Unit V

Circuit Breaker
Operation of a Circuit Breaker
• A circuit breaker is a mechanical switching device and it
is one of the most important switchgear.
• A C.B can make or break a circuit either manually or
automatically under no load, full load or short circuit
conditions.
• The main component of a C.B is the contact system
which comprises a moving contact, a fixed contact and
an opening mechanism.
• The contacts are made of copper. Contact tips are made
of silver which maintains low contact resistance.
• When the contacts are closed, their contact faces are
Operation of a Circuit Breaker
• The breaking or interruption action becomes difficult
because of the formation of arc.
• The arc is extinguished when the current reaches zero.
• Various other techniques also employed to extinguish
the arc.
Formation of Arc
• Under faulty conditions, a heavy current flows through the contacts
of the C.B before they are opened.
• The contacts started to separate and the area of contact decreases.
• This will increase the current density and hence the temperature
rises.
• The medium between the contacts of C.B. may be air or oil.
• The heat produced in the medium is sufficient enough to ionize the
air which will act as conductor.
• Thus an arc is struck between the contacts.
• Arc acts as a conductor and hence the circuit is uninterrupted.
• The current flowing due to arc depends on the arc resistance.
• With increase in arc resistance, the current will be smaller.
Factors Affecting the Arc Resistance
Degree of ionization
• Less number of ionized particles between the contacts
increases the arc resistance.

Length of arc
• Arc resistance is a function of arc length. More the length
of arc, more will be the arc resistance.

Cross section of arc

• Arc resistance is large when the cross section of arc is less.
Arc Interruption Theory

• The two main theories explaining the arc

interruption or current zero interruption are,

• Recovery rate theory (Slepian’s theory)

• Energy balance theory (Cassie’s theory)
Recovery Rate Theory (Slepian’s Theory)
• The arc is a column of ionized gas.
• To extinguish the arc, the electrons and ions are to
be removed from the gap at current zero.
• Ions and electrons can be removed by sweeping
them away by using gas or liquid in the gap.
• The arc is interrupted if the ions are removed from
the gap at a faster rate than the rate of ionization.
• Slepian described the process as a race between
the dielectric strength and restriking voltage.
Recovery Rate Theory (Slepian’s Theory)
• In this theory, the rate at which the gap recovers its dielectric strength is
compared with the rate at which restriking voltage across the contacts
rises.
• If the dielectric strength increases more rapidly than the restriking
voltage, the arc will be extinguished.
• If the restriking voltage increases more rapidly than the dielectric
strength, the ionization continues and arc will exist for another half cycle.
Energy Balance Theory (Cassie’s Theory)
• Immediately after current zero, the contact
space contains ionized gas and the space will
provide some resistance (post zero resistance).
• A current flows through this resistance and
causes a power dissipation.
• This power is zero when the initial restriking
voltage is zero.
• This power again becomes zero after the
complete de-ionization of the contact space.
Energy Balance Theory (Cassie’s Theory)
• Between these two limits, the power dissipated will rise to
maximum and comes back to zero.
• Power dissipation results in production of heat and dissipation
of heat.
• If the heat generated exceeds the rate at which heat can be
dissipated, the ionization will persist and an arc is formed again.
Terms Associated with Circuit Breaking
Arc voltage
• The voltage across the contacts of C.B. when the arc
persists is called arc voltage. This voltage becomes
system voltage when the arc is extinguished.

Restriking voltage
• After the arc is extinguished, the voltage across the
breaker contacts does not become normal
instantaneously. But a transient oscillation is produced.
• The transient voltage that appears across the breaker
contacts at the instant of arc extinction is called
restriking voltage.
Terms Associated with Circuit Breaking
Recovery voltage
• The normal power frequency voltage that appears across
the breaker contacts after the final arc extinction is called
the recovery voltage.
Expression for Restriking Voltage and RRRV

Recovery voltage
• The normal power frequency voltage that appears across
the breaker contacts after the final arc extinction is called
the recovery voltage.
Classification of Circuit Breaker
• Based on Voltage
• Low voltage C.B (less than 1 kV)
• Medium voltage C.B (1 kV to 52 kV)
• High voltage C.B (66 kV – 220 kV)
• Extra high voltage C.B (300 kV – 765 kV)
• Ultra high voltage C.B (above 765 kV)
• Based on Medium used for Arc Quenching
• Air-Break C.B
• Oil C.B
• Air blast C.B
• Sulphur Hexafluoride C.B
• Vacuum C.B
Air Break Circuit Breakers
• These are suitable for high current interruption at low voltage.
• Air at atmospheric pressure is used as arc quenching medium.
• Arc interruption process is based on the natural deionization of
gases by a cooling action.
• This C.B has two pairs of contacts – main contacts and arcing
contacts.
• The main contacts carry current when C.B in closed position.
• They have low contact resistance.
 Air Break Circuit Breakers
• Arc runners are provided to increase the arc length.
• Arc splitters are provided to split the arc inside the arc chute.
• When contacts are opened, the main contacts open first.
• But arcing contacts remain closed.
• Current is shifted from main to arcing
contacts.
• Arc moves upward along the arc runner and
its length is increased inside arc chute.
• Arc splitters will split the arc and hence arc
is quenched at natural current zero.
• These circuit breakers are available in the
voltage ranges from 400 V to 12 kV.
Air Blast Circuit Breakers
• Here compressed air at a pressure of 18 – 20 kg/cm 2 is used as an
arc quenching medium.
• They are used for system voltages from 132 kV to 400 kV.
• Also used for 11 kV to 33 kV voltage applications.
• But vacuum and SF6 C.B are widely used in the above mentioned
voltage applications. Hence air blast C.B are becoming obsolete.
• Types
• Cross blast C.B
• Axial blast C.B
 Air Blast Circuit Breakers
• Used for interrupting a high current (100
kA) at low voltages.
• A high pressure blast of air is directed
perpendicularly to the arc for interruption.
• Moving contacts open just outside an arc
chute.

• When the arc is struck between the contacts, an air blast is

forced on the arc to take the arc near arc splitters.
• These splitters will lengthen the arc to increase the arc
resistance.
• Arc current can be reduced and hence arc is quenched. It is
called cross blast C.B, because the air is forced across the arc.
 Axial Blast Circuit Breakers
• A high pressure blast of air is
directed in line (parallel) to the arc
for interruption.
• Applicable for EHV and super high
voltage applications.
• Resistance switching may be
employed for reducing transient
overvoltages.
Oil Circuit Breakers
• Mineral oil has better insulating properties than air. It has good cooling
property.
• Hence mineral oil can be used as a medium for quenching the arc in C.Bs.
• When arc is formed, it decomposes the oil into gases.
• Hence the arc energy is utilized in decomposing the oil.

Disadvantages of Oil C.B

• Oil is inflammable and may pose a fire hazard.
• It produces carbon particles in oil due to heat which reduces
the dielectric strength of oil.
• Hence OCBs are not suitable for interrupting heavy currents.
Minimum Oil Circuit Breaker
• It uses low volume of oil.
• 10% of oil is utilized for arc extinction and 90% is used for
insulation purpose.
• It uses a small container with oil for arc extinction. This container is
kept on a porcelain insulator.
• But being small, there is a problem in releasing the high pressure
generated inside the container.
• Carbonisation will be more and hence the oil may loose its
dielectric strength.
• Less suitable for frequent operation.
• Interruption of capacitive and inductive currents creates a problem.
• Hence resistance switching is necessary.
Minimum Oil Circuit Breaker
• It consists of two chambers
physically separated and filled with
oil.
• Upper chamber contains arc control
device, fixed and moving contacts.
• Lower chamber consists of
operating mechanism and acts as
insulating support.
• Supporting chamber is made up of
porcelain and mounted on a metal
chamber.
MOCB – Operation
MOCB – Operation
MOCB – Operation
MOCB – Operation
Maintenance of Oil Circuit Breaker
• When a breaker interrupts a current, the contacts may
be burnt by arcing.
• The oil gets carbonized and loses its dielectric strength.
• Replacement of oil and contacts are required.
• The dielectric strength and level of oil needs to be
checked periodically.
• Oil in good condition should withstand 40 kV for one
minute with 4 mm gap between the contacts.
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) C.B
• SF6 an inert gas (does not undergo any chemical
reactions) and thermally stable (opposing
decomposition during high temperatures).
• It has got good arc quenching and insulating
properties.
• Its density is 5 times that of air and heat convection is
1.6 times that of air.
• It is non – inflammable, non – poisonous and odourless.
• But the by products produced in SF6 during arcing is
dangerous for the operating personnel.
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) C.B – Construction

• It consists of fixed and moving contacts enclosed in chamber

containing SF6 gas.
• This chamber is connected to SF6 gas reservoir.
• Fixed contact is a hollow cylindrical current carrying contact
fitted with an arc horn.
• Moving contact is also a hollow cylinder with holes in its sides to
allow the SF6 gas to flow out.
• Tips of both contacts are coated with copper- tungsten arc
resistant material.
• Since the SF6 gas is costly, it is reconditioned and reused after
each operation of breaker.
• Used for voltages ranging from 115 kV to 500 kV.
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) C.B – Construction
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) C.B – Operation
• In closed position, the contacts are surrounded by SF6 gas
at a pressure about 2.8 kg/cm2.
• When C.B operates, the contacts are open and arc is struck
between them.
• Valve between reservoir and arcing chamber opens up to
allow SF6 gas at 14 kg/cm2 to the arc interruption chamber.
• High pressure SF6 gas absorbs the free electrons in the arc
to form immobile negative ions which are ineffective.
• Medium between the contacts recovers dielectric strength
and arc is extinguished.
Vacuum Circuit Breaker
• Vacuum of the order of 10-5 to 10-7 torr is used as arc
quenching medium.
• At such a low pressure (high vacuum), the mean free path
of electron is large of the order of few metres.
• Hence the electrons cross the gap without any collision.
• It provides highest dielectric strength than any medium.
• The space between the contacts recovers its dielectric
strength 1000 times faster than that happen with any
other medium.
Vacuum Circuit Breaker
• The outer envelope is made of glass and
joined with metallic end caps.
• Glass envelope helps to examine the
breaker form outside after operation.
• Normally the colour of inside of this C.B is
silver. When it becomes milky white, it
indicates that it is loosing vacuum.
• FC and MC are kept inside a sputter shield
made of stainless steel.

• This shield prevents the metal vapour reaching the

envelope.
Vacuum Circuit Breaker
• Metallic bellows made of stainless
steel are used to move the moving
contact.
• This moving contact is connected to a
spring operated mechanism so that
the bellows move up and down during
closing and opening of the breaker.
• An arc is struck when contacts are
opened due to the evaporation of
contacts. The arc does not strike on
Vacuum Circuit Breaker
• It strikes between the micro projections of contacts.
• Hot spots are created at the points of arc striking.
• In high vacuum of the order of 10-5 of mercury, the
mean free path of gas molecules become very large.
• Even if the contact space is in mm, the electron
travels without collision.
• Hence existence of arc is not possible in high vacuum
because of no collision of electrons.
• Arc is quickly extinguished because the metallic
vapour, electrons and ions will be diffused faster and
absorbed by the contact surfaces.
Circuit Breaker Ratings
• A circuit breaker has to perform the following major duties under
short circuit conditions.
• To open the contacts to clear the fault
• To close the contacts on to a fault
• To carry the fault current while another C.B is clearing the fault

• Additional important ratings

• Breaking capacity
• Making capacity
• Short time capacity
Circuit Breaker Ratings
• Breaking capacity
• It is the highest current that a C.B can break at a stated
recovery voltage under prescribed condition.
• It is expressed in terms of MVA
• Making capacity
• It is the peak value of the current wave in the first cycle
after the C.B is closed when the fault is existing. It is 2.55
times that of normal short circuit breaking current.
• Short time capacity
• The RMS value of current that a circuit breaker can carry
safely for certain specific time without any damage in it.
Interruption of Capacitive
Current
 Interruption of Inductive Current

After C.B is opened, energy stored inductor = energy

stored
  in capacitor.
 Interruption of Inductive Current

When interrupting low inductive

current, the rapid de-ionizing and
blast effect of C.B may cause the
current to fall abruptly to zero
before the natural current
zero. This phenomenon is called
current chopping.
 Resistance Switching
• When a C.B is interrupting the capacitive or low inductive currents, a very 
high re-striking voltage appears across its contacts.
• This can be avoided by resistance switching. 
• A resistor is connected in parallel with the arc. 

• A  part  of  arc  current  flows  through  the 

resistance. 
• Hence  current  flowing  through  the  arc  is 
reduced and the de-ionization of gap occurs 
faster. 
• This will increase the arc resistance