Circuit Breakers

A.P.GANGADHARAN, DGM (Engg. - S/S)

Introduction.
Circuit Breakers (CBs) are the switching and current interrupting devices. The CBs are necessary at every switching point in the substation. A Circuit breaker differs from a disconnector switch mainly in three aspects: - Fault current interruption. - Arc extinction - Speed of operation

Basically a circuit breaker(CB) comprises of a set of fixed and movable contacts. Contacts can be operated by means of an operating mechanism. Separation of current carrying contacts produces the arc ,the arc is extinguished by suitable media such as dielectric oil,air,sf6 gas and vacuum. Arc is extinguished by lengthening, cooling, splitting or rotation. In some breakers arc is drawn in the direction of splitters by magnetic field.

Expected Functions
Must be capable of closing on to,and carrying full load currents for long periods of time Under prescribed conditions ,it must open automatically to disconnect the load or small overload Must successfully and rapidly interrupt heavy currents which flow when a short circuit has to be cleared from the system

Expected Functions(contd.)
Must be capable of closing on to a circuit in which a fault exists and of immediately reopening to clear the fault from the system Must be capable of carrying current of short circuit magnitude until,and for such time as,the fault is cleared by another breaker nearer to the time of fault

ELECTRICAL ENVIRONMENT
A circuit interrupting device operates in an electrical environment which imposes a unique set of criteria on the device. There are three major operating conditions: Closed, open and the transition from closed to open. In the closed position the device must conduct the continuous rated current without exceeding the temperature limits. While closed, the complete insulation system is stressed by system voltage and transient over voltage caused by lightning, switching and system changes. In open position, insulation across the open contacts is stressed in addition to the insulation to ground. If fault occurs, the CB is expected to interrupt the fault current within rated interrupting time to minimize any disturbances to the system. At some point during the opening operation the current is interrupted, resulting in an electrical separation of the system at the CB location. Immediately after current zero , the contacts are stressed by transient voltages produced by the system as it reacts to the new operating state. Additional requirements are- inductive and capacitive current switching by limiting over voltages within allowable limits. These wide variety of operating conditions impose conflicting constraints on the CB design.

Classification of Circuit Breakers

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

o n b a s i s o f o p e r a t i n g m e c h a n i s m

o n b a s i s o f a r c q u e n c h i n g m e d i u m

o n b a s i s o f i n t e r r u p t o r l o c a t i o n

s p r i n g a s s i s t e d

p n e u m a t i c

h y d r a u l i c

a i r b r e a k c b

m i n i m u m o i lc b

a i r b l a s tc b

s f 6 c b

v a c u u m c b

l i v e t y p e

d e a d t y p e

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON ARC QUENCHING MEDIUM

AIR BREAK CIRCUIT BREAKER OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER MINIMUM OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER SULPHER HEXAFLOURIDE CIRCUIT BREAKER VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER

SF6
High Di-electric strength. Chemical stability. High molecular weight. Absence of carbon. Gas can be compressed for high BDV requirements. Chemically inert. SF6 is a green house gas. Even though SF6 has a global warming potential some 25000 times greater than carbon dioxide, SF6 probably accounts for only about 0.1 percent of mankinds contribution to the greenhouse effect.

MAJOR PARTS OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER

INTERRUPTOR SUPPORT COLUMN OPERATING MECAHNISM CONTROL & MONITORING DEVICES PUMPS & COMPRESSORS

INTERRUPTOR
Interrupter houses the fixed, moving and arcing contacts and the linkage mechanism for operating moving contacts. There are different types of interruptors depending upon the type of nozzle design and arc extinction method :

TYPES OF SF6 INTERRUPTORS

Mono blast

Double blast Partial double blast Self blast Double motion type

OPENING OPERATION

CLOSING OPERATION

CLOSING ARC ZONE.

OPENING ARC ZONE

CLOSING-SECTION

OPENING-SECTION.

OPERATING MECHANISM

A. B. C. D.

Spring assisted motor mechanism Pneumatic operating mechanism Hydraulic mechanism Combination of above.

SPRING OPERATING MECHANISM

Opening spring and closing spring with limit switch for automatic charging. Breaker operation shall be independent of the motor used for compressing the closing/opening spring. Closing action of circuit breaker shall compress the opening spring ready for tripping. When closing springs are discharged after closing a breaker, closing springs shall be automatically charged for the next operation

Pneumatic operating Mechanism

Preferred stations where compressed air supply is available Compressed air at high pressure is used for closing/opening. Simple and cheap

HYDRAULIC OPERATING MECHANISM.

Major parts are: motor driven hydraulic pump Accumulators Hydraulic valves and piping. Oil tank Hydraulic cylinder and operating piston

SOME FEATURES OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS :

POLE DESCRIPANCY This feature is introduced to detect cases in which one or more poles of a 3 phase CB remains in open condition where as the other poles are closed. This may arise due to mal-operation or sluggish operation of one or more poles. It essentially is a timer connected to a series parallel connection of Auxiliary switch. ANTI PUMPING Anti pumping feature blocks the closing of a CB more than once (multiple closing) with a single pro-longed closing impulse (say, the operator keeps on giving a closing impulse without releasing the closing handle). AUTO RECLOSE Circuit Breaker shall be capable of performing auto-reclose operation in case of a transient fault. LOCK OUTS AND ALARMS

SF6 alarm and L/O Operating mechanism alarm / lock out Trip circuit supervision

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Guaranteed SF6 leakage 1% per year. Separate SF6 monitoring for each poles for 145kV and above. Operating duty 0-0.3S CO 3 min. CO. S.C. rating 40KA (for 400kV & 220KV)

31.5 kA for 145KV - Line charging interruption Capability 600A for 420kV, 125A for 245kV(IEC), 50A for 145kV(IEC).

Op. Mechanism Pneumatic/Spring/Hydraulic. Aux. DC(220V) supply variation 70 -110% for trip of 85 110% for close. 2 Independent trip circuits, each having separate pressure switches.

SALIENT FEATURES OF SPECIFICATION

CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Applicable Standard 62271 -100 Only SF6 type C1-M1 class. Solidly earthed system considered. First pole to clear factor (depends on System earthing) - 1.3( for solidly earthed system). CB suitable for autoreclosure and for out of phase closing. PIR for 400kV line breakers. Shunt Reactor switching for 400kV CBs.

CB OPERATION PHYLOSOPHY.
CB Shall be suitable for operation from Remote (control Room/Remote control centre) as well as from local MB depending on position of Local/Remote switch. The protection trip will be normally directly extended (bypassing local selection) Two trip coils and one close coils normally provided. No interlocks from other equipments like Isolator and Earthswitch for local trip. But CB local close normally allowed only if associated eartswitches are closed. For remote closing and required interlocks from other equipments like Isolator and Earthswitch are provided from CR panels. Autoreclose is done from CR panels only.

TYPE TESTS
LIST OF TYPE TESTS Insulation Tests : (a) Power Frequency withstand (IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.2) (b) Lightning Impulse withstand (IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.2) (c) Switching Impulse Withstand (IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.2) Short Time Current & peak current withstand: (IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.6) Temperature Rise Test (IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.5) Mechanical Operation Test (M1-2000 opns, M2- 10000 opns) (IEC-62271100, Clause-6.101.2. 1,2&3) Electrical Endurance (for 52 kV & below only) RIV/Corona extinction voltage tests (POWERGRID Spec. Section -GTR). Seismic withstand test (POWERGRID Spec. Section -GTR). Short Circuit tests/switching tests(IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.102 to 6.106) T-10, T-30,T-60,T-100a(IEC-TR62271-308),T100s,out of phase, critical current Short line fault tests - L-90, L-75(IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.109) Capacitive Current switching tests- C1/ C2.(capacitor/line charging/cable charging) (IEC-62271-100, Clause-6.111) Reactor switching test.(IEC 62271-110)

PRE INSERTION RESISTORS (PIRs)

PART OF INTERRUPTOR . NORMALLY USED AS AN ADD-ON FEATURE. HELP CONTROLLING SWITCHING OVERVOLTAGE IN LONG TRANSMISSION LINES. VOLTAGE IMPULSE APPLIED IN TWO NEARLY EQUAL STEPS THEREBY LIMITING O/V TO ALMOST HALF. LINE IS FIRST CHARGED THRO RESISTOR. THEN CB CLOSES AND SHORT CIRCUIT THE RESISTOR RESISTOR CAN BE OPENED AFTER MAIN CONTACT CLOSING OR CAN REMAIN IN CLOSED CONDITION AND OPENED DURING THE OPEN OPERATION

CONTROLLED SWITCHING
CONTROLLER IS AN ADD ON DEVICE TO IMPROVE CB PERFORMANCE. CONTROLLER IS USED TO OPEN (OR CLOSE) THE CB AT ITS MOST FAVOURABLE CONDITION CONTROLLER MONITORS THE SYSTEM PARAMETERS (LIKE VOLTAGE WAVEFORM) AND DECIDE OPTIMUM SWITCHING CONDITION AND HENCE KNOWN AS POINT ON THE WAVE SWITCHING.

CONTROLLED SWITCHING(CONTD)
USED FOR REACTOR/TRANSFORMER/ CAPACITOR/LINE SWITCHING TO CONTROL SWITCHING O/V OR INRUSH CURRENT WILL ALSO MONITOR CB OPERATION CHARACTERISTICS DURING PREVIOUS OPERATIONS AND ADAPT TO THE SPECIFIC OPERATING CONDITIONS(TEMPERATURE PRESSURE ETC.)

Spring operated Breaker

SCHEME SPRING OPTD.

SCHEMATIC SPRING CHARGED OP. MECH.

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