ill

,3.2

AKE

186

APPRECIATIONFORENGINEERS

LESSON 3.2 BUSBARS AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

LESSON OVERVIEW
DESCRIPTION

This lesson describes the Single and Sectionalized Busbar System, Main and transfer Bus, Ring and Double Bus concluding with different types of Circuit Breakers and their applications. OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this lesson, the participants should be able to familiarize with:

Busbars Single and Sectionalized Busbar System, Main and transfer Bus, Ring and Double Bus, Breaker one and Half breaker Design, Switchgear Identification

Circuit Breakers Bulk, Air, Gas, Vacuum Circuit Breaker, Breaker Operating mechanism, Breaker Motion Analyzer

BUSBARSARRANGEMENT
Different busbar arrangements are used to serve certain requirements for system operation, protection and to control the power flow, as follows: 1. Single Busbar System 2. Sectionalized Single Busbar 3. Main and Transfer Bus Double Main Bus 4. Ring Bus Design 5. Double Bus and Single Breaker and Half Design

187

188

APPRECIATIONFOBENGINEERS ,,,..

1- SINGLE BUSBAR Fig. 3.2-1 shows Single Busbar scheme used for smaller substations. It is to be noted that if at any time a busbar fault occurs, all feeders will be deprived of supply.

Fig. 3.2-1 Single Busbar System Fig. 3.2-2 shows a single line diagram for a substation
U/"'4"" iZSf3CIM.AI

re;
f .

66/13.8kV (AMIR Grid StationSEC).

I !
'

L.

~~L~~~~~ $" ~ J;
P1

"

. 4~,

.~

Fig. 3.2-2 AMIR Grid Station-SEC 2-SECTIONALIZED SINGLE BUSBAR Fig. 3.2-3 shows a sectionalized bus design. The main bus is split into two sections bus 1and bus 2 by tie Circuit Breaker, which is called Bus Tie.This shutdown maintenance interfering section. provides by or supply one complete section for Fig. 3.2-3 Sectionalized Bus Design without other

j 4 j 44.4
.
.~

~.

repaIr from

189

APPRECIATlOBUa ENGINEERS

The
4. By

multi -secti onalized

busbar is shown in Fig. 3.2these plant means, on a any

generating

section can be utilized to

supply the feeders on any adjacent section. Fig. 3.2-4 Sectionalized Busbar System

3-MAIN AND TRANSFER BUS A transfer bus is one in which one circuit at a time can be transferred from the main bus, as shown in Fig. 3.2-5. The transfer bus provides a means for servicing the feeder breaker. During an outage of main bus equipment, however, the lines can be transferred to the T-bus. Fig. 3.2-6 shows an example of two main buses and one transfer bus used in SEC. Fig. 3.2-5 Main and Transfer Bus

Fig. 3.2-6 Two Main Buses and One Transfer Bus

190

I'PBEClITlOII FOB IIGIIlEEBS ,,,..

4-DOUBLE BUS, DOUBLE BREAKER The double main bus illustrated by Fig. 3.2-7 (a-b). Each load can be supplied from either bus. At times, half feeders are fed from bus no. 1 and the other half are fed from bus no. 2.

(a) Fig. 3.2-7 Double Bus Double Breaker

(b)

Both sets of equipment are usually kept in service at all times. Thus, if either should fail, interruption does not occur to the connected facilities. Fig. 3.2-8 shows an example of double main bus in SEC.

Fig. 3.2-8 Double Main Bus

191

IIPPRmIATIOHOBENGINUBS

5-RING BUS DESIGN (Fig. 3.2-9)

Main buses sometimes are arranged in the form of a ring. This provides some of the reliability of the parallel bus and keeps some of the economy of the radial bus. Instead of using Circuit Breakers to disconnect each piece of equipment, the breakers are placed in the RING BUS dividing the rings into sections. Each separate section can be disconnected and some connected equipment with it without interruption to the
other sections.

Fig. 3.2-9 Ring Bus Design Used In SEC 6- DOUBLE BUS AND SINGLE BREAKER Fig. 3.2-10 shows another design named Double Bus Single Breaker. The arrangement includes bus-tie breaker to connect the main two buses together. This arrangement allows one feeder to transfer from bus No. 1 to bus No. 2 without switching the feeder off by using a disconnect switch. All feeders could be supplied from the main bus No. 1 or half of a feeder could be supplied from feeder No. 1 and
the other half from feeder No. 2.

192

CIATlON FORENGINEERS

Fig. 3.2-10 Double Bus &Single Breaker Design Fig. 3.2-11 shows an example of Double Bus Single Breaker scheme used in SEC.

Fig. 3.2-11 Double Bus Single Breaker Design 7-BREAKER AND HALF DESIGN Fig. 3.2-12 shows another design named Breaker and half design, some-times named three breakers scheme. This scheme includes three breakers. The main two buses and two feeders are fed from the three breakers; therefore, this scheme is named breaker and half. Usually all breakers are on and both busses 1 and 2 are energized. In case of any problems with the buses, all the feeders will be fed from the other bus automatically.

193

mSEClATlUFOR ENCINEERS

Fig. 3.2-12 Breaker and Half Design

CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Circuit Breakers are classified according to insulation and air extinguishing medium, as follows: 1. Bulk Oil Circuit Breakers (BOCB) 2. Minimum Oil Circuit Breakers (MOCB) 3. Air Circuit Breakers (ACB) 4. Gas Circuit Breakers (GCB) 5. Vacuum Circuit Breakers (VCB)

A circuit breaker is a mechanical device for opening or closing a circuit safely under all abnormal conditions. Circuit breakers can be operated automatically as well as manually, but for high voltage and heavy current, they are generally spring or electromagnetically assisted or remote controlled. Overload trips, generally with some form of time lag, are fitted so that the circuit breaker will trip in the event of a serious overload or a fault. Circuit Breakers are used to protect the electrical equipment and circuits against internal or external short circuit and to provide flexibility of control and operation.
The control circuit for protection is shown in Fig. 3.2-13. Fig. 3.2-13 Protection Control Circuit

194

--

18
1- BULK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKERS

APPRECIATIONfOB ENGINEERS ']i'.

(BOCB)

The BOCB is the most widely used type of interrupting device for power networks. The medium of insulation and arc extinguishing is oil, as shown in Fig. 3.2-14. Operation of the OCB is initiated, utilizing direct current by manually or remote operation of supervisory control equipment or by relays that automatically recognize pre-determined
conditions or electrical failure in the system.

Fig. 3.2-14 Three Tank BOCB (Floor Mounted)

Fig. 3.2-15 shows fixed and moving contacts. The mechanism and air

operating equipment are enclosed in a weather-proof housing. The rating of each CB is shown on the breaker nameplate. The nameplate is located on the inside of the operating mechanismhousing door. The breaker should not be operated at voltages or currents greater than those given on the nameplate. Most CBs are composed of three similar pole-unit assemblies and operating mechanism. The pneumatic operating mechanism is enclosed in weather proof housing. The operating mechanism provides a stored energy source for operation of the breaker, as shown in Fig. 3.2-16. Fig. 3.2-15 Fixed and Moving Contacts

Fig. 3.2-16 pneumatic operating mechanism

195

.n_-

2- MINIMUM OIL CIRCUIT BREAKERS Minimum oil CBs differ from BOCB Fig. 3.2-17.

Fig. 3.2-17 MOCB type TRI They are reduced in size and oil. Fig. 3.2-18 (a) and (b) shows comparison between MOCB and BOCB. In the BOCB the tank is "dead" at earth potential and the necessary clearances for the system voltage must be obtained in oil between live contact the tank and between other contacts. In the MOCB, the tank is a tube of insulating material held between metal and caps and as these caps are the terminal points for the external circuit, the tank, in normal circumstances, is live at line voltage. Operating mechanism of MOCB is mostly spring, the spring either manually charged or charged by motor. The energy stored in the springs is utilized for both the closing and tripping operation. 3- AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKERS In ABCB, the current interruption is through a powerful blast of air at high pressure and velocity in the arcing region (Fig. 3.2-19). For BOCB and MOCB, there is no (a) MOCB (b) BOCB Fig. 3.2-18

196

8
security, along with air storage facilities and a network of feed pipes.

UN fOR ENGINEERS

external aid required for current interruption. As for air-blast CB, a supply of clean, dry air at the correct pressure and in sufficient volume must be available at all times. For this, a compressed air arrangement is essential with duplicate compressors for

Fig. 3.2-19 Air Blast Circuit Breaker 4- GAS CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Fig. 3.2-20 SF6 Circuit Breaker

Recently, SF6 gas is used in insulation and extinguishing medium in Circuit Breakers. SF6 is a colorless and odorless gas. It has excellent dielectric properties. Under comparable conditions, its dielectric strength is about 2.5 times that of air. SF6Circuit Breaker shown in Fig. 3.2-20 has one arcing chamber per pole of the self-generating, single-pressure design. During the opening sequence, a piston coupled to the nozzle contacts, generates the SF6 flow required for arc interruption. The 3-pole drive is of the oil hydraulic design. All ancillary equipment, including the oil pump and accumulator associated with the drive, form a modular assembly that is mounted directly on the circuit breaker, thus eliminating installation of hydraulic piping on site.

197

~--

~~

--~

~~

~-~~

APPRfCIATlOIFOB fRSIIElRS

5- VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKERS A vacuum CB is used in high voltage distribution circuits. The contacts are placed in a
sealed container in a vacuum and they are in the form of flat disks with their faces together, as shown in Fig. 3.2-21 and Fig. 3.2-22. The moving contact is connected to the outside operating mechanism by means of metal bellows to maintain the vacuum. Since the contacts are in a vacuum, there are no particles to cause ionization when the arc is formed as the contacts part. However, some ionization occurs at the contact surface, owing to vaporized metal at this point, but the arc is extinguished at the first current zero after the contacts start opening. Thus the duration of the arcing time being very short, the contacts being in vacuum there is no oxidization and negligible burning require no maintenance.

Fig. 3.2-22 Vacuum Circuit Breaker

fig. 3.2-21 \TacuUIIICircuit Breaker 198

APPBECIAJlOII FOB EIISIIlEEBS

."

6- AIR CIRCUIT BREAKERS

The Air CB is used extensively for medium voltage range up to 650 V and sometimes in high voltage range up to 13.8kV. The Air Circuit Breakers are operated by spring or solenoid and are equipped with arching "chute" as shown in Fig. 3.2-23(a). The contact system is fitted with arc runners to assist the upward movement of the arc to the arc chute. In the arc chute, the arc is lengthened and divided into very short arcs. The arc will be extinguished easily. Fig. 3.223(b) shows the parts of an Air Circuit Breaker in full detail. Fig. 3.2-23(a) Air Circuit Breakers

Fig. 3.2-23(b) Parts of Air Circuit Breaker

199

APPREClATlOIIFOR ENGINEERS

TM-1600 CIRCUIT BREAKER ANALYZER SYSTEM

As shown in Fig. 3.2-24, the TM1600TM breaker analyzer measures a circuit breaker's timing cycle. The timing channels record closings and openings of main contacts, resistor contacts and auxillary contacts. Since the timing channels are not interconnected, you can take measurements of resistor contacts and series connected breaker chambers without disconnecting them. A built-in program unit permits easy selection of different sequences of breaker control pulses. The delay time between pulses is set on a thumbwheel switch. The breaker operation unit can be used to control coil currents of up to 25A. The time values obtained refer to the exact instant at which voltage was applied to the coil and a built-in printer provides you with a hard copy printout immediately after measurement. The TM1600TMcan be equipped with up to 24 time-measuring channels as required by the user. When more than 24 channels are needed, one or several slave units can be connected together to get an unlimited number of measurement channels. Modular design also makes it easier to
combine the system with the MA61 TM

Motion Analyzer. The TM1600TM supports

communication

with

personal computers and the CABA

WinTM Breaker Analysis Software.

The analyzer can be used for testing breakers taken out of service or for on-line testing. Fully equipped, it weighs only 12 kg (26.5 lbs).
Fig. 3.2-24 TM1600TM Circuit Breaker Analyzer

MA61 MOTION ANALYZER The MA61 Motion Analyzer is an excellent supplement to the TM1600. It combines the easy readability of an oscillograph with the extra accuracy ensured by computerized measurement and computer-processed readings. Menu-driven button
selection via the built-in display makes operation simple and easy. The MA61 can be equipped with up to 6 analog channels and it can be easily adapted to the different

200

-------

APPRECIATION FIIBENGINEERS

measurement requirements for high-voltage circuit breaker testing. It can measure and calculate contact paths and the speeds at which breaker contacts operate as well as the current in operating coils. It can also measure dynamic resistance (DRM), voltage, pressure, vibration signals and other analog quantities. After measurement, the MA61 performs the necessary calculations and prints results on a connected printer (letter-size A4 paper) or via the TM1600's built-in printer. Moreover, parts of curves can be easily enlarged for closer study. The MA61 incorporates a battery-backed memory that can store up to ten measurements for subsequent processing. APPLICATION Setup A typical breaker test hookup is shown here. Preparation Set the desired breaker operating sequence on the TM1600. In this case, Close-Open (CO). Recording Enable recording with the READY button. Start the breaker sequence and measurement simultaneously by turning the START switch. Test Report The result is printed automatically. This example shows a CLOSEOPEN (C-O) sequence presented in the report 1 format (85 % of actual size). Only the initial contact closing time (CLOSE) and final contact separation time (OPEN) are presented in the report 1 format. Short bounces are not shown. BREAKER TIMING WITH MOTION RECORDING Setup Connect the transducers to the breaker. Preparation of MA61
201

EXAMPLE BREAKERTESTING

APPRECIATl811FOR ENGINEERS

The following additional settings are needed when you include motion recording in breaker analysis. These settings are menudriven via the built-in display on the MA61. 1. Select test interval (50 ms to 1 s). 2. Calibrate the input(s) connected to the position transducer(s), as follows: a) Close the breaker. b) Record closed position via menu option. c) Open the breaker. d) Record the open position. e) Estimate or measure breaker stroke. Enter the value via the menu.
f) Enter speed calculation parameters. 3. Enter the current range and the scale factor for the current shunt for current to be

measured. 4. Enter range and scale factor for other transducers, if used. Recording Press the READY button to prepare the TM1600 for measurement. Travel measurement, time measurement and the breaker sequence all start simultaneously when you turn the START knob. The inputs now record the input voltages obtained from the connected transducers.
Test report The motion recording report includes both curves and a table. The table presents calculated breaker parameters such as closing speed, opening speed, overtravel and penetration.

The diagram shows one or more time/amplitude curves and the calculated breaker parameters. The time axis scale factor can be changed to provide you with a quick overview of an enlarged view part of diagram. The position of the curve in the diagram and the amplitude scale factor can also be changed to make best use of the available space. The damping and speed variations at closing and opening times can be studied on the speed curve obtained from each of the
motion-monitoring channels.

202

Ri!'$fT Fm!

indooi

'Ut:

J ( )

Space for User enterd Header Information

!'utt\;JnI:
IMbw".t:

hh:___h

----.-..-----

.1&11 $!4DtH Em !/ft.

Space for User enterd Comments

C.ElIU

, TU. ~1~!JIt'1iMI!!:L mel P""ftnhi -il:

'nUhl ~d
lIJ<I'!Iilll "-1$ ( 11 iil't I\\Pttttrn,

JOIItih it cltiUt'tui lillil .iiuetuj1II'tHO!i at nmlll1.

Digital Printout

IIIE..

QIPIIIF E'liII'I$ - ~U)IIIEiA!!

tnclt: 111

mttehi

UH

. fU t nu

i i I

111 1

, 1 ,.

1 12

2222

12H
Digital Printout

~t
lie.....

lIlt u.~
i t5'r
I

1k.'.'..."-' ~ 15ft .

.."'H.'---"...

Closing Circuit Trip Circuit Ready .Start

Fig. 3.2-25 TM1600IMA61 Motion Analyzer

203

mUCIATl9HfU fllCINURS

/J$&,,"I_e<!

M$fft;!r

mw

FasUtst

0 P bbI'

!ne.

REPORt F~U '1

!I1!v U, 1".

l~:4U,

Tnt o\Jttt,~NI(IER
In.tr\llltllt:
DIS'?ai pril'bti!

tD!I.Pvtttnt
U-31u.8tm

S:Mioft
W& U88i

I11-1f'" $A..8t23 PI3A m.,

:CKAHIIR1

ltlt-~

'CIWm.3

"

: 13U

liS !~St i Z!i'1'~ liS ""tn

1~.. IS Clou m.' IS OPt!!

jes_1.

'CiMIIiI'!R

,
Chs,
!1I>.n

ftlt.EL

'1

t 218.8.$ Clm
218.4 IIt!1l>ln

jCK.a .

i i
'

2S9.S..

Cl>k~~red _..r

_t"""

SI1!rmg"

""

tI1is I't$l,crtrmg

5tT~t:
, ,

tMib14iW1 A: .~

A:121.3l1li E:- l1li"

,

8: tA et Off 8 .

C:-l1li ..

IhI>SI!ttlltlltUn: 411 liS 'ilJ:2ItI$ S':- M8- C't-

$"t!iffiS rot If"" ptIIotoot

/1'

CIc$ept;I$e

Malr._lac,s

Trip pul>w,

Pnt>! <XII ptm.;dM

by ~JjIf-ir1

AIJI'iIi4ly CM!8<:t!rip Cffw!t

ptiOOJr.
1Og<W~ntJI1'I1aI

Auxiffary

CM!8<:t

cIim>

I;irt;IJIt

MJ:me ~ "'"",*,alionS,)

wJ#> 1.()mm

diWsiCl1$. (1J$eM 'fer """'...

Fig. 3.2-26 Printout Test Sheet ofTM1600/MA61

Motion Analyzer

204

APPBEClATlONFORENGINEERS

SUMMARY

. . . . . . .

Bus-Bars may be in the shape of tubes, bars, pairs or cable. The bus duct is a sheet metal pipe that supports and protects the heavy, hollow, square/round copper/aluminum bus. The bus support insulators and the surrounding duct jacket provide electrical safety and protection, not only for the bus but also for the plant personnel and equipment. Circuit breakers (CBs) protect the electrical equipment and circuit against internal or external short-circuits. The most common five design specifications of Circuit Breakers are: Voltage Rating, Insulation withstanding voltage, Current rating, Interrupt ratings and Operating time in Hz.
The oil as an insulator in an OCB and its excellent cooling properties gives greater current carrying capability in smaller packages.

SF6 gas used in GCBs for insulation and extinguishing medium is a colorless,
odorless, non-toxic, inert and odorless gas having excellent dielectric properties

(2.5 times that of air) under comparable conditions.

GLOSSARY
T-Bus: Transfer Bus. NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers'
Association.

ACB: Air Circuit Breakers.

AIEE:

American Institute of Electrical

Engineers. BOCB: Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker. kVA: kilo-Volt-Amperes.

MOCB: Minimum Oil Circuit Breaker. MVA: Mega-Volt-Amperes. GCB: Gas Circuit Breakers.

2.5 FORMULAS
E I = - Where: Z

I = Current

E = Applied voltage Z = Circuit resistance

205

APPRECIATlOI FOB ENGINEERS

206

1011 FOilmlNEEIIS

REVIEW EXERCISE
1. Bus-Bars are normally made of or

2. An isolated phase bus duct carries each phase of the three-phase generator output in separate duct. a) True b) False cooling, where filtered

3. The high capacity bus ducts often utilize air is drawn through the duct to increase heat transfer.

4. The British Standards specify that the temperature rise, when carrying normal rated current at rated frequency, shall not exceed a) 59 c) 125 b) 75 d) 55 QC.

5. List at least four types of Circuit Breakers: a) c) b) d)

6. Under short-circuit condition of a circuit drawing 2000A current from a 13.8 kV line voltage, the short-circuit impedance (Z) is
a) 6.9 c) 2k b) 69 d) 13.8 Q.

7. OCBs suppress the sparks of high voltage better than pneumatically operated Air Circuit Breakers. a) True b) False

8. All tanks in BOCB are mounted directly to the floor without insulators and grounded at OVpotential. a) True b) False , which is either manually is utilized for

9. Operating mechanism of MOCB is mostly

charged or charged by a motor and the energy stored in the both the closing and tripping operation.
207

APPREClgTlOUOR EIIGINEERS

10. Identify the two circuit breakers:

11. A

is used in high voltage distribution circuits where the contacts

are placed in a sealed container in a vacuum in the form of flat disks with their faces together.

208