Evolution/Need of CB

 Circuits in EPS
1. Generation circuits
2. T n/w circuits
3. D n/w circuits
4. Control circuits
5. Protection circuits
 Function of ‘Switchgear’ in EPS
= Making and Breaking of EPS circuits under both Normal and
Abnormal conditions
‘Switchgear’ in earlier days = Switch + Fuse
Demerits of Switch + Fuse
a) Service interruption in need of Fuse replacement
b) Fails on HV, Large capacity circuits
Limitation of ‘Switch + Fuse’ usage
= LV, Small capacity circuits where frequent operation is not
expected, like in D n/w, Lighting circuit
 Evolution/Need of CB (Contd.)
 Advancement of EPS => Lines and other equipment
operate at HV and carry Large currents => Use of CB
 CB can Make or Break a circuit either Manually (or by
Remote control) or Automatically under all conditions
viz., NL, FL and SC conditions. i.e., CB can
a) Make or Break a circuit either Manually or by
remote control under Normal conditions
b) Break a circuit Automatically under Fault conditions
c) Make a circuit either Manually or by remote control
under Fault conditions
 Reason behind its another name ‘3-Pole CB’
Fuse in 1 conductor in 1-φ circuits
CB in each conductor in 3-φ, Power circuits
 Construction and Operation of CB
 Parts
Electrodes (2 Fixed contacts and 2 Moving contacts)
Operation
• Under Normal Load conditions
• Under Faulty conditions
 Arc phenomenon and its demerits
 ↑ i flow through Electrodes under SC condition.
 ↓ ‘Contact area’ at the instant when Electrodes begin
to separate.
 ↑ Current density.
 ↑ Temperature.
 ↑ HE in the medium b/t contacts. Demerit-1
 Ionization in the medium.
 ↑ No. of Free electrons.
 Ionized Air as Conductor & Arc appears.
 SC i flow continuation. Demerit-2
Demerit-1 may cause Damage to CB or to the EPS.
Demerit-2 exists so long as Arc persists.
 Arc phenomenon and its demerits (Contd.)

 a) Arc resistance α Arc length.

α Separation of Electrodes.
b) Arc resistance α _________1_________
CSA of Arc
c) Arc resistance α _________1_________
Degree of Ionization
Factors responsible for the Arc maintenance
1. PD b/t Electrodes (α Separation of Electrodes).
Not possible in HV Systems. Why?
2. Ionized particles b/t Electrodes.
Either ‘Removal of Ionized particles’ or ‘Arc COOLING’.
 Methods of Arc extinction
1. High Resistance method.
2. Low Resistance (or) Current zero method.
 1. High Resistance method
a) Lengthening the Arc.
Arc resistance α Arc length.
α Separation of Electrodes.
b) Reducing the CSA of the Arc.
Arc resistance α _________1_________
CSA of Arc
Either ‘Have ↓ CSA Electrodes’ or ‘Let the Arc to
pass through a Narrow opening’.
c) Deionizing the Arc path by Cooling.
By a Gas Blast directed along the Arc.
d) Splitting the Arc.
By Introducing the Conducting plates b/t Electrodes.
Appl. DC CBs where HE gen.
Low & Medium Capacity/Power AC CBs by Arc is ↓.
 2. Low Resistance (or) Current zero method
 Methods of ↑ Diele. str. b/t Electrodes
a) Lengthening the Gap.
b) Deionization (Combining Ions with Free electrons to form
Neutral molecules.)
Methods
1) Cooling.
2) ↑ Pressure => ↑ Density of Particles causing Arc to occur.
c) Sweeping Ions away & Replace them with Neutral molecules.
Methods
1) Blast effect.
Gas Blast along Arc path (or) Oil Blast into Contact space
 At Natural current zero, Arc extinguishes naturally.
 After Natural current zero, Diele. str. b/t Electrodes if made > V
across Electrodes.
 Appl. High Capacity/Power AC CBs.
 ‘Voltage’ terms
1. Arc voltage
2. Restriking voltage
3. Recovery voltage
 Arc voltage
= V appearing across CB contacts during Arcing period.
Let i = Arc/Fault current.
ea = Arc voltage.
 Arc voltage (Contd.)
a) Arc path is Resistive => ea will be in phase with i.
b) As PD b/t Electrodes α Separation of Electrodes, ea ↑
with t in each successive i-loop.
c) Because of Ripples due to various Disturbing effects, ea
is more or less Constant when i ~ iMax.
d) ea is low except for the period i is At or Near zero
current point.
At current zero, ea rises rapidly to peak value (called
‘Restriking voltage’) which tends to maintain the Arc.
 Restriking voltage
 = VTransient appearing across CB contacts at or Near
zero current point during Arcing period.
 RRRV > Diele. Str. of the Medium b/t Electrodes => Arc
persists for another Half-cycle. Else, Arc fails to Restrike
and iFault will be interrupted.

System R is negl.
L = System L/Ph upto F loc.
C = System C/Ph upto F loc. Equiv. ckt.
 Restriking voltage (Contd.)
 RRRV > Rate of Rise of Diele. Str. of the Medium b/t
Electrodes => Arc persists for another Half-cycle. Else,
Arc fails to Restrike and iFault will be interrupted.
 Restriking voltage (Contd.)

VSystem , e = Em . Sin t i = Arc/Fault current.

ea = Arc voltage.
 Restriking voltage (Contd.)
 At the Instant of Fault occurrence,
CB contacts will be in CLOSED position.
SC path SCs C.
i flows through L only.
i lags VSystem by 90ᵒ.
 Arc path is Resistive => ea will be in phase with i.
 After the Instant of Fault occurrence,
CB contacts will in OPENED position.
i flows through both L and C which combinedly form
Oscillatory circuit.
1
Transients of 𝑓𝑛 = appears across C and
2𝜋 𝐿𝐶
hence across CB Contacts.
 Restriking voltage (Contd.)
 Transient Voltage Instantaneous value may be equal to TWICE
the System Voltage Instantaneous value at or Near zero current
point.
 Near Bus-bars, C is ↓.
=> fn is ↑.
=> RRRV is ↑.
=> If RRRV > Rate of Rise of Diele. Str. of Medium
b/t Electrodes, then Arc persists for another
Half-cycle.
Thus the worst condition for a CB would be the Fault occurrence
near Bus-bars.
𝐿
 System R (> 2 ) damps the Oscillations rapidly, but Initial
𝐶
Overshoot may Restrike the Arc.
RRRV.docx
 Recovery voltage
= Normal frequency (50 Hz) RMS Voltage appearing
across CB contacts after final arc extinction.
~ VSystem.
 Arc Interruption theories
1. Recovery rate theory (or) Slepian’s theory.
2. Energy balance theory (or) Cassie’s theory.
 1. Recovery rate theory (or) Slepian’s theory
 Ions and Free electrons are to be removed from the Contact gap
immediately after the current reaches to zero, to extinguish the
arc. In other words, the Dielectric strength of the Contact gap
has to be increased to quench the Arc.
It can be done by
a) De-ionization process (Recombining the Ions and Electrons
to form Neutral molecules) (or)
b) Using an Insulating medium in Contact gap to sweep away
both Ions and Free electrons.
If the Electrons are removed from the Contact gap at a faster
rate than the Rate of Ionization, then the arc quenches.
 In another way, if RRRV is rapid than Rate of Rise of Dielectric
strength, then the arc persists.
 1. Recovery rate theory (or) Slepian’s theory
(Contd.)

(a) Rate of Diele. Str. > RRRV.

(b) Rate of Diele. Str. < RRRV.
 2. Energy balance theory (or) Cassie’s theory
 States that ‘If Rate of HE gen. by Arc < Rate of Heat Dissipation, then
Arc quenches. Else the Arc persists’.
 Immediately after Current zero,
Contact space contains Ionized Gas.
=> Contact space has Finite Post-zero R.
=> There exists some Restriking voltage.
=> Arc current flows.
=> HE is gen. in the Contact space.
Case-(i) : When Restriking voltage = 0,
Arc current = 0.
=> Arc power = 0.
Case-(ii) : When Arc is finally extinguished
Contact gap is de-ionized.
=> a) Resistance becomes infinitely high.
b) Power again becomes 0.
B/t these 2 instants, P ↑ to max., then ↓ and finally reaches 0.
2. Energy balance theory (or) Cassie’s theory
(Contd.)
 Current chopping

 ea is Max. when System/Fault/Arc current, i lags Vsystem

by 90⁰. That ↑ ea may maintain the Arc.
T/f Magnetizing current lags Vsystem by 90⁰ & may
maintain the Arc even at Natural current zero. Such
Low Inductive currents have to be interrupted before
Natural current zero.
 Current chopping (Contd.)
Current chopping = Phenomenon of Low Inductive current
interruption before Natural current zero.
 Occurs in Air-blast CBs.
 Air-blast along the Arc path de-ionizes the Air-gap.
=> Arc current falls abruptly to zero before the
natural current zero. (This miracle is called
‘Current chopping’).
Demerit
Let i = Arc current
when chopped
down to zero.
Current chopping results
in Transfer of E stored in L to C and charges
C to a prospective voltage e given by
 Current chopping (Contd.)

e is high as compared to the Diele. Str.

of Air-gap so that Arc restrikes.
 Operation is similar to that of Magic candle.
Successive Air-blasts ↓ i gradually and hence e
gradually TILL Insufficient e to re-strike across the CB
gap is gen.
THUS final interruption of current takes place before
Natural current zero.
Current chopping (Contd.)
 Resistance switching
Purpose = To prevent the Excessive V surges due to
Current chopping such that Re-ignition is
unlikely to occur.
 Resistance switching (Contd.)
A portion of Arc current flows through R.
 Arc current ↓.
 Rate of De-ionization of Arc path ↑.
 Arc Resistance ↑.
Continues till Arc current becomes so small that it fails to
maintain the Arc.
Critical R for No Transient oscillations
 Resistance switching (Contd.)

Damped frequency of oscillations =

 Formulae
1 1
Natural frequency of Oscillations, fn = (or) ωn =
2π LC LC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vC t = Em 1 − cosωn t = Restriking voltage
vC t = Restriking voltage is Maximum when t = π LC
vC t max = 2Em = Restriking voltagemax
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RRRV = Em ωn sinωn t
RRRV is Maximum when t = π LC/2
RRRVmax = Em ωn
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L
Max. voltage across CB Contacts during Current chopping, e = i
C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 L
Critical Resistance for Zero Transient oscillations, R =
2 C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 1 1
Damped frequency of Oscillations, fn = −
2π LC 2RC 2
 Ex
1. For a 132 kV system, the reactance and capacitance up to the location of
a CB are 3 Ω and 0.015 µF respectively. Find a) Frequency of the transient
oscillations, b) Max. value of Restriking voltage across the contacts of CB
& c) Max. value of RRRV. (13.297 kHz, 215.52 kV, 9.0034 kV/µs)
2. In a 220 kV system, the reactance and capacitance up to the location of a
CB are 8 Ω and 0.025 µF respectively. A resistance of 600 Ω is connected
across the contacts of a CB. Find a) Natural Frequency of oscillations, b)
Damped frequency of oscillations, c) Critical value of resistance for which
no transient oscillations exist & d) Resistance value corresponding to
Damped frequency of oscillations equal to one-fourth of Natural
frequency of oscillations. (6.307 kHz, 3.423 kHz, 503.98 Ω, 520.512 Ω)
3. A CB interrupts the magnetizing current of a 100 MVA T/f at 220 kV. The
magnetizing current of T/f is 5% of FL current. Find the max. voltage
which may appear across the gap of CB contacts when the magnetizing
current is interrupted at 53% of its peak value. The stray capacitance is
2,500 µF. The inductance is 30 H. (1,076.82 V)
 Ex (Contd.)
4. In a short circuit test on a circuit breaker, the following readings were
obtained on single frequency transient :
(i) time to reach the peak re-striking voltage, 50 μ sec (2x106 kV/sec)
(ii) the peak re-striking voltage, 100 kV (10000 Hz)
Determine the average RRRV and frequency of oscillations
5. A 50 Hz, 11 kV, 3-Φ Alternator with earthed neutral has a reactance of 5
Ω/ph and is connected to a bus-bar through a CB. The distributed
capacitance upto circuit breaker between phase and neutral in 0·01 μF.
Determine
(i) peak re-striking voltage across the contacts of CB (17.96 kV)
(ii) frequency of oscillations (12628 Hz)
(iii) average RRRV upto the 1st peak (453x103 kV/sec)
6. An Air-blast CB is designed to interrupt a T/f magnetising current of 11 A
chops the current at an instantaneous value of 7 A. If the values of L and C
in the circuit are 35·2 H and 0·0023 μF, find the value of voltage that
appears across the contacts of CB. Assume that all the inductive energy is
transferred to the capacitance. (866 kV)
 CB Ratings
1. Breaking capacity
2. Making capacity
3. Short-time capacity
 Breaking capacity
= Current that a CB is capable of breaking at given
recovery voltage

It is a common practice to express the Breaking capacity in

MVA by taking into account the Rated [Symmetrical]
Breaking current and Rated Service voltage.

[Symmetrical] Breaking capacity = 3. V. I. 10−6 MVA

 Making capacity
There is always a possibility of closing or making the circuit
under SC conditions.
= Peak value of current (including DC component)
during the 1st cycle of i-wave after the closure of CB

Making capacity = 2·55 x [Symmetrical] Breaking capacity

 Short-time capacity
Sometimes a fault on the system is of very temporary
nature and persists for 1 or 2 seconds after
which the fault is automatically cleared.

= Period for which the CB is able to carry fault current

while remaining closed.

If the fault persists for a duration > Short-time capacity,

then the CB trips.

Short-time rating = Rated [Symmetrical] Breaking current

 Ex
1. A CB is rated as 1500 A, 1000 MVA, 33 kV, 3-second, 3-Φ CB.
Calculate the following:
a. Rated Normal current (1500 A)
b. Breaking capacity (1000 MVA)
c. Rated Service voltage (33 kV)
d. Rated Symmetrical Breaking current (17496 A)
e. Rated Making current (44614 A)
f. Short-time rating (17496 A for 3S)
 Classification of CBs
I. Oil CBs
a) Bulk Oil CBs
1) Plain-break Oil CB
2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB
b) Low/Minimum Oil CB
II. Air CBs
1) Air-break CB
2) Air-blast CB
i) Axial-blast Air CB
ii)Cross-blast Air CB
III. SF6 CBs
1) Double-Pressure type SF6 CB
2) Single-Pressure/Impulse/Puffer type SF6 CB
IV. Vacuum CB
 I. Oil CBs
 Oil = T/f oil (or) Mineral oil.
 I. Oil CBs (Contd.)
 Once CB Contacts open under Oil,
Arc strikes b/t Contacts.
 Heat of Arc evap. the surr. Oil & dissociates it into
(a) Gaseous H2 in ↑ qty. (occupying at
a Vol. = 1000 times that of Oil decomposed.). ↑
(b) a ↓ % of Methane, Ethylene & Acetylene. P
=> H2 Gas pushes the Oil away from the Arc and surr.
the Arc region and Adjacent portions of Contacts in
the form of a Bubble.
 H2 Gas has ↑Heat conductivity and so cools the arc,
thus aiding De-ionization of Medium b/t contacts.
=> Arc quenches & Circuit current interrupts.
 I. Oil CBs (Contd.)
 Merits
1. It absorbs Arc energy to decompose the Oil into Gases
which have excellent Cooling properties.
2. The surrounding Oil presents Cooling surface in close
proximity to the Arc.
3. It acts as an Insulator and permits smaller clearance
between Live conductors and Earthed components.
 Demerits
1. Inflammable & may pose a Fire hazard.
2. May form an Explosive mixture with Air.
3. Arcing products like C in the Oil ↓ Diele. Str.
=> Need of Periodic checking & Replacement of oil.
 I.a.1) Plain-break Oil CB
 Basic Oil CB.
 Involves Separation of CB Contacts (i.e., ↑ in Arc
length) under Oil, till Arc quenches.
 I.a.1) Plain-break Oil CB (Contd.)
 Construction
Strong, Weather-tight, Earthed Metal tank containing
a) Fixed and Moving contacts.
b) Oil upto a certain level.
c) Air-cushion above the Oil level.
Functions of Air-cushion
1. Provides sufficient room to allow for the Reception
of Arc gases without generating the Unsafe Pressure
in the Dome of CB.
2. Absorbs Mech. Shock of Upward Oil movement.
 I.a.1) Plain-break Oil CB (Contd.)
 Operation
Once CB Contacts open under Oil,
a) H2 Gas bubble generated around the Arc cools the
Arc and aids the De-ionization of Medium b/t
contacts.
b) Diele. Str. of the Medium ↑ as Arc lengthens due to
the separating contacts.
At some Critical Gap length, Arc quenches & Circuit
current interrupts.
 I.a.1) Plain-break Oil CB (Contd.)
 Demerits
1. No special control over the Arc other than ↑in
length by separating the contacts.
2. Don’t permit High-speed interruption. i.e., ↓ Speed.
3. Long and Inconsistent Arcing times.
 Applications
1. LV (< 11 kV), Low capacity (< 250 MVA) Applications
because
HV Applications need
=> Long Separation b/t Contacts for Arc quenching.
=> Large sized CB requirement & hence More Oil.
 I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB
 Oil Tank carries ‘Insulating-material made Strong
Explosion Chamber/Cylinder/Pot’
 Explosion Pot
(a) Surrounds CB Contacts.
(b) Limits the Space available for the Gases
produced during Arcing, to a ↓ Volume to
develop Very ↑ Pressure to force both Oil
and Gas through or around the Arc to
extinguish it.
Why so named?
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Types
Pressure (P) dev. by Arc α |i|
=> At ↓|i|, P dev. must be sufficient to quench the Arc.
At ↑|i|, P dev. must NOT be too ↑ so as to BURST
the Pot.
=> Problem rises in Design of a Suitable Explosion Pot.
=> (a) Axial/Plain Explosion Pot.
(b) Cross-Jet Explosion Pot.
 Merits over Plain-break Oil CB
1. ↓ Cost (due to ↓ P Chamber Manufacturing cost)
2. ↓ Final ‘Arc extinction’ Gap length
3. ↓ Arcing time
4. ↑ Interrupting capacity
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Axial/Plain Explosion Pot
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Axial/Plain Explosion Pot (Contd.)
 Construction
Moving contact = Cylindrical rod passing through a
restricted opening called ‘Throat’ at the bottom.
Operation
When Fault occurs, Contacts separate & Arc strikes,
Fig.-1: Heat of Arc decomposes oil into Gases at very ↑
P in the Pot (due to Close-fitting Throat) which
forces both Oil and Gas thr. and round the Arc to
quench it.
Fig.-2: If Final Arc extinction does not take place with
Moving contact still within the Pot, it occurs once
the Moving contact leaves the Pot, due to ↑ Vel.
Axial Blast of Oil and Gas released thr. the Throat.
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Axial/Plain Explosion Pot (Contd.)
 Why named as ‘Axial’ one?
 Limitation/Application
Operates well on Moderate Fault currents & can’t be
used for Very ↓ or for Very ↑ Fault currents.
(↓ iF => ↓ P dev. => ↑ Arcing time
↑ iF => ↑ P dev. => Pot may BURST)
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Cross-Jet Explosion Pot
= Modification of Axial/Plain Explosion Pot.
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Cross-Jet Explosion Pot (Contd.)
Has Channels which act as ‘Arc splitters’ on one side to
↑ Arc length for Arc extinction.
Operation
When Moving contact begins to separate due to Fault,
Arc initially strikes in the Top of the Pot.
 Gas gen. by Arc exerts P on Oil in Back passage.
When Moving contact uncovers the Arc Splitter Ducts,
Fresh oil is forced across the Arc path along Arrow
direction.
 Arc is driven sideways into the ‘Arc splitters’.
 Arc length ↑.
 Arc quenches.
I.a.2) Self-generated Pressure Oil CB (Contd.)
 Cross-Jet Explosion Pot (Contd.)
Why so named?
Limitation/Application
↓ iF => ↓ P
=> ↓ Rate at which Oil moves into the Path of Arc.
=> ↓ Arc length.
=> Arc persists.
=> Suitable for Interrupting ↑ iF.
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB
 Functions of Oil in Bulk Oil CBs
1. ↓(About 10) % of Oil for Arc extinction.
2. ↑(About 90) % of Oil for Insulating Live parts from
Earth.
 Reason behind the Invention of Low/Med. Oil CBs
Oil qty. α VSystem.
=> a) ↑ Cost.
b) ↑Tank size.
c) ↑Wt. of CB.
d) ↑ Fire risk.
e) ↑ Maintenance problems.
But, ↓ (about 10) % of Oil is used for Arc extinction.
This led to the development of Low/Minimum Oil CB.
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 Functions of Oil in Low/Minimum Oil CB
1. ↓% (sufficient qty.) of Oil for Arc extinction.
2. Solid Insulating materials (like Porcelain, Bakelised
paper, Glass-fiber, etc.) for Insulating Live parts from
Earth.
I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 Construction
• 2 Oil-filled Chambers separated by a Separator (to
have Zero Oil-flow b/t Chambers under Healthy
conditions & Oil-flow b/t Chambers by Centrifugal
action, under Abnormal conditions i.e., after Fault
occurrence) & surr. INDIVIDUALLY by Cyl. shaped
Synthetic Resin Bonded-Paper within a Porcelain
insulator.
• Metal (Top) chamber at the Top with a Separator.
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 Arcing or Circuit-breaking chamber
• Is the Upper chamber with ↓% (sufficient qty.) of Oil for
Arc extinction.
• Has (a) an Upper Fixed Contact.
(b) a Lower Moving Contact. Immersed in Oil &
(c) Arc ^/Extinction device Enclosed in Glass
with Spring-loaded Oil- Fiber Enclosure.
filling Valve (that Closes at
↑ P & Opens at 0 P) at its Top.
• Operating Rod
(a) Is Permanently conn. to Moving contact and
Operating mechanism.
(b) Moves vertically to make or break the circuit.
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 Supporting chamber
• Is the Lower chamber with Oil for Insulation
purpose.
 Metal chamber
Has
(a) Air cushion.
(b) Gas vent (for removal of Decomposition products).
(c) Breather (to prevent Moisture from entering CB).
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 Operation
Under Fault occurrence,
 CB Contacts separate.
 Arc strikes.
 Arc HE decomposes Oil into H2 Gas MOSTLY at ↑ P.
 H2 Gas cools the Arc.
 During Fault occurrence
Oil-filling Valve closes (due to ↑ P).
 Zero Oil-flow b/t Arcing and Supporting Chambers.
 After Fault occurrence
Oil-filling Valve opens (due to 0 P).
 Fresh Oil from Supporting Chamber replaces Decomposed Oil
in Arcing Chamber.
 Till Fault clearance
‘Operation’ including ‘During’ and ‘After’ cases continues.
 I.b) Low/Minimum Oil CB (Contd.)
 Merits
1. ↓ qty. of Oil requirement.
2. ↓ Space requirement (due to ↓ Size).
3. ↓ Weight.
4. ↓ Cost.
5. ↓ Maintenance problems.
6. ↓ Risk of Fire.
 Demerits
1. ↓ qty. of Oil => ↑ Degree of Carbonization
=> Diele. Str. of Oil ↓.
2. Difficult to remove Gases from Contact space in t.
 Applications
Available for all Voltages & for Highest Breaking capacity.
=> Preferred in most of the Protection schemes.
II.1) Air-break CB
 II.1) Air-break CB (Contd.)
Indoor type.
Construction
• 2 Pairs of CB Contacts.
1) Main Contacts (Low Resistant Ag Plated).
2) Arcing Contacts (Cu alloy made, Hard & Heat Resistant).
2) Protects 1) from severe HE gen. at Contacts.
Operation
Fig-1: Under healthy conditions, 1) & 2) remain CLOSED
individually.
Fig-2: When Fault occurs, Arc splitter
• 1) separate 1st. Baffle
• Current shifts from 1) to 2).
• 2) separate & Arc strikes b/t 2).
• Arc moves along Arc Runners to ↑ its Length.
• Arc moves into Chute where it Splits, Cools & quenches.
 II.1) Air-break CB (Contd.)
 Applications
V (< 12 kV) Circuits of Either AC or DC type.
 II.2) Air-blast CB
 Employ ↑ P (18-20 kg/cm2) Air-blast as Arc quenching
medium.
Alternate Gases - N2, CO2, and H2. However,
a) Circuit breaking properties of N2 = those of Air
=> No added advantage of using it.
b) CO2 tends to Freeze.
c) H2 is Costly.
 Working principle
CB Contacts are opened in a flow of Air-blast est. by the
opening of Blast valve.
 Air-blast cools the Arc and Sweeps away the Arcing
products into the atmosphere.
 Diele. Str. of Medium b/t CB Contacts ↑.
 Arc quenches.
 II.2) Air-blast CB (Contd.)
 Merits
1. No Risk of Fire.
2. Arcing products are completely removed by Air-blast
whereas Oil deteriorates with successive operations
=> Expense of regular oil replacement is avoided.
3. Growth of dielectric strength is so rapid that
(a) Final Contact gap for Arc extinction is very ↓.
=> ↓ Size of the Device.
=> ↓ Maintenance requirement.
(b) Arcing time is very ↓.
=> Arc Energy is only a fraction of that in Oil CBs.
=> ↓ Chances of Burning of CB Contacts.
=> Suitable for conditions where frequent operation
is required.
 II.2) Air-blast CB (Contd.)
 Demerits
1. Need of Considerable maintenance for the
Compressor plant which supplies the Air-blast.
2. Very Sensitive to Variations in RRRV.
3. Inferior Arc extinguishing properties relative to Oil.
 Applications
Manufactured in 6.6-132 kV Range, but preferred for
↑ V (> 110 kV), ↑Power (< 7,000 MVA) Circuits.
 II.2.i) Axial-blast Air CB
 Air-blast is directed along the arc path.
 II.2.i) Axial-blast Air CB (Contd.)
 Construction
• Air reservoir is conn. to Arcing chamber thr. Air valve.
• Spring pressure keeps Electrodes in Closed position
under Normal conditions.
 Operation
When Fault occurs,
 Tripping Impulse opens Air valve.
 ↑ P Air enters Arcing chamber and Pushes away the
Moving contact against Spring pressure.
 Arc strikes. At the same time, ↑ P Air blast flows
along the Arc and takes away the Ionized gases
along with it.
 Arc quenches.
 II.2.i) Axial-blast Air CB (Contd.)
 Need of Isolator
CB Contacts separation for Arc extinction = 1.75 cm
 Such ↓ Gap breaks down even for Normal VSystem.
 Isolator is used which opens immediately after Fault
interruption to provide the necessary Clearance for
Insulation.
 II.2.ii) Cross-blast Air CB
 Air-blast is directed │r to Arc path.
 II.2.ii) Cross-blast Air CB (Contd.)
 Construction
Arc splitters (to ↑ Arc length) exist in
Baffles (for Cooling purpose) Chute.
 Operation
When Arcing takes place during Fault occurrence,
 ↑ P Cross-blast forces Arc into the Chute.
 Arc quenches (due to the Presence of Arc splitters &
Baffles).
 No Need of Isolator. Why?
Final Gap for Interruption is enough to give Normal
Insulation clearance even for Normal VSystem.
 III. SF6 CBs
 Features/Properties
1. Physical properties.
2. Chemical properties.
3. Dielectric properties.
 III. SF6 CBs (Contd.)
 Physical properties
1. Colourless.
2. Odourless.
3. Non-inflammable => No Risk of Fire.
4. Non-toxic i.e., Non-poisonous
5. Non-harmful to health.
6. ↑ Density (= 5 x that of Air).
7. ↑ Heat transfer capability (= 1.6 x that of Air).
8. Liquefaction (Generation of a Liquid from a Solid or
a Gas) starts at 9ᵒC.
 III. SF6 CBs (Contd.)
 Chemical properties
1. Electronegative (so has strong tendency to absorb Free
electrons).
2. Chemically Inert and Thermally stable upto 500ᵒC.
3. Don’t react with CB Components (like Contacts, Metallic parts
etc.)
=> No Deterioration of CB Components.
=> ↓ Maintenance requirement.
4. Products of Decomposition during Arc quenching at 1,000ᵒC –
SF4, SF2, S2, F2, S and F which (i) recombine in 1 µS, (ii) are Toxic
and (iii) attack CB Components when combined with Moisture.
=> Need of Placement of Mixture of Soda lime (NaOH + CaO) and
Activated Alumina (AI2OI3) in Arcing chamber.
5. Metallic Fluorides are good Dielectric materials & hence are Safe
for Electrical equipment.
 III. SF6 CBs (Contd.)
 Dielectric properties
1. Diele. Str. (= 2-4 x that of Air due to
‘Electronegativity’ feature & 30% less than that of
Diele. Oil).
2. Diele. Str. ↑ RAPIDLY with ↑ in Pressure, compared
to Air and Diele. Oil.
 III. SF6 CBs (Contd.)
 Merits
1. 4(i) in Chemical properties => Diele. Str. is not
materially effected.
2. 5 in Chemical properties.
3. Totally enclosed and sealed from atmosphere.
=> (a) No Moisture problem => No Chance of ↓ of
Diele. Str..
(b) Noiseless operation.
(c) Suitable where Explosion hazard exists, like
Coal mines.
4. 1 in Dielectric properties => Can Interrupt ↑iF.
5. ↓ Arcing time.
6. 3 Conclusion in Chemical properties.
 III. SF6 CBs (Contd.)
 Merits (Contd.)
7. 3 ‘Before Conclusion’ in Chemical properties
=> ↓ Contact corrosion.
=> No frequent Contact replacement.
8. Light Foundation requirements.
9. Min. Aux. equipment.
10. 3 in Physical properties.
11. No C Deposits => No Chance of ↓ of Diele. Str.
12. No OV Problems.
13. Min. Current chopping.
14. Can Interrupt ↓ and ↑iFs.
 III. SF6 CBs (Contd.)
 Demerits
1. Costly (due to ↑Cost of SF6 Gas).
2. Need of Aux. system (i.e., Additional requirements) for
Reconditioning of SF6 Gas after each operation of CB,
due to ↑Cost of SF6 Gas.
3. 4(ii) in Chemical properties => Req. of Caring of Health
of Maintenance team.
 III.1) Double-Pressure type SF6 CB
 Early design of SF6 CBs.
 Operating principle = that of Air-Blast CBs.
 Involves Gas flow from ↑ P System to ↓ P System thr.
a Nozzle during Arc quenching.
 Demerit
1. Complicated Design and Construction (due to
various Auxiliaries such as Gas compressors, Filters
and Control devices).
=> Have become Obsolete.
III.2) Single-Pressure/Impulse/Puffer type SF6 CB
 III.2) Single-Pressure/Impulse/Puffer type SF6 CB
 Construction
Movable cylinder and Moving contact are coupled
together.
 Operation
When Electrodes separate due to Fault occurrence,
Movable cylinder moves.
 Trapped Gas is Compressed.
 Compressed Gas is Released AXIALLY thr. a Nozzle to
quench the Arc.
 Applications
Manufactured in 3.6-765 kV Range, but preferred for
↑ V (> 132 kV), ↑Power (3,000-5,000 MVA) Circuits.
 IV. Vacuum CB
 Perfect vacuum is an Ideal state of No Particles at all.
In practice, even if all particles of matter were
removed, there would still be
a) Photons
b) Gravitons
c) Dark energy
d) Virtual particles etc.
 Medium is Vacuum of Degree = 10-7 – 10-5 torr.
 HIGHEST Diele. Str. than any other medium.
=> Arc extinction occurs at first current zero, once
Electrodes separate.
IV. Vacuum CB (Contd.)
 IV. Vacuum CB (Contd.)
Construction
• A Ceramic/Glass vessel as Outer Insulating body.
• Vacuum chamber carries (i) Fixed contact,
(ii) Moving contact and
(iii) Arc shield.
• Movable member is conn. to Control mechanism by
Stainless Steel Bellows to enable Permanent sealing of
Vacuum chamber to eliminate the Possibility of Leak.
• Arc shield prevents Deterioration of Diele. Str. by
preventing Metallic Vapours falling on Inside surface of
Outer Insulating cover.
 IV. Vacuum CB (Contd.)
Working principle
• Involves Field emission theory.
• Microscopic sharp projections on the surface of the CB
Contacts emit electrons.
Since CSA of each projection is ↓,
i-density is ↑.
=> ↑ Temperature.
 HE gen. (a) Melts Projections & (b) Ionizes medium.
=> Arc appears.
 Metallic Vapours due to (a) condense on CB
Free electrons & Ions due to (b) Contacts Surface
=> Quick Recovery of Diele. Str.
=> Arc quenches.
 IV. Vacuum CB (Contd.)
Fast Rate of Recovery of Diele. Str. of Vacuum
quenches the Arc as soon as it is produced in Vacuum, with a
↓ (0·625 cm) Contact separation.
Merits
1. Can interrupt any Fault current.
2. Can successfully withstand Lightning surges.
3. No Noise during operation.
4. No Fire hazards.
5. No Gas generation during and after operation.
6. ↓ size.
7. ↓Arc Energy.
8. ↓ Inertia => ↓ Power for Control mechanism.
9. ↓ Maintenance.
10. ↑ Reliability.
11. ↑ Life.
 IV. Vacuum CB (Contd.)
Applications
1. For Outdoor Applications ranging 22-66 kV.
2. For Rural-area Applications ranging 60-100 MVA.