Circuit Breaker

What is an circuit
breaker?

A circuit breaker in which the current

carrying contacts operate in sulphur
hexafluoride or SF6 gas is known as an
SF6 circuit breaker.
 Why
?
1. SF6 is inert, heavy and has high dielectric
strength.

2. SF6 has high electro-negativity.

That means it has high affinity of absorbing
free electron.

These negative ions are much heavier than a

free electron and therefore the overall mobility of
the charged particle in the SF6 gas is much less as
compared other common gases.
3. SF6 has the unique property of fast
recombination after the source energizing
the spark is removed.
4. SF6 has very good heat transfer property:
Due to its low gaseous viscosity
(because of less molecular mobility) SF 6 gas can
efficiently transfer heat by convection. So it acts
as a good cooling agent.

Due to these unique properties of SF6 it is

approximately a 100 times more effective arc
quenching medium than air and is used in
complete range of medium voltage and high
voltage electrical power system. These circuit
breakers are available for the voltage ranges from
33KV to 800 KV and even more.
circuit breaker
 Construction of circuit

breaker
1. An SF6 circuit breaker consists offixed and
moving contactsenclosed in a chamber. The
chamber is calledarc interruption
chamberwhich contains theSF6gas.
2. This chamber isconnected to the SF6gas
reservoir.
3. A valve mechanism is there to permit the gas to
the arc interruption chamber.
4. When the contacts of breaker are opened,
thevalve mechanismpermits a high pressure
SF6gas from thereservoir to flow towards the
arc interruption chamber.
5. The fixed contact is a hollow cylindrical current
6. The moving contact is also a hollow cylinder
with rectangular holes in the sides. The holes
permit the SF6 gas to let out through
themafter flowing along and across the arc.
7. The tips of fixed contact, moving contact and
arcing horn are coated with copper-tungsten
arc resistant material.
8. SF6gas is costly. Hence it is reconditioned and
reclaimed using suitable auxiliarysystem
after each operation of breaker.
Types of circuit
breakers

Non-Puffer type
Single pressure puffer type
Double pressure puffer type
Non-Puffer type circuit

breaker

Working of Non-Puffer type CB
When the breaker is closed, SF6 gas at a pressure of about
2.8kg/sq.cm encloses the contacts.
When the breaker operates, the moving contact gets
separated from the fixed contact and an arc is struck between
the contacts.
The movement of the moving contact is synchronised with
the opening of a valve which permits SF 6 gas at 14kg/sq.cm.
pressure from the reservoir to the arc interruption chamber.
The SF6 gas flowing at high pressure absorbs free electrons
present in the arc path rapidly. Then it forms immobile
negative ions which do not serve as charge carriers.
As a result, the dielectric strength of the medium between the
contacts rapidly raises high and the arc gets extinguished.
After the breaker operation (that is after arc extinction), the
valve is closed by the action of a set of springs.
Single pressure puffer type CBs
Working of Single pressure Puffer type

CB
The puffer type SF6 breakers of single pressure type are
the most favoured types prevalent in the power industry.
The piston is fixed, but the cylinder is moveable.
The cylinder is fixed to the moving contact because the
cylinder along with the moving contact moves away from
the fixed contact when the breaker is operated.
The SF6 gas in the cylinder is compressed as the fixed
piston is present.
The compressed SF6 gas flows through the nozzle and over
the electric arc in axial direction.
Owing to the convection and radiation of heat, the arc
radius reduces gradually and finally gets extinguished at
current zero.
The dielectric strength of the medium existing between
the separated contacts increases rapidly and is restored
quickly as a new SF6 gas occupies the space.
 During the quenching of arc, a small quantity of SF6
gas breaks down to some other fluorides of sulphur
which mostly recombine to form SF6 again.
A filter is used in the interrupter for absorbing the
decomposed by product that is remaining.
The gas pressure inside the cylinder is maintained
at around 5 kg/sq.cm.
At higher pressure, the dielectric strength of the gas
increases. But at higher pressure, the SF6 gas
liquefies at higher temperature which is undesired.
Hence, heater is required to be arranged for
automatic control of the temperature for circuit
breakers where higher pressure is utilised. If the SF6
gas will liquefy then it loses the ability to quench
the arc.
Double pressurepuffer type CBs
 Working of Double pressure Puffer

type CB
During the process of arc extinction, gas from a high
pressure system flows into a low pressure system
through the nozzle.
In this circuit breaker, gas is made to flow from zone
P1 to P2 through a convergent divergent nozzle.
The nozzle is located such that flow of gas covers the
arc.
Gas flow attains almost supersonic speeds in
divergent portion of nozzle, thereby taking away the
heat from periphery of arc causing reduction in the
diameter of the arc.
Finally, the diameter of the arc becomes zero at
current zero and the arc gets extinguished.
Arc space is filled with SF6 gas which increases the
dielectric strength of contact space
 Advantages
of
1. High Dielectric strength:
SF6gas has high dielectric strength
which is the most important quality of a material for
use in electrical equipment and in particular for circuit
breaker it is one of the most desired properties.
2. High Rate of Rise of dielectric strength:
SF6gas has high rate of rise of dielectric
strength after arc extinction. This characteristics is very
much sought for a circuit breaker to avoidrestricking.
3. SF6is colour less, odour lessand non toxic gas.
4. SF6is an inert gas.
In normal operating condition the
metallic parts in contact with the gas are not corroded.
This ensures the life of the breaker and reduces the
need for maintenance.
5. Recombination:
The gas is quite stable. However it
disintegrates to other fluorides of Sulphur in the
presence of arc. But after the extinction of the arc
theSF6gas is reformed from the decomposition.
6. SF6isnon-flammable and chemically stable
so there is no risk of fire hazard and explosion.
7. Noiseless Operation:
SF6 circuit breaker gives
noiseless operation. It does not make sound like air-blast
circuit breaker during operation.
8. Minimum maintenance:
Arcing time is small owing to the outstanding
arc quenching properties of SF6 and therefore contact
erosion is less and do not suffer oxidation. Also there is
no reduction in the dielectric strength of SF 6since no
carbon particle is formed during the arcing. The breaker
may require maintenance only once in four to ten years.
9. Same gas is re-circulated into the
system thereby reducing the requirement
of SF6gas.
10. Autonomy provided by the puffer
technique.

The SF6gas circuit breaker can perform

various duties like clearing short line
faults, opening unloaded transmission
lines, capacitor switching, transformer
reactor switching, etc. without any
problem.

Disadvantages of
1. SF6gas is suffocating to some extent. In case of
leakage in the breaker tank SF6 gas, being heavier
than the air, settles in the surroundings and may
lead to suffocation of the operating personnel.
However it is not poisonous.
2. Arced SF6gas is poisonous and should not be
inhaled.
3. Imperfect joints may lead to leakage of the
SF6gas. Continuous monitoring devices are
required.
4. The internal parts need thorough cleaning during
periodic maintenance under clean and dry
environment.
5. Special facilities are required for transportation of