Objectives:

 To understand Control Panel functions of Vacuum Circuit Breaker

 Understand Vacuum Circuit Breaker Spring Mechanism

Theory:
Vacuum Circuit breaker is a power system protection device that extinguishes arc using
vacuum medium. CBs operate from relay instructions.
An electric arc serves as a gateway for discharge of current across a gap in a circuit, due to
breakdown of non-conducting material such as air, when high electric field strength is applied
between two contacts. Arc events form a glow in the material meaning the melting point is
reached for vaporization in reduced pressure environment. The jagged edges of the contact are
mainly affected by this event. Arc events cause severe temperature increase and prolonged
electrical discharge. In our experimentation, we used a Vacuum Interrupter that uses a moving
and fixed contact inside the vacuum chamber which is not visible from outside.

Circuit Breaker :
Working Order of CB with Relay in a general Sequence:
(i) At first, the current from bus bar energizes Relay Coil by CT. The plunger is isolated
from the relay coil.

(ii) In the event of a fault, large current flows and the plunger is magnetically pushed
downwards when Relay coil is sufficiently energized. The second circuit is complete
and the second coil begins to energize.

(iii) Finally, the plunger inside the second coil is pulled back disconnecting the main
circuit. So, fault current is removed and CT is stopped being energized. So, after that
both the circuits return to their initial state.

So,
Fault Clearing Time = Relay Time + Circuit Breaker Time
Relay Time = Trip Signal Sending Time + Initiation of Fault
Circuit Breaker Time = Trip signal receive time + Opening Time + Arc Extinguishing time
Arc Generation:

Fig 03: Electric Arc way between contacts

Arc is the conducting path in open air and with time arc resistance increases. The air is ionized
between the contacts which passes electricity. Low pressure and sufficient voltage between
contacts play key role in creating the arc in mid-air.
Since current passes for little time between contacts, the gap serves as a capacitor, so;

I=C , is a high current value found

Circuit breakers must have the capability to open contacts after fault current detection and
close after extinction of fault for returning to normal operation of circuit.

(1) Voltage and Current profile of the contacts of CB (Before, during and after fault)

Fig 04: Voltage and Current fault profile of the contacts of CB

Terminologies:
 Arc voltage is the voltage that appears across contacts of circuit breaker during the arc
period.
 Restriking voltage is the oscillatory voltage across the open contacts immediately after
fault is removed at near zero current instant. This appears when arc is extinguished.
 When arc extinguishes and the transient period oscillations die out, the RMS voltage
that appears across the circuit breaker contacts is called Recovery voltage.

Fault Flow Action:

 Before the fault, nominal voltage and current flows in the circuit.
 During the fault, the short circuit current is much greater than the nominal current. The
relay mechanism senses this and starts opening the circuit breaker., thus, there is electric
arc formation between contacts. They disrupt the nominal circuit voltage as long as the
arc exists. When the contacts fully open and fault current is removed, the arc
extinguishes.
 After the fault, there is a type of voltage oscillations present due to the arc. This
Restriking voltage must be counteracted with strong dielectric strength created between
the contacts. So, when the contacts close, the Restriking volt also vanishes.

(2) Description of the VCB observed in the Lab

In our experimentation, we observed a VCB or, Vacuum circuit breaker where arc elimination
happens inside it in vacuum. When the circuit breaker contacts open, arc generates among the
contacts through the metal vapors ionization in the contacts due to low pressure.

The 33 kV VCB has 2 control panels:

(i) Local control panel
(ii) Remote control panel
Its connected to a 33 kV three-phase power supply, so 3 interrupters as seen Fig:07. The
interrupters can be tripped/closed by:

o Electronic control from either local control panel / remote control panel
o Mechanical control from local control panel

The secondary side of CT (Current Transformer) can’t be opened due to high EMF generation.
According to, Vs/Vp = Ip/Is, opening secondary side will result in Is = 0 and so, Vs will have
infinite value, resulting in CT damage. So, it is measured within the VCB device.
 Fig 05: Dielectric Strength vs Electrode Distance for different mediums

(a) Function of different blocks in the control panel

Fig 06: VCB device in the lab (left Local Control Panel, right Remote Control Panel)
 Fig 07: Outdoor VCB

Components
Pole Assembly
Pole Assembly (with Vacuum Interrupter Inside)

VCB consists of 3 pole assemblies. The upper and lower

parts both contain porcelain made insulator bushing. The line
terminals are mounted on drive chamber so that they are at a
safe distance above the ground.

Vacuum Interrupter
Consists of steel arc chamber where operation of opening
and closing contacts and also, arc interruption occurs. Here
rapid build up of dielectric strength enables arc to be safely
extinguished even if contact separation occurs immediately
prior to current zero.

Lightbulbs
Turn on, when circuit is closed by the circuit breaker.

Turn off, when the circuit is opened by the circuit breaker.

 VCB Ratings (Remote Control Panel)
VCB Ratings

The Remote Control Panel has a battery of

110V DC rating.

Indicator lamps
Spring charged lamp, Trip Lamp, DC fail lamp

Ammeter
There are three (3) ammeters showing current passing
through each of the interrupters of the VCB.
Voltmeter
There is one (1) voltmeter and a voltmeter selecting switch
which allows operator to view line-to-line (RS, ST, TR) or
line-to-neutral (RN, SN, TN) voltages.

2 Alarms
DC Alarm: rings if DC Fail lamp is turned on.
AC Alarm: rings if AC supply to the control panel has
been disrupted
Remote Control Panel

Annunciator Relay
The relay is equipped with microprocessor-based circuitry
and LED indicators, where various warning signs are
displayed.

Breaker Control switch

This is a selector switch whose natural position is
Home/neutral position. If turned clockwise, VCB contacts
close. If turned anti-clockwise, VCB contacts trip (open).

Trip circuit/coil supervision relay

Trip circuit/coil supervision relay initiates an audible alarm
and visual indication if the trip circuit of a circuit breaker
fails or the breaker tripping mechanism does not operate.

Multifunction kWh meter

This is a meter which shows the power passing through the
circuit breaker and power usage by the relay. However, this
is not the electricity billing meter.

Test Terminal Block (TTB)

Test Terminal Blocks (TTB) allows for safe testing of CT,
PT and other equipment of the VCB control panel, while
reducing possibility of damage to the equipment.

Overcurrent relay
This is the MiCOM P121 universal overcurrent relay. Its
equipped with a LCD display, keypad and 8 LEDs that
indicate the status. In addition, the use of the RS485
communication port makes it possible to read, reinitialize
and change the settings of the relays software.

3 Push Switches
Lamp test push: If pushed, checks if the Indicator lamps
are functioning.
DC fail lamp reset: If pushed, resets the green DC Fail
lamp.
DC fail alarm accept: If pushed, turns of the DC Alarm.

Master trip relay

Master trip relay, also known as Lockout relay, is the master relay
of the control circuit. It receives trip signal from Trip circuit/coil
supervision relay and sends it to the circuit breaker.
 Lightbulbs : To show breaker close/trip states

Outside (collected)

Close Push Button : To close the circuit by closing

CB
Indicator: For showing Charged/Free of Charged
states
Indicator lamps: To show on/off state of the circuit
Local Control Panel

breaker
Electrical Push Buttons: Works similar to the
normal push buttons
Auxiliary spring
Local/remote selector switch: Decides Local or,
Remote state of the Local Panel
Main spring

Open Push Button : To open the circuit by opening

CB

Mechanical Gears

Manual Handle: for Charging both the springs

Inside

manually
Control Settings:

Local Control Panel Remote Control Panel Action Control

Remote Local Controlled by Remote
Control Panel
Local Local+ Remote Local Control Panel
Remote Remote Some other Remote
Control Panel, such as
SCADA.

(b) Spring charge mechanism

(i) Manual Charging or, Local Operation:

o Step 1: Manually Charging the Springs ( Previously Discharged)

o Step 2: The Spring is now charged, pressing the green button ,VCB is now closed,
current flows, spring is discharged.
o Step 3: If the circuit breaker needs to be opened the red push button is pressed,
the breaker is opened and the circuit becomes incomplete and so, the lightbulbs
turnoff. Here, we see the springs maintain their initial discharged state.

(ii) Auto Charging or, Remote Operation

o Step 1: In auto charging or, remote charging Local Panel is set to “Remote” and
Remote Panel to “Local”. So, the Remote panel has control over the local one.
o Step 2: To close the circuit, breaker switched to “Close” mode in Local panel.
So, the circuit in the Local device now gets completed and bulbs turn on. All this
is happening via control from distant location. Immediately, the now discharged
springs are charged by the motor present in the Local Panel. As a result, no
manual intervention is required to charge the springs manually.
o Step 3: So, the springs are ready for the next closing event. However, if we now
want to open the now closed/completed circuit, we switched the breaker switch
to “Trip” mode in Local panel. The circuit opens and the lightbulbs turnoff. The
springs are unchanged due to the fact that opening the circuit doesn’t require any
energy from the springs.