Lecture: 01 (07/08/2019).

 Switchgear: Switchgear is a general term, covering a wide range of equipment

concerned with switching and protection.
 Control gear: Control gear is used for switching and controlling power consuming
device.
Main components of a switchgear:
1. Circuit breaker.
2. Isolator.
3. Earthing switch.
4. Lightning and surge arrestor.
5. Fuse
*** Sequence of operation of Circuit Breaker:

For off (Open) For on (Closing)

1. CB off 1. Earthing switch off.
2. Isolator off. 2. Isolator on.
3. Earthing switch on. 3. CB on.

*** Why switching is required?

1. To permit apparatus and circuit to be conventionally put into or taken out of service.
2. To permit appropriate and safe isolation of apparatus and circuit automatically in a
predetermined time period when they develop fault.

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*** Requirement of Circuit breaker.
1. The normal working current and short circuit current must be safely interrupted by circuit
breaker.
2. The faulty section of the system must be isolated as quickly as possible with minimum
delay.
3. It should not operate with flow of over current during healthy condition.
4. The faulty circuit must only be isolated without effecting the healthy one.

Lecture: 02 (09/09/2019).
*** Sequence of operation for fault clearing:

Fault

Relay sense the fault and close the trip circuit

Energize the trip coil

Contact start to apart, arc is drawn between the contacts of circuit breaker

Arc is extinguishing at the instant when the fault current become zero by the suitable technique

Arc is interrupted or fault is cleared

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 Trip circuit:

The protected circuit “X” is shown by dashed line. When a fault occurs in the protected circuit,
the relay (2) connected to the CT and PT actuates and closes its contacts (6). Current flows from
the battery (5) in the trip circuit (4). As the trip coil of the circuit breaker (3) is energized, the
circuit breaker operating mechanism is actuated and it operates for the opening operation.
Auxiliary switch is an important item in the circuit.

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*** Trip free feature of Circuit Breaker.
Suppose, the breaker has been instructed to close by manual instruction by pushing of push
button. The operating mechanism will start operating for closing operation. Meanwhile a fault
has taken place and a relay close the trip circuit of the breaker. The trip free mechanisms permit
the circuit breaker to be tripped by the protective relay even if it is under the process of closing.
This feature is called trip free feature.
Interlocking: Interlocking devices are those which make to operation of the switching device
upon the position or operation of other equipment. Interlock are provided as a safety measure
against erroneous operation of a switching device.
Two types of interlocks:
1. Electrical interlock.
2. Mechanical interlock.
1. Electrical interlock:
1) Electrical interlocks can be used between remote equipment.
2) It comprises of a coil and a bolt.
3) When the coil is energized the bolt is drawn by the magnetic attraction and interlocking is
achieved.
2. Mechanical interlock:
1) It can be provided for operating mechanism of two adjacent equipment.
2) Interlocking is provided between circuit breaker, isolator and earthing switch to ensure
the following sequence:
While opening While closing
Frist to open the circuit breaker. Opening of ES.
Next to open - Isolator. Close isolator.
Then close the ES. Then close the CB.

Auxiliary switch:
1. Indication.
2. Electrical interlock.
3. Connection for relaying.

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 *** Basic operation of a circuit breaker.

TC
CT
Power supply
Handle

Contact open

Fixed contact
Contact lose Moving/ Sliding contact

Circuit breaker consists of two contacts a fixed and a moving. A handle is attached at the end of
the moving contact. It can be operated automatically and manually. The automatic operation need
to separate mechanism which consist of a trip coil. The trip coil is energized by the secondary of
the circuit. The terminal of the circuit breaker is brought to the power supply. Under normal
working condition the end produced in the secondary winding of Transformer is insufficient to
energize the trip coil completely for its operation.
Thus the contacts remain in closed position carrying the normal working current. The contacts can
be opened manually by the handle also.
Under abnormal working condition high current in the primary windings of CT induces sufficient
high current in the secondary windings. So that the trip coil is energized. This will start opening
of the contacts are moved towards right away from the fixed contact. The separation of contacts
will not lead to breaking or interruption of circuit. As an arc is stuck between the contacts the
production of arc delays the current interruption and in addition it produces a large amount of heat
which may damage the circuit breaker or system. Thus it become necessary to extinguish the arc
as early as possible. So that heat produced will lie within the allowable time. This will also ensure
that that the mechanical stress produced on the parts of circuit breaker are less.
The time interval which is past in between the energization of the trip coil to the instant of contact
selection is called the opening time. It depends on the fault current/level. The time interval from
the contact separation to the extinction of the arc is called arching time. It depends not only the
fault current but also on the availability of voltage for maintenance of arc and mechanism used for
extinction of arc.

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 Lecture: 03 (11/09/2019).
 Rating of circuit breaker: Some important rating or characteristics that must be poses
by every HV, AC, CB.
 Rated voltage.
 Rated insulation level.
 Rated normal current.
 Rated frequency.
 Rated duration of SC.
 Rated SC breaking capacity.
 Rated SC making capacity.
 Rated peak withstand current.
 Rated TRV for terminal fault.
 Rated operated sequence.
 Rated supply voltage for opening and closing devices and auxiliary switches.
 Rated pressure of compressed gas for interruption.

*** Breaking capacity (Rupturing capacity).

a). Breaking capacity: It is current (r.m.s.) that a circuit breaker is capable of breaking at
given recovery voltage and under specified conditions (e.g., power factor, rate of rise of re-
striking voltage).
= √3 × 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 × 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡
= √3 × 𝑘𝑉 × 𝑘𝐴 = 𝑀𝑉𝐴
b). Making current: The peak value of current during the first cycle of current wave after the
closure of circuit breaker is known as making capacity.
∴ Making capacity =2·55 × Symmetrical breaking capacity

c). Short time rating: It is the period for which the circuit breaker is able to carry fault current
while remaining closed.

Mathematics
Example 19.1. A circuit breaker is rated as 1500 A, 1000 MVA, 33 kV, 3-second, 3-phase oil
circuit breaker. Find (i) rated normal current (ii) breaking capacity (iii) rated symmetrical breaking
current (iv) rated making current (v) short-time rating (vi) rated service voltage.
Solution.
(i) Rated normal current = 1500 A
(ii) Breaking capacity = 1000 MVA

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  Types of circuit breaker.
Answer:
1. Air CB (ACB). MCB
2. Oil CB (OCB). MCCB.
3. SF6 CB
4. Vacuum CB (VCB).
5. Air blast CB (ABCB).

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