• In an SF6 Circuit breaker, sulphur hexafluoride gas is used as

the arc quenching medium.

• The sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) is an electronegative
gas and has a strong tendency to absorb free electrons. The
contacts of the breaker are opened in a high-pressure flow
sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas and an arc is struck between
them.
• The gas captures the conducting free electrons in the arc to
form relatively immobile negative ions. This loss of conducting
electrons in the arc quickly builds up enough insulation strength
to extinguish the arc.
• Comparing to other circuit breaker types, the SF6 circuit
breakers have been found to be very effective for high power
and high voltage service.
• SF6 CBs are used in substations for all voltages ranging from
144 to 765 kV or even above. Continuous currents up to 8000 A,
and symmetrical interrupting ratings up to 63 kA at 765 kV and
80 kA at 230 kV.
Construction of SF6 Circuit Breaker
The SF6 circuit breaker consists of two main parts:
The Interrupter Unit
The Gas System
Interrupter Unit
The interrupter unit of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit
breaker consists of fixed and moving contacts enclosed
in a chamber.
The chamber is called the arc interruption
chamber which contains the SF6 gas. This chamber is
connected to sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas reservoir. A
valve mechanism is there to permit the gas to the arc
interruption chamber.
When the contacts of the breaker are opened, the valve
mechanism permits a high-pressure sulphur hexafluoride
(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 arcing horn.
The moving contact is also a hollow cylinder with
rectangular holes in the sides.
The holes permit the sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) gas to
let out through them after flowing along and across the
arc.
The tips of fixed contact, moving contact, and arcing horn
are coated with a copper-tungsten arc-resistant material.
Since SF6 gas is costly, it is reconditioned and reclaimed
using the suitable auxiliary system after each operation of
the breaker.
Gas System
Since the gas pressure is very high, a lot of care is to be taken to
prevent gas leakage at joints by providing perfect scaling.
The low and high-pressure systems are fitted with low-pressure alarms
and set of lockout switches which give a warning the moment the gas
pressure drops below a certain value because otherwise there will be a
reduction in the dielectric strength and arc quenching ability of the
breaker is endangered.
If the danger limit is reached the safety devices immobilize the breaker.
The overriding safety devices see to it that a fault in the control circuit
does not permit the compressor to build up excessive pressure in the
high-pressure reservoir or continue to pump gas into the atmosphere in
the event of a major leak.
The gas is stored in the high-pressure chamber at 16 atmospheres
whereas the gas pressure on the low-pressure side is 3 atmospheres.
The temperature is 20◦C in order to prevent liquefaction of gas in the
high-pressure chamber at low temperature; a heater is fitted in the
high-pressure chamber. A thermostat is set to the switch on when the
ambient temperature falls below 16◦C.
Non-Puffer Type SF6 Circuit Breaker
Such type of SF6 circuit breaker is the first invented circuit breaker that does not
include the puffer cylinder. This circuit breaker works on the same principle as air blast
CB. Its construction and working mechanism is given below.
Construction
It consists of a gas chamber and interrupter unit. The SF6 gas is compressed and stored
inside a gas chamber. The gas chamber is connected to the interrupter unit through a
valve. The valve is linked with the movement of the contacts. as soon as the contacts
separate, the valve is opened to release a blast of SF6.
In single pressure type SF6 circuit breaker, the SF6 gas is compressed
by the moving cylinder system and is released through a nozzle while
extinguishing the arc. This design is most popular over a wide range of
voltages from 13.6 kV to 760 kV.
In double pressure type SF6 circuit breaker, the gas from the high-pressure
system is released into the low-pressure system through a nozzle, during the arc
extinction processes. This design has become obsolete.
The double pressure type system worked on a very similar basis to the
air blast design, modified to make a closed-loop system for the exhaust gases.
After the arc was quenched, gases in a low-pressure reservoir were filtered,
compressed and then stored in the high-pressure reservoir for further use.
Heaters were also fitted to ensure the gas did not become a liquid in low
temperatures, which would make the medium unusable as an interrupter.
Advantages of SF6 Circuit Breaker
The important advantages of SF6 Circuit Breaker are :
1. The superior arc quenching property of sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6).
Due to this SF6 circuit breakers have very short arcing time. Hence SF6 gas
is used in Gas Insulated Substations.
2. Dielectric strength of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is 2 to 3 times
compared to air. Thus SF6 breakers can interrupt much larger currents.
3. The sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) circuit breaker gives noiseless
operation due it’s closed gas circuit and no exhaust to atmosphere, unlike
the air blast circuit breaker.
4. The compact design of SF6 gas CBs substantially reduces space
requirements and building installation costs.
5. The SF6 gas circuit breakers can handle all known switching phenomena.
6. SF6 gas circuit breakers perfectly can adapt to environmental
requirements. They have completely enclosed gas system that eliminates
any exhaust during switching operations.
7. Contact separation is minimum in SF6 gas circuit breakers due to dielectric
strength provided by the high-pressure SF6.
 Disadvantages of SF6 Circuit Breaker
Some other disadvantages of the SF6 Circuit breaker are:
1. Heavy-duty switching operations can generate harmful by-products from
decomposition. During typical sealed operation, these by-products will
recombine into SF6. However, during arcs or in the event of switchgear failure,
SF6 and its by-products can be released into the environment.
2. Imperfect joints in the Sf6 Circuit breaker lead to leakage of the SF6 gas.
Thus continuous monitoring devices are required.
3. Arced SF6 gas is poisonous and should not be inhaled.
4. While SF6 in its pure form is non-toxic, it does not support life and can,
therefore, become a breathing hazard if it has collected. As it is heavier than
air, it can typically collect close to the ground, in cable trenches or drainage
systems, for example. Therefore, site personnel is instructed to take care of
such environments.
5. Exposure to solid by-products, if inhaled, include irritation to exposed skin
and eyes, the nose, throat, and lungs; further symptoms can occur if sufficient
volume reaches the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Special facilities are required for transportation of gas, transfer of gas and for
maintaining the quality of the gas. The deterioration of quality of gas affects
the performance and hence reliability of the SF6 circuit breaker.
Working of SF6 Circuit Breaker
The working of an SF6 circuit breaker is similar to the
working of a normal circuit breaker we discussed in previous articles.
In the closed position of the breaker, the contacts remain surrounded
by sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) gas at a pressure of about 2.8 kg/cm .
2

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. The valve permits sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) gas at 14
kg/cm pressure from the reservoir to the arc interruption chamber.
2

The high-pressure flow of sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) rapidly absorbs the
free electrons in the arc path. It forms 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 in circuit breaker),
the valve is closed by the action of a set of springs.
 SF6 CB Practical Working Animation

https://youtu.be/m1q_DNTEJ2o

The SF6 circuit breaker is mainly divided into three types

Non-puffer piston circuit breaker

Single- puffer piston circuit breaker.
Double-puffer piston circuit breaker.
Properties of Sulphur hexafluoride Circuit
Breaker
• Sulphur hexafluoride possesses very good insulating and
arc quenching properties. These properties are
• It is colourless, odourless, non-toxic, and non-inflammable
gas.
• SF6 gas is extremely stable and inert, and its density is five
times that of air.
• It has high thermal conductivity better than that of air and
assists in better cooling current carrying parts.
• SF6 gas is strongly electronegative, which means the free
electrons are easily removed from discharge by the
formation of negative ions.
• It has a unique property of fast recombination after the
source energising spark is removed. It is 100 times more
effective as compared to arc quenching medium.