Basic Concepts
Circuit Breakers
Ever since the time when electrical energy was first
used, there has been a need for a device to initiate or
interrupt the flow of current.
The methods used to achieve this interruption have
evolved through the years, from the time when the
arc was merely stretched until it broke, to today,
were sophisticated interrupters perform the same
operation at greater voltages and with greater
efficiency.
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Basic Interruption
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Circuit Breakers
What is it?...
A Circuit Breaker is a device for closing,
maintaining and interrupting an electrical
circuit between separable contacts, under
normal (load) and abnormal (fault) conditions.
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Circuit Breakers
How does it work?
An AC Breaker waits for current Zero
It attempts to prevent arc re-ignition
Commutes plasma by removing energy
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Circuit Breakers
Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV)
Circuit Breakers
Auxiliary Devices
Insertion Resistors
To reduce voltage transients
To reduce the severity of the TRV
To damp oscillation
Capacitors
Shunt Capacitors: for initial rate of rise of transient
voltage
Grading Capacitors: same as shunt and, in a multibreak configuration to properly distribute voltage
during interruption and surge control
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Circuit Breakers
Life: 30-40 years
Operating time: 15-30 minutes
Abnormal conditions: 30-60 seconds
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Interruption in Air
Air Magnetic Circuit Breakers
The interruption takes place in air under the
influence of a magnetic field at atmospheric
pressure
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Interruption in Oil
Bulk Oil Circuit Breakers (also called dead tank)
The interruption takes place in oil. The contacts are
immersed in oil which serves as arc quencher.
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Interruption in Vacuum
The interruption takes place in a Vacuum
Vessel(interrupter), which is hermetically
sealed
Arcing is established within the interrupter
by separation of the contacts
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Interruption in SF6
The interruption takes place in a Sulfur
Hexaflouride (SF6) medium, which has excellent
dielectric characteristics.
The SF6 Breakers are classified as follows:
Double
pressure
Puffer type
Self extinguishing
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Circuit Switchers
Combine the function of a circuit breaker and a
disconnect switch
They incorporate an interrupter and a knife blade
They employ
SF6
Vacuum
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