Introduction To Circuit Breakers

Introduction to Switching devices
▪ During the operation of the power system, It is often desirable and necessary to switch on and off
various circuits at normal or abnormal conditions
➢ Load break switch
▪ It is used to make or break the circuit under normal

operating condition
▪ It cannot break the circuit under fault conditions
▪ We can use a fuse in series with the witch to protect

against short circuits
➢ Fuse
▪ It breaks the circuit if a fault in a load causes too much current to flow
▪ The fuse contains a piece of wire that melts easily
▪ If the current going through the fuse is too great, the wire heats up until it melts
and breaks the circuit.
▪ When the fuse blows out during faults, It take quite some time to be replaced and restore
supply to consumers
➢ Circuit Breaker
▪ It can open or close the circuit under all conditions

(no load , rated load & short circuits )
▪ Circuit breaker can replace the switch and fuse

➢ Isolators
▪ Isolators can make or break the circuit under no load

condition only
▪ They are used to isolate a piece of equipment from other live

elements for the purpose of safety during maintenance and
repair
➢ Earthing Switch
▪ Main function of earth switch is to ground the isolated

bus/conductor
▪ It is interlinked with isolator, when isolator opens the circuit,

earth switch is closed & when isolator closes the circuit,
earth switch is opened.
➢ Disadvantages of fuses and switches
▪ A switch cannot break the circuit under short circuit conditions
▪ When a fuse blows out, it takes quite some time to replace it and restore supply to
the costumers.
▪ A fuse cannot successfully interrupt the heavy fault currents that result from faults on
large capacity circuits and high voltages.
➢ To overcome these disadvantages, we need a more dependable means of control and

that is obtained by the use of Circuit breaker.
Working of Circuit Breaker
❑ Definition of Circuit Breaker
▪ A circuit breaker is device which is used for switching and protection of various parts of
power system
▪ It can open or close the circuit, either manually or automatically under all conditions such
as no-load, full load, and short-circuit conditions.
➢ A circuit breaker can
• Make or break a circuit either manually or automatically under normal conditions.
• Breaks a circuit automatically under fault conditions.
• Make a circuit either manually or automatically under fault conditions

❑ Working of Circuit Breaker
A circuit breaker consists of two contacts, a fixed contact and a moving contact
➢ Under normal operation
• These contacts are touching each other and carrying the

current under normal conditions when the circuit is closed
• When the circuit breaker is closed ,the contacts engaged

each other under the pressure of a spring.
• During the normal operating condition, the arms of the circuit breaker can
be opened or closed for a switching and maintenance of the system
❑ Working of Circuit Breaker
➢ Under fault condition
• When fault occurs , the relay will sense the fault

and give a signal to the trip coil
• The trip coil gets energized, It will pull the

moving contact and the circuit breaker will
operate and finally the circuit will open.
❑ Types of Circuit Breakers
• Circuit breakers are mainly classified based on rated voltages
• Circuit breakers below rated voltage of 1000V are known as the low voltage circuit
breakers and above 1000V are called the high voltage circuit breakers.
➢ Types of HV & MV circuit breakers
1. Oil circuit breakers
2. Air blast circuit breakers
3. Vacuum circuit breakers
4. SF6 circuit breakers

❑ Types of Circuit Breakers
• Circuit breakers are mainly classified based on rated voltages
• Circuit breakers below rated voltage of 1000V are known as the low voltage circuit
breakers and above 1000V are called the high voltage circuit breakers.
➢ Types of LV circuit breakers
1. Miniature circuit breakers (MCB)
2. Molded Case circuit breakers (MCCB)
3. Air circuit breakers (ACB)

Arc Phenomena in Circuit Breaker
Fixed contact
▪ when the moving contact of circuit breaker begins to apart

from fixed contact, then the current density will increase at
their tip and this will increase the heat.
moving contact
Fixed contact
▪ when the moving contact of circuit breaker begins to apart

from fixed contact, then the current density will increase at
their tip and this will increase the heat.
ARC
▪ The heat generated will ionize the medium present around.
Ionization of that medium will give a path to current to flow and
it will lead to create an arc between the contacts.
▪ During the arcing period, the current flowing between the contacts depends upon the arc
resistance
▪ The greater the arc resistance, the smaller the current that flows between the contacts
➢ The arc resistance depends upon the following factors:
1. Degree of Ionization :
the arc resistance increases with the

decrease in the number of ionized particles
between the contacts.
resistance
2. Length of the arc :
the arc resistance increases with the

length of the arc i.e., separation
of contacts.
resistance
3. Cross section of the arc :
the arc resistance increases with the decrease in area of cross-section of the arc.
Methods of Arc Interruption
❑ There are two methods of arc extinction circuit breakers
1. High resistance method
2. Low resistance or current zero method

In this method, arc resistance is made to increase with time
The arc current current is reduced to a value insufficient to maintain the arc
The current is interrupted, or the arc is extinguished

There are two methods of arc extinction circuit breakers

The resistance of the arc may be increased by :
(a) Lengthening the arc
The resistance of the arc is directly proportional to its length
The length of the arc can be increased by increasing the gap

between contacts.

(b) Cooling the arc:
Cooling helps in the deionization of the medium between the

contacts
Efficient cooling may be obtained by a gas blast

directed along the arc.

(c) Reducing cross-section of the arc
The cross-section of the arc can be reduced by

letting the arc pass through a narrow opening or
by having smaller area of contacts.

(d) Splitting the arc:
The resistance of the arc can be increased by

splitting the arc into several smaller arcs
This can be done by using arc chutes


2. Low resistance or Current zero method
This method is applicable only in AC circuit interruption because there are natural zero of current
This is one of the most significant advantages of AC circuit for

arc interruption purpose because the current is not allowed to
rise again.
In this method, arc resistance is kept low until current is

zero where the arc extinguishes naturally

• When the arc current naturally comes to zero , there are two variables determine if the arc
will restrike again or not
1st : Rise of voltage across the contacts
2nd : Rise of the dielectric strength of the medium
• If the dielectric strength of the medium between contacts

is built up more rapidly than the voltage across the contacts,
the arc fails to restrike, and the current will be interrupted

The rapid increase of dielectric strength of the medium near current zero can be achieved by
(a) causing the ionized particles in the space between contacts to recombine into neutral molecules.
▪ It can be done by the replacement

of ionized medium by new fresh
insulating medium
Restriking Voltage &
Recovery Voltage
There are important terms related to circuit breaker analysis :
(1) Arc Voltage
o As soon as the contacts of the circuit breaker

separate, an arc is formed
o Arc voltage is the voltage that appears

across the contacts of the circuit breaker
during the arcing period
Recovery Voltage
(2) Restriking Voltage
o It is the transient voltage that appears across the

contacts at or near current zero during arcing
period
o At current zero, a high-frequency transient

voltage appears across the contacts
Recovery Voltage

Explanation
▪ When the current tends to zero at current zero

points , the energy stored in the circuit inductance
1
(2 𝐿 I2 ) tends to zero
▪ So, this energy is transferred to the capacitance

1
between C.B contacts ( C V2 )
2
Recovery Voltage

Explanation
𝟏 𝟏
𝑳 I2 𝑪 𝑽2
𝟐 𝟐
➢ Thus, the voltage across C.B contacts rapidly increases

developing restriking voltage
Recovery Voltage
▪ The arc will not restrike again if the the

dielectric strength of the medium between
contacts is built up more rapidly than the
restriking voltage
Recovery Voltage
(3) Recovery Voltage
▪ It is the normal frequency (50 Hz) rms

voltage that appears across the contacts of
the circuit breaker after final arc extinction
▪ It is approximately equal to the system

voltage.
Circuit Breaker Ratings
❑ The rating of the circuit breaker is given on the duties that are performed by it
❑ the circuit breaker is required to perform following three major duties under short circuit conditions.
➢ It is capable of breaking the faulty section of breaking capacity of the circuit breaker.
the system
➢ The circuit breaker must be capable of

making the circuit in the greatest Making capacity of the circuit breaker.
asymmetrical current in the current wave
➢ It must be capable of carrying fault safely for Short time capacity of the circuit breaker.
a short time while clearing the fault
❑ Circuit Breaker Ratings
(1) Rated voltage

• The rated maximum voltage of the circuit breaker is the highest RMS voltage, above nominal
voltage for which the circuit breaker is designed
• The rated voltage is depicted in KV rms and used phase to phase voltage for three phase circuit.
(2) Rated current

• It is the RMS value of the current with which the circuit breaker shall be able to carry at rated
frequency and at rated voltage continuously, under specified conditions.
(3) Rated frequency
• is the frequency at which it is designed to operate. Standard frequency is 50 Hz

(4) Breaking Capacity

• the highest number of short-circuit current that the breakers are capable of breaking under
specified conditions
• It is expressed in KA RMS at instant of contact separation
• The breaking capacities are divided into two types
1. Symmetrical breaking capacity of a circuit breaker
2. Asymmetrical breaking capacity of a circuit breaker.


➢ How to determine the breaking capacity of a C.B ?
• ABCD : envelop of S.C current

• EF : DC component of S.C current
• GH: instant of contact separation
• AC: instant at which short circuit occurs

• y: DC component of S.C current at instant of

contact separation
• X: Peak value of sinusoidal component of current

at instant of contact separation

1. Symmetrical breaking capacity of a circuit breaker
It is the RMS value of AC component


2. Asymmetrical breaking capacity of a circuit breaker
It is the RMS value of total current

(5) Making Capacity

• There is always the possibility that the circuit breaker is
closed under short circuit conditions
• The making current of the circuit breaker, when

closed on a short circuit, is the peak value of the Q
maximum current wave (including dc component)
• Making capacity = Q
(6) Short time capacity
• The short circuit current of a circuit breaker is the RMS value of current that a breaker can carry
in a fully closed condition without damage, for the specified time interval under prescribed
condition
• It is normally expressed regarding terms of KA for 1 seconds or 4 seconds. These ratings are
based on thermal limitation

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Introduction To Circuit Breakers

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Introduction to Switching devices

➢ Load break switch

▪ It is used to make or break the circuit under normal

▪ It cannot break the circuit under fault conditions

▪ We can use a fuse in series with the witch to protect

▪ The fuse contains a piece of wire that melts easily

▪ It can open or close the circuit under all conditions

▪ Circuit breaker can replace the switch and fuse

▪ Isolators can make or break the circuit under no load

▪ They are used to isolate a piece of equipment from other live

▪ Main function of earth switch is to ground the isolated

▪ It is interlinked with isolator, when isolator opens the circuit,

➢ Disadvantages of fuses and switches

▪ A switch cannot break the circuit under short circuit conditions

➢ To overcome these disadvantages, we need a more dependable means of control and

➢ A circuit breaker can

• Make or break a circuit either manually or automatically under normal conditions.

• Breaks a circuit automatically under fault conditions.

• Make a circuit either manually or automatically under fault conditions

➢ Under normal operation

• These contacts are touching each other and carrying the

• When the circuit breaker is closed ,the contacts engaged

➢ Under fault condition

• When fault occurs , the relay will sense the fault

• The trip coil gets energized, It will pull the

➢ Types of HV & MV circuit breakers

1. Oil circuit breakers

2. Air blast circuit breakers

3. Vacuum circuit breakers

4. SF6 circuit breakers

➢ Types of LV circuit breakers

1. Miniature circuit breakers (MCB)

2. Molded Case circuit breakers (MCCB)

3. Air circuit breakers (ACB)

▪ when the moving contact of circuit breaker begins to apart

▪ when the moving contact of circuit breaker begins to apart

➢ The arc resistance depends upon the following factors:

the arc resistance increases with the

➢ The arc resistance depends upon the following factors:

2. Length of the arc :

the arc resistance increases with the

➢ The arc resistance depends upon the following factors:

3. Cross section of the arc :

1. High resistance method

2. Low resistance or current zero method

In this method, arc resistance is made to increase with time

The current is interrupted, or the arc is extinguished

1. High resistance method

2. Low resistance or current zero method

(a) Lengthening the arc

The resistance of the arc is directly proportional to its length

The length of the arc can be increased by increasing the gap

1. High resistance method

2. Low resistance or current zero method

(b) Cooling the arc:

Cooling helps in the deionization of the medium between the

Efficient cooling may be obtained by a gas blast

1. High resistance method

2. Low resistance or current zero method

(c) Reducing cross-section of the arc

The cross-section of the arc can be reduced by

1. High resistance method

2. Low resistance or current zero method