Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Author
Andreas Nenning | Andreas.Nenning@Omicronenergy.com
Date
Oct 25, 2017
Application Area
Circuit Breakers
Keywords
Operation times, Dynamic Contact Resistance, Graphite Nozzle, Self-Blast, Puffer breaker
Version
V2.0
Document ID
ANP_17008_ENU
Abstract
Determining the operation times on circuit breakers with graphite nozzle is different to conventional ones.
This application note describes how the operation times of graphite nozzle based circuit breakers are
determined manually
General information
OMICRON electronics GmbH, including all international branch offices, is henceforth referred to as
OMICRON.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this Application Note represent the
technical status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this Application Note is useful, accurate and
entirely reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be
present.
OMICRON translates this Application Note from the source language English into a number of other
languages. Any translation of this document is undertaken for local requirements, and in the event of a
dispute between the English and a non-English version, the English version of this note shall govern.
All rights, including translation, reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming,
optical character recognition, and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit
consent of OMICRON. Reprinting, wholly or partly, is not permitted.
© OMICRON 2017. All rights reserved. This Application Note is a publication of OMICRON.
DANGER
Death or severe injury caused by high voltage or current if the respective
protective measures are not complied with.
Carefully read and understand the content of this Application Note as well
as the manuals of the systems involved before taking them into operation.
Please contact OMICRON support if you have any questions or doubts
regarding the safety or operating instructions.
Follow each instruction listed in the manuals, especially the safety
instructions, since this is the only way to avoid the danger that can occur
when working on high voltage or high current systems.
Only use the equipment involved according to its intended purpose to
guarantee safe operation.
Existing national safety standards for accident prevention and
environmental protection may supplement the equipment’s manual.
Only experienced and competent professionals that are trained for working in high voltage or high current
environments may implement this Application Note. Additionally, the following qualifications are required:
• Authorized to work in environments of energy generation, transmission or distribution, and familiar
with the approved operating practices in such environments.
• Familiar with the five safety rules.
• Good knowledge/proficient in working with the CIBANO 500 and its accessories
Puffer type SF6 circuit breakers where first introduced in 1957. This design uses mainly its electrohydraulic
operating mechanism to obtain the gas pressure to a level where it is capable to blast the arc via a nozzle. A
common Siemens nozzle design consists of a silver coated copper nozzle with graphite as arcing contact.
From 1980 onwards circuit breakers with so called self-blast chambers have been developed. This newer
type uses the arc energy to produce the required pressure for extinguishing the arc. The reduction in
required operating energy allows the use of spring operated mechanism.
This application note describes in detail how to measure the operation times on puffer-type SF6 circuit
breakers with the CIBANO 500.
Following product families of Siemens are equipped with puffer breaker and graphite twin nozzle technology.
> Live-Tank SF6 circuit breakers 3AQ and 3AT
> Gas insulated switchgear (GIS) until year 2000 (Generation 2 and 3)
The advantage of this technology is a very high rated short-circuit breaking current up to 80 kA. A property
which is highly appreciated for circuit breaker placed close to generator units.
Description
1. Terminals
2. Porcelain jacket
3. Contact tube support
4. Fixed contact tube
5. Moving contact tube
6. Yoke
7. Blast piston
8. Arc quenching nozzle (Graphite)
9. Contact finger, moving contact (Silver)
10. Contact spring
Figure 5 shows a puffer breaker with two graphite nozzles in closed position. The SF6 (1a) gas has nominal
pressure. As the tube starts to move during the opening operation the gas gets compressed (1b) and as
soon as the contact is separated the gas flows through the nozzles (Figure 6, 2). The intense gas flow cools
the arc (Figure 6, 3a). The forces from the gas flow and the magnetic field of the current are applied to the
plasma and results in a certain shape. The currents get reduced as the zero crossing is approached. Thus,
the forces applied to the plasma are reduced and the arc becomes longer which increases the resistance of
the current flow even further and results in an extinguished arc.
Per phase a CB MC2 and optional a CB TN3 is mounted onto the circuit breaker and connected to the
CIBANO via EtherCAT cables. The opening and closing solenoids are directly connected to the CIBANO
500.
For details follow the instructions in the CIBANO 500 user manual
> “Dynamic Contact Resistance test” (chapter 17.2.6 in PTM 4.10)
> “Testing circuit breakers with CIBANO 500 and the CB TN3 modules” (chapter 17.5 in PTM 4.10
Make sure the circuit breaker is grounded during the mounting of the CB MC2 to make sure the maximum
allowed touch voltage is not exceeded.
Use the adapter cable to connect the digital linear sensors from Siemens to the CB TN3. Make sure the CB
cannot be accidently operated when mounting the sensor.
Figure 11: Mounting CB MC2 and CB TN3 (optional) onto a circuit breaker
Figure 12: Linear sensor from OMICRON (prototype). Figure 13: Adapter for digital transducer of Siemens (VEHZ0947)
Made for this particular Siemens CB types. Will soon be
available as standard product. Please contact product
management if needed.
Siemens uses a dedicated digital linear sensor for graphite nozzle circuit breakers. This sensor is mounted
onto the moving rod. See Figure 14. OMICRON provides an adapter cable to connect this sensor to the CB
TN3. Soon there will be also be a dedicated OMICRON sensor. See Figure 12.
For the related PTM settings see Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 2: Known conversion factors for Siemens circuit breakers with graphite nozzle contact system
Select “Dynamic Contact Resistance Test” from within PTM and perform an Open and a Close operation.
Performing a motion measurement is optional.
Typical set-values
C-O threshold: 1 mOhm
Bounce filter: 0.5 ms
To obtain the silver-silver separation time (t2) set the C-O threshold to 1 mOhm. However, when the contact
fingers start moving (t1), the relatively high break-away resistance can exceed this threshold. Use the
bounce filter get rid of this disturbance. Typical bounce filter set value is 0.5 ms. Keep in mind that the
resistance at the silver-silver separation time is usually around 8 to 10 mOhm whereas the break-away
resistance will usually not exceed 2 mOhm
Procedure
Set cursor 1 to Silver-Silver separation (t2)
Set cursor 2 the nozzle length distance apart from cursor 1
Position of cursor 2 is equal Opening Time (t3)
Get CB specific values for Siemens 3AT 2 EE (245 kV / 3150A). See 6.2
Nozzle Length: 24 mm
Open Velocity: 7.5 m/s
Get CB specific values for Siemens 8D.5 (See 6.3 ) This is a GIS with two interrupter units.
Nozzle Length: 18.9 mm
Cursor 2 (green) becomes the opening time, which is in this case 32.05 ms.
Figure 25: Plot window. Black cursor shows silver-silver separation time, green cursor shows opening time. Distance between cursors is
equal nozzle length.
Procedure
Set cursor 1 to First Touch Silver-Silver (t4)
Set cursor 2 the nozzle length distance apart from cursor 1
Position of cursor 2 is equal Closing Time (t3)
Get CB specific values for Siemens 8D.5 See 6.3 .This is a GIS with two interrupter units.
Nozzle Length: 18.9 mm
Figure 31: Plot window with binary trace and resistance value. Cursor shows first silver-silver touch time.
Figure 33: Plot window. Black cursor shows silver-silver touch time, green cursor shows closing time. Distance between cursors is equal
nozzle length.
Naming convention
3AQ 1 EE: Three pole outdoor CB series Q
3AQ 1 EE: Interrupter units per pole
3AQ 1 EE: (E) hydraulic / (F) spring operated mechanism
3AQ 1 EE: (E) IPO on common base, (I) IPO on 3 separated bases, (G) Ganged operated on common base
Name Nozzle Length [mm] Open Velocity [m/s] Close Velocity [m/s]
Naming convention
3AT 2 EI: Three pole outdoor CB series T
3AQ 2 EI: Interrupter units per pole
3AQ 2 EI: (E) hydraulic / (F) spring operated mechanism
3AQ 2 EI: (E) IPO on common base, (I) IPO on 3 separated bases, (G) Ganged operated on common base
Name Nozzle Length [mm] Open Velocity [m/s] Close Velocity [m/s]
3AT 2 EE
(245 kV / 24.0 7.5 4.0
3150 A)
3AT 2 EI
(245 kV, 18.9
4000 A)
3AT 2 EI
24.0
(420 kV)
3AT 2 EI
22.6 9.0 4.0
(550 kV)
3AT 3 EI
22.6 9.0 4.0
(550 kV)
The first GIS generation from Siemens are called 8D.1 and 8D.2. They have been built between 1968 and
1977. The interrupting technology was a dual pressure breaker with a blowing valve and a hydraulic
operated mechanism.
The second generation was named 8D.2BK, 8D.4, 8D.5, 8D.6, 8D.8-1 and was built until 1986. They used
single pressure puffer breaker and a hydraulic operated mechanism.
Name Nozzle Length [mm] Open Velocity [m/s] Close Velocity [m/s]
8D.2 25.0
8D.5 18.9
The third GIS generation from Siemens are using an optimized puffer breaker and a hydraulic operated
mechanism.
They have been built between 1986 and 2000.
> 420 kV – 8DQ1
> 245 kV – 8DP3-Q2
> ≤ 170 kV – 8D.9-1, 8DP3-Q1 / V1
Name Nozzle Length [mm] Open Velocity [m/s] Close Velocity [m/s]
8DQ1-T2 24.0
8DQ1-T3 24.0
8DQ1-T4 17.0
Generation IV of Siemens GIS is using spring charged mechanism and dual motion self-blast interrupter
units. These units are produced until today and they do not need any specific considerations with respect to
timing calculations.
> 420 kV – 8DQ1
> 245 kV – 8DN9
> ≤ 170 kV – 8DN8
© OMICRON
www.omicronenergy.com Subject to change without notice.