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Circuit Breakers
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 1 -
AGENDA
GENERAL
Introduction/ Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 2 -
AGENDA
GENERAL
Introduction/ Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 3 -
Introduction
The circuit breaker is the last, larger and more important
element of the system constituted by the protection
equipment.
It is responsible of the ultimate clearance of all present
disturbances and of the switching manoeuvres involved in
normal operation of the system.
All this tasks must be performed without the insertion of
secondary disturbances by the breaker.
In order to fulfil these requirements, the breaker must be
highly reliable, both electrically and mechanically.
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1_114Q07- 4 -
Introduction
The switching of the configuration of an electrical system operating a
circuit breaker is not generally a simple process.
The operation of a breaker in a circuit with a current flow, implies the
necessity of extinguishing the electric arc which appears between
the contacts.
The arc extinction, which must be done under very severe physical
and time conditions, may itself provoke transient phenomena
accompanied with overvoltages.
According to the standard IEC 265-1:1983, a circuit breaker is a
mechanical device of connection, capable of establish, withstand
and break the current under the normal operation of the circuit and
occasionally, under specific overload in-service conditions, as well
as endure specific abnormal circuit currents (e. g. short circuit
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B arc length
Where A and B are linear functions of the
For i o; UA = Ue (extinctionU a = A+
voltage)
I
For strong currents: Ua = A
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1_114Q07- 8 -
Arc temperature
The curve in Fig. shows the temperature of
the medium surrounding the arc as a function
of the distance to its axis. The temperatures
depend on the contacts material.
The arcs shows up as an incandescent gas
column with an almost straight-line trajectory
between the electrodes, which core reaches
temperatures between 6,000 and 10,0000 ºC.
The surface of contact of the arc with the
electrodes appears incandescent.
The collision of the molecules with the
electrons emitted by the cathode generates
the ions of the arc column.
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1_114Q07- 9 -
Voltage drop in the arc
The arc can be divided in three zones.
Close to the electrodes, there are two very short zones with high gradients
and pronounced voltage drops: UA (anodic) y Ue (cathodic).
The third zone presents a smaller voltage drop, U, proportional to the length
of the rest of the distance between electrodes.
The cathodic drop is lower than the anodic and includes a very small zone.
UA and Ue depend on the current intensity (Fig. 1).
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1_114Q07- 10 -
Voltage drop in the arc
In the zone of the cathodic drop there are
metallic vapours proceeding from the cathode with
many positive ions and few electrons.
These electrons have great mobility and they are
able to transport from 10% to 20% of the current.
In the arc zone, the shifting of electrons gives
place to intense currents.
When the ions go toward the electrodes of opposite
sign they accumulate toward the nearby zones
causing the voltage drops shown in Fig. 1.
These voltage drops are associated to powerful fields
that provide the ions enough energy to release new
ions.
In the anodic zone, a negative charge generates a
voltage drop.
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1_114Q07- 11 -
Power and energy in the arc
The power absorbed by the arc is equal to multiply the current of the arc Ia by the voltage
drop in the column:
Pa = I a U a
The energy absorbed by the arc is the integral of the former product, extended to the
whole duration of the arc:
T T
This energy is transformed Win =heat a dt =
∫ o Pand dt to
is ∫dissipated
o IaUa the environment due to
conduction, radiation and convection. Part of this heat is absorbed by the dissociation of
the flow that surrounds the arc.
A high thermal conductivity and an improvement of the refrigeration conditions will reduce the
temperature and increase the voltage drop.
The rise of the pressure also produces an increase in the voltage drop.
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1_114Q07- 12 -
Characteristics of the arc
The relationship among voltage and
current in an electric arc is very different
from that of metallic conductors.
In metallic conductors, the voltage is
proportional to the current, and its
characteristic is a straight line er.
The voltage UA between the electrodes of
the arc decreases when the current rises
to a limit value and then it rises again
when the current decreases.
The initial breakdown of the space between electrodes requires a high
voltage of ignition for i = o.
The growth of current increases tª and the ionisation of the medium
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tª do not adapt instantly to the new values of current and they give place to a
lesser voltage of the arc.
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Characteristics of the arc
The extinction voltage is smaller than the
restriking voltage, because when the
extinction takes place (following an
instant of strong dissipation of heat due
to thermal inertia), the column of the arc
has thermodynamic and conductive
conditions superior to those preceding
the restriking.
The restriking occurs after a very short
time without arc, of about millionths of
second, in which a cooling and an intense
deionisation of the arc take place.
The arc restriking, with the current in the opposite direction, is produced
when the inverse voltage of recovery applied between the electrodes is
higher than the restriking voltage.
© ABB Power Technology
The difference of ordinates between the curve of rising current and the curve of decreasing current
is due to the thermal capacity of the electrodes and of the gas of the arc and, in particular, of the
calorific inertia of the arc (arc hysteresis).
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1_114Q07- 16 -
The arc in alternate current
RESTRIKING VOLTAGE (Ur)
It is the voltage between electrodes needed to restrike the arc after it extinguishes when the current
naturally crosses zero. If the voltage between electrodes is lower than the restriking voltage of the arc, the
circuit stays definitely open.
u urd
i
t
ua
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i
1_114Q07- 19 -
Breaking an alternate current
In fast medium-voltage circuit breakers, the current breaks after two or
more hundredth of second. Actually, the current breaking always has
place through an arc, with the exception of very weak currents or
extremely small voltages.
The breaker goes from u
urd
i Em
conductive condition to
insulating condition with a i
u
given puncture voltage or
dielectric strength, which ua
into conductor.
1_114Q07- 25 -
Arc extinction process
The gaseous column
strongly ionised turns into
plasma
Its ionisation and electrical
conductivity extremely rise
with temperature
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1_114Q07- 26 -
Arc extinction process
u urd
i
t
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ua
i
1_114Q07- 28 -
Arc extinction process. Fault current interruption
The case of close-in faults is characterized by a high current, with a
high phase angle close to 90º (load strongly inductive).
It can lead to several arc restrikings and the arc extinction does not
take place before the 2º or 3º zero cross of the current.
u
urd
The arc is established by contact parting.
Em
i The voltage drop is Ua.
i
u
At the first zero cross the TRV rises very
ua
quickly trying to reach the grid voltage but
a restrike occurs because the dielectric
strength is not high enough.
t
urd
© ABB Power Technology
When the short circuit is at the far end of the line, a transient
overvoltage may add to the TRV, which can cause restrikings even
though the current is not very high.
The case of interrupting small inductive currents may also cause some
troubles since the arc may extinguish even before the zero cross of the
current, hence generating voltage peaks by induction effect, and
consequent restrikings.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 30 -
AGENDA
GENERAL
Introduction/ Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 31 -
Circuit Breakers
According to the standard IEC 265-1:1983, a circuit
breaker is a mechanical device of connection,
Capable of establish, withstand and break the current
under the normal operation of the circuit
Occasionally, under specific overload in-service
conditions,
Endure specific abnormal circuit currents (e. g. short
circuit currents) during a given time (generally
fractions of second).
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 32 -
Circuit Breakers
The main nominal characteristics of circuit breakers are:
Rated voltage
Insulation level
Rated current
Rated frequency
Breaking capacity
Making capacity
Short-time current
Sequence of operation
Thermal short-time current rating
Mechanical short-time current rating
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 33 -
Rated voltage
The rated or nominal voltage of a network (Un) is the standard value of voltage for
which the network’s operation and insulation have been designed.
The limit values of a network’s voltage (excluding all transitory or abnormal
conditions) are the highest and lowest value of voltage that may be present in the
network at a given instant or place under normal operation conditions.
Generally, those limit values are around ± 10% from the nominal voltage of the network.
The highest voltage for a circuit breaker is the maximum specified for it related to:
Its insulation
Other attributes associated to this voltage
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1_114Q07- 34 -
Insulation level
The insulation level of a circuit breaker is given
by:
Nominal power-frequency withstand voltage
Nominal lightning withstand voltage
And eventually by:
Nominal switching withstand voltage
These values characterize the device’s insulation
regarding its aptitude to withstand overvoltages
at power frequency, lightning overvoltages and
switching overvoltages of steep wavefront.
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1_114Q07- 35 -
Insulation level. Lightning wave
Lightning overvoltage waves in overhead lines may have several
forms, but those registered by a cathode-ray oscillograph during
storms had shown that they might be represented by a non-periodic
unidirectional wave of steep front, attenuated afterwards.
In order to typify the insulation of a given device, this wave can be
standardized as a 1.2/50 waveform;
this is, a waveform which front has a conventional duration T1 = 1.2 µ s,
and the conventional duration of the waveform afterwards until it
reaches half its amplitude in the tail is of 50 µ s, according to the
standard DIN VDE 0432.
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1_114Q07- 36 -
Insulation level. Switching wave
In high and medium voltage lines, the breaking of the current in a
circuit provokes overvoltages, with an unidirectional wave of steep
front, attenuated afterwards, that be standardized as a 250/2500 shock
wave, this is, a waveform which front has a conventional duration T1 =
250 µ s and T2 = 2500 µ s.
These shock voltages are generally triggered by an arrangement in
which a given number of capacitors are charged in parallel by a high-
voltage direct current source and then discharged in series over a
circuit composed by the tested device in parallel with a pure resistance
R and a linear inductance L.
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1_114Q07- 37 -
Nominal or rated current
It is the current assigned by the manufacturer that the device can endure indefinitely (or for a
given time) under normal operation conditions, without suffering any heating higher than that
fixed by the standards, and without undergo any modification in its functional features.
Asymmetrical current
Symmetrical and asymmetrical breaking current
The symmetrical current is the effective value of the AC component in
the pole at the instant of contact separation and its value is given by:
x
I sim =
2
2
x 2
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I asim = + (Y )
2
1_114Q07- 40 -
Symmetrical and asymmetrical breaking current
The extent of the asymmetrical period and its importance of the asymmetry
depend, for each phase, on the instantaneous value of the electromotive force
(e.m.f.) in the initial moment of the short-circuit and its maximum value when the
initial instant corresponds with a zero of the e.m.f.
Usually the relationship between the symmetrical and asymmetrical short-circuit
currents is expressed by a factor of asymmetry K:
K depends on the relationship between the inductive reactance and the resistance of
I asim =
the circuit where the circuit K I sim
breaker will be mounted. It is generally tabulated in tables.
2
I t = constant
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1_114Q07- 43 -
Rated sequence of operation
The rated sequence of operation of a circuit breaker consists in a number of
operations established in a certain succession and in given ranges of time.
According to the IEC standards, the sequence of operation of a circuit
breaker not specified as a recloser can be expressed as follows:
o - t - co - t' - co
o - t² - co
Where:
o= opening operation, c = closing operation
co = closing operation followed by an opening operation
t, t', t² time ranges, t y t' expressed in minutes, t² expressed in seconds
For example, a circuit breaker with a double operation sequence o - 0,15seg
– co, means than when the fault takes place, the circuit breaker opens, waits
0,15seg, closes and, if the fault continues, it opens again.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 44 -
Breaker High Voltage
Types Circuit Breakers
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 45 -
AGENDA
GENERAL
Introduction/ Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 46 -
Breaker types
The main way to distinguish the Voltage Puncture in OIL,
different types of breakers is AIR and SF6
that related with the mediun they
use as a dielectric and to break
the current.
In accordance with that we can
distinguish :
Oil breakers
Dead tank
Low content
Magnetic blast breakers
Air blast breakers
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SF6 breakers
1_114Q07- 47 -
Vacuum breakers
Breaker technologies. History. OIL
The hypothetical birth of static breaking, with a promising but doubtful future.
1_114Q07- 53 -
Predictable future of each technology
Number of breakers by Voltage and thecnology used
K.V. AIRE G.V.A. P.V.A. SF6 VACÍO TOTAL
380 10 0 47 14 0 71
45 9 44 900 62 20 1035
30 6 77 486 33 29 631
%TOTAL
1,59 4,62 58,77 32,81 2,21 100
AÑO 2000
© ABB Power Technology
SECUENCIA DE CORTE DE UN
POLO DEL INTERRUPTOR
AUTOMATICO
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 59 -
El éxito de esta técnica, inicialmente aplicada a los interruptores de baja tensión y muy especialmente en los interruptores
de corriente continua ultrarrápidos hasta 3 kV, llevó a los constructores a extrapolar su utilización a los aparatos de alterna
de media tensión, hasta tensiones de 24 kV.
Como sea que, para alcanzar una tensión de arco del orden de la tensión de la red, la longitud de aquel debe ser muy
importante; y una elevada tensión de arco con corrientes fuertes sería causa de un considerable desarrollo de energía (por
defecto Joule), que además de inútil sería perjudicial. Es necesario que en tanto la corriente sea fuerte el arco sea corto,
© ABB Power Technology
forzando su alargamiento únicamente al ir aproximándose la corriente a cero. Esto se ha conseguido jugando con las
secciones de paso ofrecidas al arco, por ejemplo, disponiendo en las pantallas de las cámaras de ruptura rendijas de
anchura variable.
1_114Q07- 60 -
The breaking power is limited only by the pressure of the gases product
of the arc which must be endured by the breaking chamber.
1_114Q07- 67 -
Reduced carbonization
1_114Q07- 72 -
The break by self-compression in SF6 is used in high voltage in outdoor circuit breakers up
to 800 kV and in gas-insulated sealed substations (GIS), where the SF6 is used not only as
the break medium but also as the insulator in buses and switches.
In medium voltage, the self-compression in SF6 is used in circuit breakers up to 36 kV.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 87 -
Extinction chambers with a low consumption of
driving energy
Recent technological advances allow to obtain extinction chambers of
automatic circuit breakers in SF6 which require 40% less mechanical energy
to disconnect than the former self-compression chambers based in the
pressure generated between a mobile cylinder and a fixed piston.
The arc extinction is currently achieved by the following effects:
Self-compression.
Arc thermal effect.
Effect of assistance to disconnection by expansion gases, patented by
GEC ALSTHOM.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 88 -
Extinction chambers with a low consumption of
driving energy
Beginning of Disconnection:
The parallel contacts 3 are separated from the mobile contact 4
and the current is commuted to the arc contacts 7.
Thermal Effect:
When the contacts 7 separate, the arc takes place and its energy
causes the pressure rise of volume Vt closed by contact bar 8 and
insulating nozzle 9.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 89 -
Extinction chambers with a low consumption of
driving energy
Effect of Assistance to Disconnection
When the contact bar 8 exits the throat of nozzle 9, the thermal overpressure
present in volume Vt is released, which creates a blowout just before the zero
crossing of the current, ensuring the arc extinction.
At the same time, the rise of pressure originated close to the arc spreads
towards piston 10, exerting a driving force over the mobile system, providing the
required energy for the manoeuvre in the disconnection springs.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 90 -
Extinction chambers with a low consumption of
driving energy
The arc extinguishes and the molecules of SF6 dissociated by the arc are instantly recombined.
The secondary products of the breaking end up deposited in the molecular sieve 11 without
affecting negatively the circuit breaker.
In the particular case of breaking weak currents, such as those present in switching capacitor banks
or unloaded lines or transformers, the thermal energy of the arc is too small to generate enough
overpressure. To obtain the adequate blowout of the arc, the classical effect of self-compression that
takes place in volume Vp is used.
Consequently, these chambers have a blowout that depends on the current to be opened, causing:
Maximum blowout in case of short-circuit currents.
Reduced blowout in case of small currents; hence, the extinction of such currents generates weak
overvoltages.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 91 -
Advantages of the use of Sf6
Lack of maintenance.
Electrical and mechanical endurance.
Great reliability
Reduced size and weight related to its features
Adaptable to all kind of installations.
Public and industrial networks
Motor switching
Capacitors switching and protection
Reduced prices.
The SF6 appears as a technology favourably applied to the whole range of electric
installations.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 92 -
Disadvantages of the use of SF6
At pressures higher than 3.5 bars an temperatures lower than –40ºC the gas
becomes liquid.
Due to this, in the case of circuit breakers of two pressures, it is required to heat the gas of
the extinction chamber to keep the equilibrium at room temperatures lower than 15ºC.
The gas is odourless, colourless and tasteless.
In closed places, care should be taken to avoid leaks, since it may provoke suffocation in
personnel by lack of oxygen (due to its higher density, the gas is displaced by air).
In some places it may be convenient to set up extractors that should operate before the
personnel entry.
The secondary products of the arc are toxic, and combined with humidity produce
hydrofluoric acid, which attacks porcelain and the cement that seals the nozzles.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 93 -
Effect of the impurities in SF6
This impurities come from the manufacturing technique or the deposits
pollution.
Test most be performed to detect the different impurities specifying the limits
of its content in the gas and the methods to control such impurities (see IEC
376).
Nature of impurities
Toxic impurities
Impurities that affect the apparatus security
Impurities that dilute the product
Impurities and odour
Impurities have an unnoticeable effect over the dielectric strength of the
sulphur hexafluoride
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 94 -
Breakdown in SF6 circuit breakers
The main breakdowns in this type of circuit breakers are the gas leaks,
which require special devices to be detected.
In a well-installed apparatus, the gas losses should be less than 2% annual
of the total volume of the gas inside the apparatus.
In case of total loss of the gas pressure and due to the high dielectric
strength of SF6 the voltage that the contacts can bear when opened is
equal to double the phase-to-ground voltage.
Anyways, it is not convenient to operate an SF6 circuit breaker when its
pressure has been reduced by a leak and the control circuit should be
blocked to avoid an accident.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 95 -
Breaker Types High Voltage
SF6 Dead tank Circuit Breakers
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 96 -
AGENDA
GENERAL
Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 97 -
SF6 Dead tank circuit breakers
The design of this type of
circuit breakers, called “dead-
tank”, consists in three
aluminium tanks mounted in
a sole support. Inside the
tanks are included SF6
breaking chambers.
The switching drives can be
mechanical (by springs) or
hydraulic for higher voltages,
and are located inside a
control cabin placed in the
circuit breaker support
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 98 -
SF6 Dead tank circuit breakers
The SF6 gas has rated conditions of 6 bars at 20ºC and each SF6 chamber has a
densimeter associated. The use of SF6 technology in sealed chambers causes that this
type of circuit breakers requires low maintenance.
The compact and simple design of the dead-tank circuit breaker considerably reduces the
support structure and the space required for its location in the installation. Besides, this
design allows factory assembling and testing, noticeably diminishing mounting time and
complexity.
Another feature to consider is the low level of noise at normal operation, which added to the
reduced required space, the low needed maintenance and the utilisation of non-toxic
materials, convert this type of circuit breakers in an important alternative to diminish visual
and environmental impact.
The dead tank circuit breakers can be used for rated voltages from 38 kV up to 550 kV.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 99 -
SF6 Dead tank circuit breakers
The dead-tank circuit breakers utilise, in every breaking chamber, the
principle of “autopufferTH”, which consists in a combined system of
blowout, called “pufferTH”, and of self-blast (arc overpressure). Besides,
they add a zip gearing system of double speed. This design turns the
breaking chamber into a compact and relatively small device, which
permits the breaking of capacitive currents.
There are main contacts and arc contacts, which execute the current
break. The main contacts, separated from the arc contacts, open first
and do not endure the arc erosion. By means of this system the dead-
tank circuit breakers present the same maintenance requirements and
durability of the conventional circuit breakers.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 100 -
SF6 Dead tank circuit breakers
When breaking low currents, the circuit breaker utilizes the SF6 blowout
system; when breaking high currents, the nozzle design leads to a gas
overpressure in the arc zone when the contacts arc begin to separate.
This overpressure, added to the gearing system of double speed, makes
possible the breaking of current using a small amount of energy and a
simple mechanical system.
The nozzle design and the zip gearing system of double speed cause that
the arc contacts move at double speed, using a small amount of energy.
This reduces mechanical stresses, since the speed required to move the
connections and the switching mechanism are cut by half, in comparison
with a conventional circuit breaker of the same rated voltage.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 101 -
SF6 Dead tank circuit breakers
Fig. shows a diagram of the
breaking chamber in closed
position, open position and low
and high currents breaking.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 102 -
Breaker High Voltage
Types Circuit Breakers
VACUUM
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 103 -
AGENDA
GENERAL
Introduction/ Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 104 -
Vacuum circuit breakers
The vacuum, meaning the air at a vacuum level of around 10-4 to 10-5
Pa (10-6 to 10-7 mmHg) reaches a dielectric strength superior to 199
kV/cm.
Such exceptional dielectric strength, in addition to the fact that the arc
at vacuum presents a quite low voltage (since the electrons released
by the cathode find no obstacles in their path towards the anode) and
that the dielectric regeneration of the medium is almost instantaneous
(since there are not ionised gas molecules between electrodes),
motivated the research of the application of vacuum to circuit breakers.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 105 -
Vacuum circuit breakers
1. Insulating casing
2. Fixed contact
3. Mobile contact
© ABB Power Technology
6. Metallic membrane
7. Metallic screen
Vacuum circuit breakers
Research was first oriented to obtain isolating breaking chambers able
to permanently maintain the vacuum, in which inside the contacts
would be located.
The contacts should be able to cross the chamber keeping an absolute
tightness in the gaskets.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 107 -
Vacuum circuit breakers
Once solved these problems, the research was oriented to the
breaking technology, based in the two exceptional properties of
vacuum:
Its very elevated dielectric strength.
The fast deionisation of the space between contacts after the
breaking.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 108 -
Vacuum circuit breakers
List of spare parts and materials that should be stored (in warehouse).
Special tools
1_114Q07- 119 -
driving system.
1_114Q07- 122 -
Maintenance of circuit breakers. Extinction chamber
Chamber disassembly
When the resistance between terminals is high it is time to repair the
chamber. If there is a spare chamber stored, it can be completely replaced.
To disassembly the chamber the gas must be drained through the filling
valve or to the atmosphere until the pressure is equal to 1 bar.
If the gas is drained to the atmosphere, it is required to use mask and rubber
gloves, because the used gas might content harmful decomposition
products.
Substitution of the fixed contact
It is performed with the pole in open position. The screws that joint the
contact to the terminal plate must be removed. It can be entirely replaced or,
in case of slight deterioration, it can be cleaned with fine sandpaper.
Substitution of the mobile contact
© ABB Power Technology
It requires the disassembly of nozzles and arc contacts, and then the
dismounting of the crown of the mobile contact.
1_114Q07- 123 -
Driving maintenance
It involves the substitution of the closing/opening valves of compressed air.
AGENDA
GENERAL
Introduction/ Physics of the electric arc
Breaking an alternate current
Circuit breaker characteristics
BREAKER TYPES
Breaker technologies
Oil circuit breakers
Sf6 circuit breakers
Vacuum circuit breakers
MAINTENANCE/ DRIVING/ TESTS
Maintenance
Driving systems
Tests
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 124 -
Driving systems of circuit breakers
1. .Drivingaxle
2. .Openingspring
3. .Dampeningdevice
4. .Draggingspring
5. .Tierod
6. .Gearing
7. .Holdingarm
8. .Striker
9. .Cam
10. .Strikerdamper
11. .Freetrippingdevice
12. .Closingcoil
13. .Tierod
14. .Freetrippingdevice
15. .Suddentrippingdevice
16. .Closingsprings
17. .Openingcoil
© ABB Power Technology
18. .Couplingbar
19. .Motor
20. .Draggingspring
1_114Q07- 125 -
21. .Star
22. .Tighteningaxle
23. .Draggingarm
24. .
Driving systems of circuit breakers
By energy accumulation.
By compressed air.
By pressurized liquid.
© ABB Power Technology
1_114Q07- 126 -
Driving systems of CB. Energy accumulation
In this system, the closing drive has a previously accumulated energy,
by means of a manually tightened spring or an electrical motor.
This device consist in powerful springs that accumulate the energy
required for the connection. With this purpose they are tightened
manually with a lever or by an electrical motor.
This drive always operate with a constant closing force, since during the
closing manoeuvre is totally independent from any external source of
energy.
Besides, the closing can not start until the springs are totally tightened.
Given that the energy is stored in the springs before the closing manoeuvre,
the tightening mechanism requires a moderated power, even when the
closing force has to be high and the closing, fast.
After any closing manoeuvre, the springs are automatically tightened again;
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1. SF6 enclosure
2. Driving bar
3. Pressurized deposit
4. Driving valve "CON "
5. Outlets for air evacuation
6. Driving valve"DE S"
7. Driving piston
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8. Driving cylinder
9. Auxiliary circuit breaker with position indicator
1_114Q07- 131 -
Driving systems of CB. Compressed air
All drives are equipped with two disconnection coils "DES" independent
from one another.
The disconnection command is electrically transmitted to the coils of the
driving valve "DES" (6). Trough the open valve "DES" the compressed
air arrives to the driving of the circuit breaker pole. Simultaneously the
outlet for air evacuation (5) is closed in the valve "DES" and the driving
valve "CON" (4) is retained pneumatically-mechanically using a blocking
system. The driving piston (7) moves from position "CON" (C) to position
"DES" (O) and the circuit breaker is disconnected.
1. SF6 enclosure
2. Driving bar
3. Pressurized deposit
4. Driving valve "CON "
5. Outlets for air evacuation
6. Driving valve"DES"
7. Driving piston
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8. Driving cylinder
9. Auxiliary circuit breaker with position indicator
1_114Q07- 132 -
Driving systems of CB. Pressurized liquid
The pressurized liquid most commonly
used is oil. The highly pressurized oil
circulates through a closed circuit. The
high pressure is provided by
pressurized nitrogen.
The use of gastight gaskets at high
pressure in the connected position
allows removing the mechanical
holding devices (interlocking triggers).
The piston rod of the mobile contact is
directly coupled to the receiving
device; hence, the intermediate
mechanisms disappear, eliminating
any mechanical link.
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1_114Q07- 133 -
Driving systems of CB. Pressurized liquid
Connection
The coil 14 opens the valve 1 and the
pressure of the accumulator 11 passes
to piston 10, which closes valve 2 and
opens valve 3.
When opening valve 3, the pressure
goes through piping 7 to valve 5.
The high pressure passes to receiving
piston 20, which leads the mobile
contact to its connected position,
compressing the springs M.
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1_114Q07- 134 -
Driving systems of CB. Pressurized liquid
Disconnection
When the coil 15 opens the valve 6, the high
pressure over piston 10 disappears, the valve
2 is opened and the valve 3 is closed,
removing the high pressure in piping 7. The
valve 5 is opened, emptying piston 20 to the
deposit 22 through the piping 8, by means of
the spring M that activates the mobile contact
17 to its disconnected position.
A surveillance pressure relay automatically
connects and disconnects the pump-and-
engine set that keeps the pressure in the
accumulators between normal levels.
Another pressure relay blocks the operation
of the circuit breaker when the pressure
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terminals with the source and the frame, unless the distribution of the
terminals of a pole is symmetrical regarding the frame.
1_114Q07- 141 -
Dielectric Tests on circuit breakers. Shock waves
They lie on subjecting the circuit breakers to shock waves of 1.2/50 µs.
During each test, five consecutive shock waves are applied.
It is considered that the automatic circuit breaker complies the test if during
which neither strikes nor punctures take place.
If some puncture or two or more strikes take place, it is considered that the
circuit breaker does not comply the test.
If only one strike takes place, ten additional shock waves will be applied,
and it will be considered that the circuit breaker complies successfully the
test solely if during the additional applications neither strikes nor punctures
take place.
The circuit breaker must be capable to comply the specified tests with
voltages of positive and negative polarity, even when it is enough to
carry out the test with one polarity if it is evident that such polarity
results in a lower strike voltage.
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1_114Q07- 142 -
Dielectric Tests on circuit breakers. Shock waves
The test voltages are usually obtained by means of a pulse generator,
composed by a given number of capacitors, all equal, that are
simultaneously charged in parallel through some resistances, using a
source of direct voltage (DC), and are later discharged in series through
a circuit that includes the tested device (Marx Principle).
The DC voltage is generally obtained from an alternate voltage source,
at 50 Hz, by means of metal rectifiers, until a spark is generated in the
spark-gaps “e”, all regulated at exactly the same distance, which is
related to the voltage to be applied to the device.
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1_114Q07- 143 -
Dielectric Tests on circuit breakers. Power freq.
The test voltage will be raised to the given value and will be maintained
by one minute. It is considered that the circuit breaker does not comply
the test if during which some strike or puncture takes place.
In the test, the voltage reached in the test circuit must be stable enough
so as not to be affected by the leakage current variations or by partial
discharges or pre-discharges.
This condition is complied if the total capacitance of the tested device
(including the additional capacitances of the circuit) is not higher than
1,000 pF, and the value of the current permanently delivered by the
transformer when the device is short-circuited at test voltage is not
lower than 1 A (rms value).
In the resonant circuit, the stability of the resonance conditions and the
constancy of the value of the test voltages depend on the constancy of
the circuit impedances and the frequency of the source.
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1_114Q07- 144 -
Heating Tests on circuit breakers.
It must be ensured that the device and its main circuits do not become
excessively hot when the rated current is circulating through them.
The test must be performed over a new device, with clean contacts.
Before carrying out the test, the ohmic resistance of the main circuits
must be measured.
The test must be performed causing the circulation through all poles
(with the exception of high voltage switchgear higher to 72.5 kV, in
which only one pole is tested) of the rated current at steady state and at
power frequency if it is AC, during a time range enough for the heating
to be constant (when the variation does not exceed 1ºC by hour).
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1_114Q07- 145 -
Heating Tests on circuit breakers.
For other conductors than those of coils, the tª of the different parts will
be measured using thermometers or thermocouples located in the
available hottest point.
For the opening and closing coils that are excited solely during the
opening and closing manoeuvres, the heating test consists in feeding
these coils at their rated voltage ten successive times with a 2 s interval
between the excitation instants, supposing the circuit breaker has an
automatic device to open the control circuit at the end of the
manoeuvre, or feeding them ten successive times during 1 s being 2 s
the interval between excitations.
To perform the heating test an adjustable alternate current source is
required (exceptionally a DC source) with a capacity equal to the rated
current of the tested switchgear. The pertinent measurement devices
are also required: voltmeters, ammeters, millivoltmeters, double bridge
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