Experiment: - Date:- / / /

AIM: IDENTIFY PARTS OF VARIUS CIRCUIT BREAKER &THEIR

SPECIFICATION.

Air-break circuit breaker:

Introduction:
The air at atmosphere pressure is used as an arc extinguishing medium in air-Break
circuit breakers. These are circuit-breaker employ the high resistance interruption principal. The
arc is rapidly lengthened by means of the arc runners and arc chutes and the resistance of the of
the arc is increased by cooling lengthening and splitting the arc. The arc resistance increased by
cooling lengthening and splitting the arc becomes more then the supply voltage and the arc
extinguished.

The air-Break circuit breakers are used in D.C. circuits and A.C. circuit up-to The
Air-Break circuit breakers arc generally indoor type and installed on vertical panels or indoor
draw-out type switchgear.

A.C. air break circuit-breakers are widely used in indoor medium voltage and low
voltage switchgear typical reference values of ratings of air-break circuit-breaker are:

460 V, 400-3500 A. 40-75KA.

3.3KV, 400-3500A. 13.1- 31.5KA.

6.6KV, 400-2500A. 13.1- 20KA.

Magnetic fields for lengthening the arc in high voltage air-break circuit break.

Construction:
In the air-break circuit-break the contact separation and arc extinction tanks place in air
at atmospheric pressure in fig shows the closed current carrying contacts. As the contacts are
opened are drawn between them. The arc core is a conducting path of plasma. The surrounding
medium contains ionized air. By cooling the arc, the diameter of arc core is reduced, the arc
extinguished by lengthening the arc, cooling the arc and splitting the arc. The arc resistance is
increased to such an extent that the system voltage cannot maintain the arc and the arc get
extinguished at current zero of ac wave.
 Fig: 1(A) Contact in closed

Fig: 1(B) Contact separated in air at atmospheric pressure

Closed contacts open contact

1) Main contact 5) arc splitter plates

2) Arcing contact 6) Current carrying terminals
3) Arc rising indirection of the arrow 7) arc runners
4) Arc getting split

Fig: 1(C) Arc extinction is air-break circuit-breaker.

 There are two set of contacts: Main contact and arcing contact. Main contacts conduct
the current in closed position of the breaker. They have low contact resistance and are silver plated.
The arcing contacts (2) are hard, heat resistance and are usually of copper alloy. While opening
the contacts the main contacts dislodge first. The current is shifted to the arcing contacts. The
arcing contacts dislodge later and arc is drawn between them. (3) This arc is forced upward by the
electromagnetic forced and thermal action. The arc ends along arc runner (arcing hover.) The arc
moves upwards and the splits by arc splitter plates. (4) As show by arrow. (5) The arc is
extinguished by lengthening, cooling splitting etc. In some breaker the arc is drown in the direction
of the splitter by magnetic field.

Arc Extinction of A.C. Air-break C.B.:

In A.C. air break circuit-breaker the arc is lengthened cool and spitted so as to increase
the resistance of the arc. The rapid increase in the arc-resistance causes the reduction in the fault
current and the fault current does not reach the prospective high value. The arc extinction process
is assisted by the current zeros in the A.C. wave. The voltage drop across the arc goes on increasing
with the increase in the arc resistance and at a current zero. When the recovery voltage across the
contact is less than the arc-voltage, the arc gets extinguished. The energy in the system inductance
at current zero. Hence the arc interruption is easier.

Air Blast Circuit-breaker:

Introduction:
Air blast circuit-Breaker where used before 1980 for 11 To 1100 KV. A compressor
plant is necessary to maintain high air pressure in air receiver.

During the period 1950-1970 air –blast circuit breakers where preferred for 220KV and
above however today SF6 circuit-breakers are preferred for this range.

Construction:
In air blast circuit-breaker, high pressure air is forced on the arc through a nozzle at the
instant of contact separation. The ionized medium between the contacts is blown away by the blast
of the air. After the arc extinction the chamber is filled with the high pressure air, which prevents
restrict. In some low capacity circuit breakers the isolator is an integral part of the circuit-breaker.
The circuit-breaker opens and immediately after that the isolator opens, to provide additional gap.

Fig: 2 (A) show one pole of the EHV air blast circuit-breaker. In the complete assembly
there are three identical poles.
 Fig: 2, (A) one pole Air blast circuit breaker:
Description: High pressure air, at a pressure between 20 to 30 atm is stored in the Air
reservoir (Item 1 in Fig.2 (A).Air is taken from compressed air system.

Three hollow insulator columns (Item 2) are mounted on the reservoir with valves (6)
at their base. The double arc extinguishing chambers (3) are mounted on the top of the hollow
Insulator chambers. The current carrying parts (9) connect the three arc extinction chambers to
each in series and the pole to the neighboring equipment. Since there exists a very high voltage
between the conductors and the air reservoir, the entire arc extinction chamber assembly is
mounted on insulators.
 Fig: 2 (b) Details of (3) Double arc extinction chamber

Sr.no Item Nos. Material

1 Tank air reservoir (receiver) 1 plate steel
2 Hollow insulator assembly 3 Steatite
3 Double arc extinction chamber 3 Assembly)
4 Pneumatic operating mechanism 1
5 Operating rod 1 Steel
6 Pneumatic valve -
7 Fixed contact (in 3) 3 Copper, or its alloy
8 Moving contact (in 3) 2 Copper, silver or its alloy
9 Connection for current - Copper or its alloy
10 Compression springs 6 Alloy steel
11 Openings for air outlet 6 --
12 Arcing horns Optional 4 Steel
13 Resistance switching unit 3 Alloy steel
14 Enclosure 6 Porcelain
15 Port -
Table1.1 double arc extinction chambers
The detail of the double arc extinction chamber (3) arc show in fig 1.2 (B) since there are
three double arc extinction poles in series, there double arc extinction poles in series, there are six breakers
per pole. Each arc extinction chamber fig 2 (b) (6) 1 consist of one twin fixed contact (7). There are two
moving contact (8) which are show in the opening process. The moving contact can move axially so as to
open 0r close. Its position open or close depends on air pressure and spring (10) Pressure.
The operating mechanism (3) operates the load (5) when it gets a pneumatic or electrical signal.
The valves (6) open so jig to send the high pressure air in the hollow of the insulator. The high pressure air
rapidly enters the double arc extinction chamber in fig 1.2 (B) as the air enters the double arc extinction
chamber the pressure on the moving contacts (8) becomes more then spring pressure and contacts open.
The contact travel through a short distance against the spring pressure. At the end of contact
travel the port out going air (15) is closed by the moving contact and the entire arc extinction chamber is
filled with high pressure air, as the air is not allowed to go out. However, during the arcing period the air
goes out through the operating (11) and takes away the ionized air of arc.
While closing the value is turned so as to close connection between the hollow the
insulator and the reservoir. The value lets the air from the hollow insulator to the atmosphere. As
a result the pressure of air in the arc extinction chamber is dropped drown to the atmospheric
pressure and the moving contact close over the fixed contacts by spring pressure.
Air blast circuit-breaker was preferred for arc furnace Duty and traction system,
because they were suitable for repeated duty. Now vacuum circuit breakers are preferred for these
duties up-to rated voltage of 33 KV.

In multi-unit breaker grading capacitors are connected across the interrupter unit for
the equal distribution of voltage between the units. Closing resister are connected across the
interrupter units for limiting the over voltages during closing operation. Opening resister is
connected across the interrupter units to make the circuit breakers restrict free
Specification for Air circuit breaker (415 V)

UKAI THERAMAL POWER STATION (GSECL).

SR. Parameter GSEL, Ukai Thermal Power
NO. station
1 Name of manufacturer L&T/SIMENS/ABB/CGL/
Schneider/CC&S
2 Type of circuit breaker ACB Draw out type
3 Conforming standard IS:13947-2 IEC 60947-2, EN
60947-2& GB 14048.2
4 No. of pole 3
5 Rated operational voltage Ue 415± 10%
6 Rated continuous current at 40˚C ambient 2500 amp
temperature. In
7 Rated Frequency 50 HZ ± 5%
8 Rated Impulse withstand voltage Ui 100 V
9 Rated Impulse withstand voltage Uimp 8 KV
10 Making capacity (KA peak), Icm up to 415 ±10% 143 KV
voltege
11 Rated service short circuit breaking capacity Ics up 65 To 80 KA rms
to 415± 10% voltage
12 Rated Ultimate short circuit breaking capacity Icu 65 To KV, Sec
up to 415±10% voltege
13 Rated short time withstand current and short time 65 KV rms, 1 sec.
delay Icw for 1 sec. up to 415± 10% voltage
14 Utilization category B
15 Breaker closing Time us ≤ 80
16 Breaker operating Time ≤ 40
Allowable No. of operation-cycle
17 Mechanical operation (minimum) 16000
Electrical operation (minimum) 10000
18 Auxiliary control circuit voltage 220V DC
Limits of voltage for satisfactory operation of the
following device as % age of normal voltage
19 (a) Spring charge motor 85 to 110 %
(b) Closing coil 85to110 %
85 Shunt trip coil 70 to 110 %
20 Service Temperature Up to 70˚C
21 Minimum No. of Auxiliary contact requirement 8NO + 8NC
22 Degree of protection IP 30
Bulk oil circuit breaker and Minimum oil circuit breaker:

Introduction:
Bulk oil circuit-breakers have becomes obsolete and has been described here in
brief.

In minimum oil circuit-breakers, dielectric oil is used as an arc quenching medium

and dielectric medium.

For voltage up-to 12KV, Minimum oil circuit breakers are generally enclosed in draw-
out type metal-clad switchgear.

For 245 KV and, above modular construction is necessary. In such a construction, the
twin interrupter units are connected in series in T or Y formation.

Minimum oil circuit breakers have the following diameters:

1) Short contact life 3) Frequency Maintenance

2) Possibility of Explosion 4) Larger arcing time for small currents

Tank type bulk oil circuit breaker:

Oil circuit breakers were widely used for rated up-to 72.5 KV before 1996. However
the popularity of this breaker is decreasing and it is no more favored in modern installation. The
tank type circuit breakers have 3 separate tanks for 72.5 KV and above. For KV and below single
tank construction is popular. In single tank construction phase barriers are provided between
phases. Thos type of circuit breaker is used for indoor metal-clad draw out type switchgear up-to
12 KV. ABOVE 12 KV, it is usually of out-door type. Dielectric oil is used in circuit breaker as
an arc Extinction medium as well as insulating medium. It is also called transformer oil.

These causes led to the development of Minimum oil circuit breaker. As the name it-self signifies
the Minimum oil circuit breaker required is less oil. The arc extinction medium is dielectric oil,
the same as that used in tank type circuit breaker. There is no still tank but the arc extinction tank
but the arc extinction tanks place in porcelain containers
 Fig: 3 (A) Bulk oil circuit breaker

MINIMUM OIL CIRCUIT-BREAKER:

This type is also known as poor oil or small oil circuit breaker. In minimum oil circuit
breakers the current interruption takes place inside Interrupter. The enclosure of the interrupter is
made of insulating material like porcelain. Hence the clearance between the live parts and the
enclosure can be reduced and lesser quantity of oil required for internal insulation. One pole of a
3 pole out-door minimum oil circuit breaker is illustrated in fig .4

Fig: 3 (B) one interrupter pole, Minimum oil circuit breaker:

 There are two chambers 3 and 4 separated from each other, but both filled with
chamber. The oil from this chamber does not mix with that in the lower chamber. Lower chamber
acts like a dielectric support.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker:-

Introduction:
When to current carrying contact are separated in a vacuum model, an arc is drawn
between them .An intensely hot spot is created at the instant of contact separation from which
metal vapors shoot off, constituting plasma. The amount of vapor in the plasma is proportional to
the rate of vapors emission from the electrodes, hence to the arc current. Thereby the rate of vapors
emission tends to zero and the amount of plasma tends to zero. With the alternation current arc the
current decreases during a portion of wave, and tends to zero. Soon after natural current zero, the
remaining metal vapor condenses and the dielectric strength builds up rapidly, and restricting of
arc is prevented.

The vacuum circuit breaker comprises one and more sealed vacuum-interrupter units
per pole. The moving contact in the interrupter is connected to insulating operating rod linked with
the operating-mechanism. The contact travel is of the order of a few millimeters only. The
movement of the contact within the sealed interrupter units is permitted by metal- bellows.

The range of vacuum switching devices includes:

Vacuum interrupters rated 3.6/7.2/ 12/36 KV for Indoor metal-clad switchgear.

Vacuum interrupters rated 1.2/ 3.6/ 7.2 KV for indoor metal enclosed gear.

Vacuum interrupters rated 3.6/ 7.2/ 36 KV for out-door porcelain housed, single interrupter per
pole, circuit-breaker.

For voltages up-to 36 KV vacuum circuit breakers employing is single interrupter

unit have become extremely popular for metal-enclosed switchgear arc-furnace installations,
auxiliary switchgear in generating stations, and other industrial applications.

Single phase 25 KV, 25 KA vacuum Circuit breaker having two interrupters per
pole are used for railway track-side 25KV single phase substation. Vacuum devices have several
merits such as high speed of dielectric recovery after rapid and silent operation, suitability for
repeated operations, simple operating mechanisms, freedom from explosion, flexibility design,
long of life etc.

The unique merits of vacuum interrupters are small contact travel and less weight
of moving parts. The vacuum interrupters have very long life of the order of several thousand
operations on rated normal current. However for outdoor installations the external insulation
requirements must be fulfilled and the advantages of high dielectric strength of vacuum cannot be
fully utilized. Some must recently developed 36 KV-GIS utilize SF6 gas and insulations and
vacuum – interrupters for arc –interruption. Such GIS are commercially manufactured in India
(1995).

ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN IN HIGH VACUUM:

The pressures bellow about 10^5 mm of mercury are considered to be vacuum. The
charged particles from one electrode moving towards the other electrode at such a pressure are
unlikely to cause collision with residual gas molecules. Hence ionization by collision of particles
with atoms and molecules is less in vacuum relative to that in gas.

Keeping a small gap (0.5mm) between electrodes in vacuum if the voltage is

gradually, in- creased at a certain voltage the gap breaks down and current increases suddenly, this
phenomenon is called vacuum breakdown or vacuum spark.

Secondary emission takes place by bombardment of high energy on the surface of

electrodes. Next, the electrons emission takes place from the surface of the electrodes by virtue of
intense heat. The current leaves the electrodes from a few spots. The current densities are high at
these spots. The arc consists of a thin column of plasma. The core of the arc has high temperatures
of the order of 6000 temperature K to 1500 temperature K. At such temperatures the emission
taken place from the surface of the electrons, called thermal Emission summarizing electron
emission from the contact is the cause for arc formations in a vacuum switching device. The
electron emission taken place in various ways such as field emission. Thermal emission secondary
emission etc…
Construction of a vacuum Interrupter:
‘Interrupter’ is the sub-assembly a complete pole in which the arc interruption taken place. There
are two basic forms of vacuum interrupters.

Interrupter suitable for multi-units per pole.

Interrupter suitable for a single unit per pole.

The Interrupter is general consist of the following parts:

Enclosure:

The enclosure is made of impermeable insulating material like glass. The enclosure
must not be porous and should retain high vacuum of the order 10^-10 torr.

End Flanges:

The two end-flanges are made of non-magnetic metal.

The and-flags support the enclosure fixed contact; vapor condensing shields; bellow
and the protective-cover for the bellows:

Contact:

The contacts are made of large stem with large disc-shaped faces. The disk is
provided with symmetrical grooves in such a way that the segments of the two contacts are not in
the same line. The magnetic field set-up by the components of currents with such a geometric
causes the plasma of the arc to move rapidly over the contacts instead of remaining stable at one
point the concentration of the arc is thus prevented and the arc remain in diffused state. The sintered
material used for contact tip is generally copper-chromium or bismuth alloy.

Vapor condensing shields:

These metallic shields are supported on insulating housing such that they cover the
contact region the metal vapor released from the contact surface arcing is condensed on these
shields and is prevented from condensing on the insulating enclosure.

Metallic Bellows:

One end of the bellow is welded to the metal-flange. The other end is welded to the
moving contact. The bellows permit the sealed construction of the interrupter and yet permit
movement of the contact. Stainless steel bellows are generally used in vacuum interrupter. The
bellows are covered by a protective shield.
Seals: The sealing techniques are similar to those used by electronic value and power tube
manufacturers. These are like metal glass or metal ceramic seal.

In the switchgear installations, the interrupter is housed inside a sheet metal enclosure
and the metal flanges are supported on porcelain or epoxy insulators. The moving contact is
contacted to the operating mechanism by means of glass-fiber rod.

Specification for vacuum circuit breaker

(ABB) Company, (36 OR 40.5 KV)

Motor-operated mechanisms
Auxiliary Power Charging time
Voltage Consumption (minimum) s
(v) VA/W
AC
110 150 15
220 150 15
240 170 15
DC
24 130 15
30 130 15
48 130 15
60 130 15
110 140 15
125 160 15
220 140 15
240 150 15
 Technical specification:
Rated voltage KV 36 40.5
Rated frequency HZ 50/60 50/60
Rated lightning impulse withstand voltage KV 170 185
Rated power frequency withstands voltage (1 min.) KV Rate 70 95
of rise of transient recovery voltage kV/µs 0.57 0.69
Peak of transient recovery voltage KV 62 70
Rated operating sequence O-3min-CO-3min-CO
Rated operating sequence with auto-reclosing O-0.3s-CO-3min-CO

Breake Rated Rated Rated Rated short Rated Rated Pole Weigh
r type voltag curren short circuit short short canters fixed
e t circuit breaking circuit circuit fixed with
breaking current mreaking duration with draw-
current asymmetr.1) current , draw- able
symm.1) (peak)1) able
VD4 KV A KA KA KA S mm Approx.
kg
3612-25 36 1250 25 27.3 63 4 360- 320 290
280
3616-25 36 1600 320 290
3620-25 36 2000 355 340
3625-25 36 2500 355 340
3612-31 36 1250 31.5 34.3 80 4 360- 320 290
280
3616-31 36 1600 320 290
3620-31 36 2000 335 340
3625-31 36 2500 355 340
4012-25 40.5 1250 25 27.3 63 4 360- 290 290
280
4016-25 40.5 1600 290 290
4020-25 40.5 2000 340 340
4025-25 40.5 2500 340 340
4012-31 40.5 1250 31.5 34.3 80 4 360- 290 290
280
4016-31 40.5 1600 290 290
4020-31 40.5 2000 340 340
4025-31 40.5 2500 340 340

Signature:
.