1.

Circuit Breaker

1.1 Introduction

Circuit breaker falls in the category of equipment known as switchgear, a term that essentially concerned with the making and breaking of electrical circuits. The high voltage circuit breaker is using SF6 (Sulfur Hexaflouride) gas, oil and vacuum as its insulation system for outdoor erection in open substation. The circuit breaker is built up of three separate poles, which consist of 3 main parts the operating mechanism, hollow support insulators through which run operating insulators, and the breaking units. Each breaking unit consists of a hollow insulator, which together with an upper and lower flange, constitute the casing, and a lower and upper current path with contact system. The moving contacts are mounted on the lower current path, whereas the fixed contacts are mounted on the upper one.

The gas circuit breaker poles are permanently filled with SF6 gas as its insulation, normally to the pressure of 0.5 MPa. The pressure rise and gas flow which are necessary for extinguishing the arc during the course of breaking are produced by the puffer, in principle a pump where the piston is fixed and the cylinder movable and via the operating insulator joined to the mechanical operating system.

At opening operation the puffer cylinder is pulled downwards over the fixed piston, and the confined quantity of gas is compressed and forced at high speed out through the openings in the upper end of the cylinder. At the same stage the arcing contacts are separated and an arc occurs. A specially formed nozzle leads the out-flowing gas towards the arc. The gas is allowed to pass both downwards through the moving arcing contact and upwards past the fixed arcing contact.

At closing operation the puffer cylinder is pushed upwards, at which time the contacts engage and the cylinder is again filled with gas. The circuit breaker is operated with a motoroperated spring-closing device. The operating device is connected to the operating mechanism of the poles via a pull-rod system.

1.2 Circuit breaker specification

1.2.2 The rated RMS short circuit breaking current The necessity for the single phase quantity reflects the fact that in some instances the single phase to earth fault level of the system may exceed the three phase fault level by up to 20%. The circuit breakers short circuit breaking current capability must equal or exceed the system maximum fault level shows in the table below.

Nominal Voltage (kV) 275 132 33 11

Fault level (MVA) 15000 3500 1000 250

Fault level (A) 31500 15300 17500 13000

Table 1: System maximum fault levels

Method of Arc Interruption (Insulation System)

The common circuit breaker arc-interrupting media, from which the circuit breaker type designation is usually taken, are:

Sulphur Hexaflouride (SF6) Oil Vacuum

1.3.1 Sulphur Hexaflouride (SF6) SF6 is an odorless, colorless, nontoxic, noninflammable gas. It is five times heavier than air with approximately twice the electric strength. It is termed an electronegative gas, which means that its molecules rapidly absorb the free electrons in the arc; there is thus a rapid build up of dielectric strength after current zero. On contact separation, a high pressure flow of SF6 gas is forced through the interrupting nozzles. The pressurization may be from a reservoir of high pressure SF6, which is maintained by a compressor system, or a piston mechanism which compresses the gas as the moving contact move to the fully open position

Figure 1b: Principle of arc interruption; SF6 Circuit Breaker

1.3.2 Oil

The contacts are housed in an arc control pot (or chamber), alternatively known as an explosion pot, which is in turn immersed in a tank of oil. When the moving and fixed contacts separate, an arc is created, the heat of which decomposes the adjacent oil into a number of gases, some 80% of which is hydrogen. The hydrogen gas efficiently conducts the heat of the arc into the cool surrounding oil. Ultimately, at a current zero, when the pressure within the arc control pot is sufficiently high, and the arc is sufficiently extended and cooled, the arc products are expelled and replaced by cool oil, which is of sufficient dielectric strength to prevent restrike of the arc.

Figure 1c: Principle of arc interruption Oil circuit breaker

Figure : Oil circuit breaker

1.3.3 Vacuum

The vacuum interrupter consists of a fixed and moving contact assembly contained within a sealed chamber under high vacuum. Opening of the contacts causes an arc arising out of vaporized metal from the contacts. The vapor rapidly diffuses away from the gap at current zero, to be absorbed by sputter shields specially designed for this purpose. Vacuum circuit breakers are usually found at distribution voltage mainly 11kV and 33kV.

Figure 1c: Principle of arc interruption

Figure :Vacuum Circuit Breaker.

1.5 Circuit Breaker Maintenance

Maintenance generally consists of the following Inspection, cleaning and lubricating Periodic replacement of parts Mechanism checks Contact resistance measurement Assessment of the interrupting and insulation medium Tests specific to circuit breaker types Timing tests Operational tests

1.5.1 Contact Resistance Test The purpose of this test is to measure a resistance across each set of contacts with the circuit breaker closed. The microhmeter test set type MOM600A is used. The microhmeter typically inject 100A into the joint. Manufacturers will quote maximum value of resistance, which will typically be in the range of a few tens of micro-ohms. All results should be recorded as a source for comparison during maintenance.

1.5.2 Timing test The timing test is an important commissioning test since it proves the acceptability of the whole electromechanical process from trip initiation to contact separation. The timing equipment usually consists of a switch which can be selected to energize either the trip or close coil, and inputs which monitor the state of the main circuit breaker contacts. Figure 1d illustrates the essential features of a timing test.

Figure: Timing equipment and connections

When the switch is selected to trip or close, a graphical record is produced by the timing equipment, showing the changing state of the circuit breaker contacts. The exact time from trip initiation to contact separation can be determined and check whether the times are within specification. The type of timing tests are as shown below: Trip test initiation to contacts part Close test initiation to contacts touch Trip on close test close onto an already operated trip relay

For SF6 transmission-voltage circuit breaker, typical times would be: Trip test Close test Trip on close test = 22ms 3ms with a contact spread of 5ms = 31ms 5ms with a contact spread of 5ms = 70ms 5ms with a contact spread of 6ms

In addition, the contact spread time should also be checked against the manufacturers specification. Timing tests are less important for distribution-voltage circuit breakers, where fault clearance times are less critical.

1.5.3 Gas testing

The tests specific to SF6 circuit breaker are concerned with the SF6 gas. These tests involve a chemical and physical analysis of the gas. There are a few types of testing commission by TNB:

(a) SF6 leakage detection: This should commence with the SF6 compartments filled to full pressure and an observation made of whether the pressure is then stable or falls over a period of time. Leaks can be detected by use of an SF6-leakage detector. This generally consists of a hand-held probe which should be slowly moved over the surface of the SF6 containment vessel. (b) SF6 dew point: The dew point can be obtained by dew point test set type Babenhausen 3-035-R0001. Temperature control is achieved by letting the gas flowing into the test set through a hollow cable. The temperature is then allowed to rise at which the dew clears and the reading is recorded. The dew point temperature at working temperature must be lower than the lowest expected ambient temperature, usually < 150C.

(c) SF6 purity: The SF6 purity can be determined by using a test set type Babenhausen 3-027-R002. SF6 gas is passed through the measuring device and the reading is then recorded. The gas purity must be more than 98%.