Circuit Breaker

Air Blast CB
 These breakers use compressed air (at a pressure of 30 kg/cm2) or gas as an
arc interrupting medium.
 In air blast circuit breakers, highly compressed air is used, so these breakers
are also called compressed air circuit breakers.
 The contacts are opened in a flow of air-blast established by the opening of
blast valve.
 The air-blast cools the arc and sweeps away the arcing products to the
atmosphere.
 This rapidly increases the dielectric strength of the medium between contacts
and prevents from re-establishing the arc.
 Consequently, the arc is extinguished and flow of current is interrupted.
Construction of ABCB
 The air blast CB consists of a fixed
contact and a moving contact, enclosed in
an arc extinction chamber.
 Compressed air is stored in the tank. when
the fault occurs fixed and moving contacts
are separated and the arc is produced
between the contacts.
 During this blast valve of the breaker are
opened and a high-pressure air blast cools
down the arc and sweeps away ionized
particle of air due to the arc.
Construction of ABCB
 This rapidly increases the dielectric
strength of the medium between the fixed
and moving contacts and prevents from
re-striking of the arc.
 By this way arc is extinguished and the
current is interrupted.
Advantages of ABCB
 The risk of fire is eliminated.
 The arcing products are completely removed by the blast whereas the oil deteriorates
with successive operations; the expense of regular oil replacement is avoided.
 The growth of dielectric strength is so rapid that final contact gap needed for arc
extinction is very small. This reduces the size of the device.
 The arcing time is very small due to the rapid buildup of dielectric strength between
contacts. Therefore, the arc energy is only a fraction of that in oil circuit breakers,
thus resulting in less burning of contacts.
 Due to lesser arc energy, air-blast circuit breakers are very suitable for conditions
where frequent operation is required.
 The energy supplied for arc extinction is obtained from high pressure air and is
independent of the current to be interrupted.
Disadvantages of ABCB
 The air has relatively inferior arc extinguishing properties.
 The air-blast circuit breakers are very sensitive to the variations in the rate of
rise of re-striking voltage.
 Considerable maintenance is required for the compressor plant which supplies
the air-blast.
 The air blast circuit breakers are finding wide applications in high voltage
installations. Majority of the circuit breakers for voltages beyond 110 kV are
of this type.
Types of ABCB
Depending upon the direction of air-blast in relation to the arc, air-blast circuit
breakers are classified into:
(i) Axial-blast type in which blasting of air is done directly along the arc path.
(ii)Cross-blast type in which blasting of air is done at right angles to the arc path.
(iii) Radial-blast type in which the air-blast is directed radially.
Types of ABCB
Axial-blast ACB:
 The fixed and moving contacts are held in the
closed position by spring pressure under
normal conditions. The air reservoir is
connected to the arcing chamber through an air
valve.
 This valve remains closed under normal
conditions but opens automatically by the
tripping impulse when a fault occurs on the
system.
 When a fault occurs, the tripping impulse
causes opening of the air valve which connects
the circuit breaker reservoir to the arcing
chamber.
Types of Air Blast CB
Axial-blast ACB:
 The high pressure air entering the arcing
chamber pushes away the moving contact
against spring pressure.
 The moving contact is separated and an arc
is struck.
 At the same time, high pressure air blast
flows along the arc and takes away the
ionized gases along with it.
 Consequently, the arc is extinguished and
current flow is interrupted.
Types of Air Blast CB
Axial Blast ACB
 It may be noted that in such circuit breakers, the contact separation
required for interruption is generally small (1·75 cm or so).
 Such a small gap may constitute inadequate clearance for the normal
service voltage. Therefore, an isolating switch is incorporated as a part of
this type of circuit breaker.
 This switch opens immediately after fault interruption to provide the
necessary clearance for insulation.
Types of ABCB
Cross-blast ACB:
 In this type of circuit breaker, an air-blast is
directed at right angles to the arc.
 The cross-blast lengthens and forces the arc
into a suitable chute for arc extinction.
 In this breaker, when the moving contact is
withdrawn, an arc is struck between the
fixed and moving contacts.
 The high pressure cross-blast forces the arc
into a chute consisting of arc splitters and
baffles.
Types of ABCB
Cross-blast ACB:
 The splitters serve to increase the length of
the arc and baffles give improved cooling.
 The result is that arc is extinguished and
flow of current is interrupted.
 Since blast pressure is same for all currents,
the inefficiency at low currents is
eliminated.
 The final gap for interruption is great
enough to give normal insulation clearance
so that a series isolating switch is not
necessary.
Types of ABCB
Radial blast ACB:
 It is based on the double blast working
principle.
 Here, the air blast is admitted radially into
the fixed contact and moving contact within
the arc extinction chamber.
 The flow in the arching region is axial, i.e,
it is along the direction of the arc formation.
 The resistance switching in this
 There is an increase in the number of circuit breaker leads to reducing
brakes, increasing the efficiency at extra the transient over voltages in the
high voltage. system.
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) Circuit Breakers
 A circuit breaker in which SF6 gas is
used to extinguish the arc is called
SF6 circuit breaker.
 SF6 (Sulphur hexafluoride) gas has
high dielectric strength which is acts
as a good arc quenching medium.
 It is an electro-negative gas and has
strong tendency to absorb free
electrons. Which proves its
superiority over other arc quenching
mediums such as oil or air.
SF6 CB
 SF6 circuit breakers are most
suitable for high power services.
They are made up in the range of
3.6KV to 760KV
 A typical SF6 circuit breaker
consists of interrupter units each
capable of dealing with currents up
to 60kA and voltages in the range
of 50-8-kV.
Properties of SF6 CB
 SF6 gas is colorless, odorless
 It is non-toxic and non-flammable gas
 Nonhazardous
 SF6 gas is heavy with density 5 times than air at a 20 degree temperature.
 Has excellent heat transfer property
Chemical properties of SF6 Gas
 SF6 gas is chemically stable at standard atmospheric pressure and
temperature
 Chemically inert gas
 Non corrosive at ambient temperature
 Electro negative gas
 It recombines in a short time after arc extinguish
Properties of SF6 CB
Dielectric Properties
 The dielectric strength of SF6 gas is 2.35 times that of air at atmospheric
pressure.
 At higher pressure dielectric strength of gas increases.
SF6 CB
How SF6 gas quench the arc?
 SF6 gas is an electronegative gas, it means that it has high tendency to absorb
the free electrons.
 When there is a fault in the system, then the current carrying contacts starts
separating and an arc struck between them due to ionization of the
surrounding medium. Huge number of free electrons generated due this
ionization.
 When the SF6 gas molecule reacts with the free electrons, then they form
negative immobile ions which is shown by the reaction below.
SF6 CB
How SF6 gas quench the arc?
 These negative immobile ions are heavier as compared to free electrons and
they do not get sufficient energy to lead cumulative ionization in the gas
under a given electric field.

 This process makes dielectric strength of the medium very high and the arc
gets extinguished. SF6 gas cools the arc much effectively..
Construction of SF6 CB
Construction of SF6 CB
 SF6 CB consists of two-part mainly arc interrupter unit and gas unit.
 The fixed and moving contacts enclosed in arc interruption chamber
containing SF6 gas.
 This chamber is connected to SF6 gas reservoir.
 When the contacts of breaker are opened, the valve mechanism permits a
high pressure SF6 gas from the reservoir to flow towards the arc interruption
chamber.
 The fixed contact is a hollow cylindrical current carrying contact fitted with
an arc horn.
Construction of SF6 CB
 The moving contact is also a hollow cylinder with rectangular holes in the
sides to permit the SF6 gas to let out through these holes after flowing along
and across the arc.
 The tips of fixed contact, moving contact and arcing horn are coated with
copper-tungsten arc resistant material.
 Since SF6 gas is costly, it is reconditioned and reclaimed by suitable auxiliary
system after each operation of the breaker.
Working Principle of SF6 CB
In the closed position of the breaker, the contacts remain surrounded by SF6 gas
at a pressure of about 2·8 kg/cm2. When the breaker operates, the moving
contact is pulled apart and an arc is struck between the contacts. The movement
of the moving contact is synchronized with the opening of a valve which permits
SF6 gas at 14 kg/cm2 pressure from the reservoir to the arc interruption chamber.
The high pressure flow of SF6 rapidly absorbs the free electrons in the arc path
to form immobile negative ions which are ineffective as charge carriers. The
result is that the medium between the contacts quickly builds up high dielectric
strength and causes the extinction of the arc. After the breaker operation (i.e.,
after arc extinction), the valve is closed by the action of a set of springs.
Types of SF6 CB
1. Non puffer type
2. Single pressure puffer type
3. Double pressure puffer type
Advantages of SF6 CB
 The size of the SF6 breaker is small than a conventional circuit breaker of the
same rating
 SF6 gas is non-inflammable and chemically stable hence no danger of fire.
 As there are no carbon deposits, so insulation problems are neglected.
 Very short arcing time
 Quick operation
 Noiseless operation
 They can interrupt low as well as large currents
 As these breakers are totally sealed and enclosed, so they are particularly
suitable where fire explosion exists. E.g. Coal mines
 No moisture and dust problems
 Minimum maintenance required.
Disadvantages of SF6 CB
 These breakers are costly due to high cost of SF6 gas.
 Additional equipment is required to recombine and recondition the gas after
each operation.
 Imperfect joint may lead to leakage of gas.
 Arched SF6 gas is poisonous.
Vacuum CB
 A vacuum circuit breaker is a kind of circuit breaker
where the arc quenching takes place in a vacuum
medium.
 It is mainly used for medium voltage ranging from 11
KV to 33 KV.
 The vacuum has the highest insulating strength. So, it
has far superior arc quenching properties than any
other medium.
 The degree of vacuum is in the range of 10^-7 to 10^-
5 torr and very few molecules are present in the
interrupter.
Construction of VCB
 It is very simple in construction as
compared to any other circuit breaker.
 Their construction is mainly divided
into three parts, i.e., fixed contacts,
moving contact and arc shield which is
placed inside the vacuum interrupting
chamber.
 The outer insulating body is made with
glass and has a high vacuum capacity.
 The moving contact is connected to the
control mechanism by stainless steel
bellow.
Construction of VCB
 Alloys like, Copper-bismuth or copper-
chrome is the ideal material to make
VCB contacts plays an important role
in the performance of the vacuum
circuit breaker.
 The arc shield prevents the
deterioration of the internal dielectric
strength by preventing metallic vapors
from falling on the inside surface of the
outer insulating body.
 To reduce the leakage permanently, the
tight sealing of the chamber is done.
Working of VCB
 Initially, the fixed contact and moving
contact both are connected to each
other and the current flows through
them.
 But as soon as any fault occurs in the
system, the moving contact start
separating from the fixed contact and
arc phenomenon occurs between them.
 When the current carrying contacts are
pulled apart, the temperature of their
connecting parts is very high due to
which ionization occurs.
Working of VCB
 The production of the arc is due to the ionization of metal ions and depends
very much upon the material of contacts.
 The arc is quickly extinguished because the metal on the contact surface is
easily vaporized, electrons, and ions produced during arc are diffused in a
short time.
 Since vacuum has a very fast rate of recovery of dielectric strength, the arc
extinction in a vacuum breaker occurs with a short contact separation (say
0.625 cm).
Working of VCB
 The density of vapor depends on the current in the
arcing.
 When this arcing current reaches its first zero (at
half cycle) the dielectric strength of the vacuum
rapidly builds up and it interrupts the current at
first half cycle. The arc will not restrike because of
very high insulating strength of vacuum.
 Hence, the arc does not restrike again because the
high dielectric strength remove metal vapor
quickly from the contact zone.
Advantages of VCB
 There is no fire hazards or risk of fire.
 It has high-insulating properties.
 Vacuum is a superior dielectric
 These breakers are compact in size.
 Noiseless and quiet operation
 Arc energy is low as compared to other circuit breakers.
 They can also withstand lightning surges.
 They require less maintenance and it increase their life span.
 They are more efficient, less bulky, and less expensive.
 Does not require any further oil or gas filling.
Disadvantages of VCB
 Circuit breaker vacuum production requires advanced technologies.
 Extra care for leakage should be done.
 Their voltage range is limited and they can’t be used for higher voltage levels
like SF6 circuit breaker.
 If they are used for voltage level more than 36kV, then some units are to be
connected in series which increases complexity and cost.
Applications of VCB
 These circuit breakers are used both for indoor and outdoor applications.
 They are very useful for remote areas like hilly areas or rural areas because of
less maintenance and longer life.
 Vacuum circuit breakers are employed for Reactor switching, capacitor bank
switching, and Transformer switching.