided ~ and a8 per the practice it becomes safe to use one chamber up to votage class of 245 kV as one chamber and then more as per the increase of the vollage handing situation by this element 1 Up to 245 kV ONE [2 | 2asKv to se0 nv TWO 3 | 550 KV up 00K FOUR ice to electrical requirements ‘The optimum conditions lke Breaking Capacity, TRV (Transient Recovery Voltage), Capacitive and out of phase switching condition are to be complied during choice ofthe beaker forthe circuit Choice of interruption time ‘The interruption time is one of the important factors forthe protection scheme for the circuit breaker - and becomes citcal forthe case of higher system voltage application, So, choice of this factor to be ‘considered as per the practice in the followin Voltage | Close 2 132_| 150 | 40 zo | 10 | 5 | 35 : 40 | io [| 2 | 35 | 1224 5 Control of switching over voltage For condon ike unloaded long tne, switching of shunt reactors, the transformers loaded with reactors etc. result over votage inthe sytem. ‘Adding of CLOSING RESISTORS reduces the damping of over voages. meee Live Tank.Air Compressed Oil air Figure 1 Mechanical, electrical endurance ‘The mechanical and electrical endurance mits of Circuit Breakers must confi to all the relevant electrical standards Selection of switching scheme Celculation of available faut current for Breaker, Main bus continuous ‘current rating selection, Current and potential transformer selection. Other factors The other factors lke choice of protective relay selection, cicuit breaker control power selection, operating mechanism died, space for instalation etc ae to be considered forthe design of Circuit Breakers Latest Development in Switch Gears Considering the diferent poins/factors. as described above, different manufacturers regarding Breaker construction have achieved many developments The commonly used Circuit Breakers for diferent rating voltages have been explained below. The graph shown in four tis on of the tentative votage class practices that could be used for the choice of Circuit Breaker. Up to voltage range of 36 kV CB is one of the best suitable choices of Circuit Breaker upto the voltage range of 36 KV because ofits following advantages + Rapidly restoring nature of dielectric strength ofthe gap. + Short travel stoke at low pressure requires lesser contol energy, which in tum results in reduced size and weight of Circuit Breaker. ‘= Moreover, the operating mechanism for such Circit Breaker is of (spring spring) in nature. Tis mechanism becomes more reliable due to lesser moving pats involved forthe operation. But the only disadvantage inthe use of VCBs is the precaution in maintenance of Vacuum during its operation. However, this Circuit Breaker has gained maximum populaty for 36 KV range. Vacuum SF, Voltage range of 72 kV up to 800 kV For higher votage range, SF, gas is used as the arc-quenching medium in a hermetically sealed chamber. SF, gas is boing extensively used now-e-days, due fo its inherent property of immunity to the climatic ‘and environmental condition Advantages of SF, gas * Colorless, edouress non-flammable, non-toxic bilogicaly inert + High cele strength (RRRV 25 x i) ‘+ High ac interupton capability (10x i) + High heat transfer characteristics (2 x ain) * Insulating properties remein uratered as carbon is absent inthe molecules + Remains without condensation upto -30 degree temperature + Density i 6 times as of ac + Chemical stable / non-corrosive # easy to handle +. Electronegatve in nature. Function of SF, during puffing During breaker operation, the contact movement creates the puter ‘action, which momentaly increases the dlelectic strength and arc ‘extinguishing properties of SF, gas. During contact opening, the puter ‘ction forces 2 pressurised stream inthe form of axa et in whirpoo formation) of SF, gas through contac area, cooing and extinguishing the are atcurent zero. The action moves a lage volume of SF, gas through the are zone to absorb heat ~ andthe fee-electrons from the plasma ‘uicky reduce arc eneray. Puller action means minimum contact erosion ‘and longer contacts ite. Concepts on Circuit Breakers Graphic representation of switching action of breaker While switching the circu, the electical elements that come across the system are of tree types (Resistive, Inductive and Capacitive). This paregraph deserbes the fow of curent and its waveform analysis forthe votage applcaton to the load. Basically, for resistive, the curent becomes in phase othe application of vliage and lags tothe vliaga for inductive load and leas to the votage for capacitive lad. The deta ‘euit and explanation is ven below for cru reference Graphic representation of current interruption in circuit breaker The cunt ilsrupton flow and is behaviour can be shown in the raph representation form as shown below. Graphic representation of switching action Resistance Switching -Votage & Curent are in phase “htourten zero, Vokage 8 zero ‘Sie idea Sewcnng Corson 7Inductive Switching Veta Energy wevete + Caren camnat change instantaneously Interruption of Low Magnetizing Current Interruption of Magnetzing Curent of Transformer & Shunt Reactor Charen Vtg iy? 7 + opingss = Cmevazeonne | | Vorage ees bo Capacitance Switching Curent toning in Capscior Ge Energy Cacactor v weno + Votage acces © cannot change irstantneovay Curent ade Vonage by 908 ‘eure 320 vokage at paak + Closing of CapactveCstent eas to caren mush + Causes Prearcing between C8, conscts samples Siching ot Capactoy Bones and Unloaded Tanemssion Lines Graphic representation of current interruption U (between contacts) Effective current breaking of contacts. ein ‘Volage Notes on contact resistance 100.A0C current passe through main contacts 8 voltage across the terminals of the circuit breaker is measured. The contact resistance is calculate by V= IR formula, The acceptance mit fr contact resistances 1.2" Ru, where Ruis he contact resistance measured during temperature rise test. Notes on DCRM (Dynamic Contact Resistance Measurement) “The Normal Resistance Measurement is done as the rato of vllage ‘applied across the main contact to the current passes through i But uring breaker operation, the arc resistance plays the important role to ‘monitor the status ofthe main and arcing contact ~ and calculated inthe form of DCRM. So, Dynamic Contact Resistance Measurement is @ signature of change in contact resistance of CB during operation pls ‘the vation in contact resistance while first the main, then the arcing contacts engage and disengage during CO operation Rog = RvR) = nl +), 1 Main contact, R= Arcing contacts Comparison on concepts of contact resistance and dynamic contact resistance ‘Contact Resistance Dynamic Contact Resistance ‘The CB isin dosed condition during |The CB undergoes CO operation measurement during measurement Curent injected in CB contacts |The cuents injected in CB and mili volt drop is measured only | contacts and continuous at once samples of mlvot drop are taken The contact resistance value Thus contact resistance variation reflects the contact resistance at | ofboth main and arcing contacts that partcular contact condition only | measured on time scale Notes on dew point measurement In general, the dew point of SF, is defined as the temperature at which the gas in the breaker stats condensing. The measurement ofthis point is done either at the atmosoheric pressure or atthe reted pressure, Dew Point when measured keeping reguating valve in service atthe outlet of {ew point ki to alow required flow rate of gasiar, itis caled dew point a Fated pressure of CB and wen measured by regulating the gas fow aTypical DCRM graph for healthy pole... ‘cS Typical DCRM graph for suspected pole... onc 323 Data on Breaker System es 4 oaL_| 20140 2 BHEL | 21190 st ABB 200 50. AREVA| 180 6 ooaas EE kv (CLOSING COIL STROKE 501055 501055 501055 501055 GAP BET TRIGGER & AP LEVER 25035 251035 251035 251035 GAP BETAP LEVER & AP PIN 151030 151030 151030 151030 TRP COI STROKE 21025 261032 2.11025 161019 TRIP COIL GAP BET PLUNGER & TRIGGER 06.010 10t014 061010 08010 Important Practice Data on the Circuit Breaker (Max) Max | Rated 160 als 100 Value ales 120 36 [1284 5 180 the inlet of dew point kit and keeping outlet regulating valve in fully open -conaiition, then itis called dew point at atmospheric pressure, Notes on moisture effect to SF, gas ‘When arc results during breaker operation, SF, ges decomposes due to the chemical reaction wth he eroded particles. I the moisture remsins ‘due to leakage, the chemical reaction also causes the degradation of insulation and corrosion in the interrupting chamber. So, the trace of objectionable moisture isto be done. Dew paint measurement helps in ‘monitoring this trace i the SF, chamber. List of routine tests conducted on circuit breakers * Mechanical operation tests Electical sequence test (contol & aunliary cout check) Measurement of speed & time (no load operating characteristic) cRM DORM test and Analysis Ml vot drop test contact esistance measurement ) High votage test on main cuit+ High vollage test on conto & auxiliary circuit + Gas leakage tests + Gas density switch operation tests + Measurement of tipping & closing col resistance + aliage withstand test on contol circuit *+ Power frequency withstand test on main circuit + High pressure test on hydraulic mechanism ‘+ Pump charging ime for operations + Leak testing hydraulic mechanism +N, ek test on accumulator + Replenishing ime measurement for compressed air + Airpressure switches operation + Safety valve operation + Airleakage test * Operational Analysis + C8 Tan Data of grating capaciors Type tests + High power tests i Diet tess iL Syatetc tests = Short cruitests — Switching performance tests + High votage tests ‘+ Moghonical and envionment ests Temperature ise test Notes on Condition Monitoring Health monitoring of the circuit Breaker can be done in various methods either ON- Line or OFFclne practices. On line condition monitoring techniques 4. SF, gas pressure monitoring 2. Tip coll supenision 3. Auxiliary contacts operating timings 4. Contact speed measurement by insaling tanstuers 5, Line curent and cumulative fait curent using extemal c- under evaluation OFF line condition assessment techniques 4. Operating timings of main and euilay contacts Tipllose col currents measurement Sialic contact resistance measurement- Vibration measurement under evaluation stage Contact ravel measurement Dew point measurement of SF, gas Dynamic contact resistance measurement Tan deta measurement of gracing capaciors, —* ® bal