VCB

Used with 3.3 KV to 33 kV voltage range

A Vacuum circuit breaker is a circuit breaker in which a vacuum is used to extinct the arc. It has dielectric recovery
character, excellent interruption, and can interrupt the high-frequency current which results from arc instability,
superimposed on the line frequency current.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker Module

Working principle of VCB

VCB has two contacts called electrodes which remain closed under normal operating conditions. When a fault occurs
in any part of the system, then the trip coil of the circuit breaker gets energized and finally, the contact gets
separated.

The moment contacts of the breaker are opened in a vacuum, an arc is produced between the contacts by the
ionization of metal vapors of contacts. Here the arc quickly gets extinguished, this happens because the electrons,
metallic vapors, and ions produced during the arc, condense quickly on the surface of the CB contacts, resulting in
quick recovery of dielectric strength.

Advantages
(i) They are compact, reliable and have longer life.
(ii) There are no fire hazards.

(iii) There is no generation of gas during and after operation.

(iv) They can interrupt any fault current.The outstanding feature of a VCB is that it can break any heavy fault current
perfectly just before the contacts reach the definite open position.

(v) They require little maintenance and are quiet in operation.

(vi) They can successfully withstand lightning surges.

(vii) They have low arc energy.

(viii) They have low inertia and hence require smaller power for control mechanism.

The degree of vacuum used is in the range from 10^-7 to 10^-5 torr. (1 torr = 1mm of Hg)

The operation of switching on and closing of current carrying contacts and interrelated arc interruption takes place in
a vacuum chamber in the breaker which is called vacuum interrupter.
Construction of Vacuum Circuit Breaker ( External and Internal View)