Circuit Breaker Selection

(Section 10.5)
 AC Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is a mechanical switch capable
of interrupting fault currents and of reclosing.
Classified as low voltage circuit breakers (< 1500
V) OR power circuit breakers (>1500 V)
Different types depending on the medium in
which the arc is elongated (air, oil, SF6, vacuum..)
AC Circuit Breakers
 Reclosing of circuit breakers
Most faults are temporary and self clearing.
It is assumed that whatever caused the fault
has disintegrated.
In EHV systems the standard practice is to
reclose only once.
Multiple shot reclosing in EHV systems may
lead to transient stability problems
 Circuit breaker selection
Modern circuit breaker standards are based on
symmetrical interrupting current.
Only the symmetrical fault current at the point of
location is calculated and a circuit breaker with
symmetrical interrupting capability equal to the
calculated current is chosen.
Can handle asymmetrical fault current if dc offset is
not too large
Power circuit breakers with a 2 cycle interrupting
time are designed to handle asymmetrical currents
up to 1.4 times the symmetrical interrupting
capability
Fault current components
Fault current components
 Fault current components

Subtransient Transient Steady State

Period Period Period
 Fault current calculation
Period Fault Current Generator Synchronous Induction
Reactance Motor Motor
Reactance reactance
( 50 hp)
Subtranient Subtransient
period current
OR
XdG Xdsm Xdsm
Asymmetrical
current
Transient Transient
period current
OR
Symmetrical
XdG Xdsm Xdsm
current = 1.5Xdsm = ???Xdsm
 E/X method for circuit breaker
selection
Simplified method
Maximum symmetrical fault current at point of
fault is calculated using prefault voltage and
system reactance.
Resistances, shunt admittances, non-rotating
impedances loads and prefault load currents are
neglected.
If X/R is < 15, then a circuit breaker with
symmetrical interrupting capability equal to OR >
calculated current is satisfactory
 E/X method for circuit breaker
selection
If X/R is > 15, the DC offset may not have
decayed sufficiently and a method for
correcting the calculated fault current to
account for the DC and AC time constants
needs to be applied.
If X/R is unknown, the calculated fault current
should not be more than 80% of the breakers
interrupting capability.
 Application Guide for AC High Voltage Circuit
Breakers rated on a Symmetrical Current Basis
 Application Guide for AC High Voltage Circuit
Breakers rated on a Symmetrical Current Basis
 Voltage ratings
Rated maximum voltage: Designated the maximum
rms line-line operating voltage.
Rated low frequency withstand voltage: The
maximum rms line to line voltage the circuit
breaker can withstand without insulation damage.
Rated impulse withstand voltage: The maximum
crest voltage of a voltage pulse with standard rise
and delay times that the breaker insulation can
withstand.
 Voltage ratings
Rated voltage range factor K: The range of
voltage for which the symmetrical interrupting
capability times the operating voltage is
constant.
 Current ratings
Rated continuous current: The maximum rms
current that the breaker can carry continuously
while closed without heating.
Rated short circuit current: The maximum rms
symmetrical current that the breaker can safely
interrupt at rated maximum voltage.
Rated momentary current: The maximum rms
asymmetrical current that the breaker can
withstand while closed without damage.
 Current ratings
Rated interrupting time: The time in cycles from
the instant the trip coil is energized to the
instant the fault current is cleared.
Rated interrupting MVA: For a three phase
circuit breaker, this is 3 times the rated
maximum voltage in kV times the rated short
circuit current in kA.
Symmetrical interrupting capability of
a 69 kV class breaker
Symmetrical interrupting capability of
a 69 kV class breaker
Symmetrical interrupting current increases
from rated short circuit current I = 19 kA at
rated maximum voltage Vmax = 72.5 kV to Imax =
KI = (1.21)(19) = 23 kA at an operating voltage
72.5
of Vmin = ( )= = 60 kV.
1.21
For any operating voltage V between Vmin and
Vmax the symmetrical interrupting current is
(72.5)(19)

Symmetrical interrupting capability of
a 69 kV class breaker
For any operating voltage V below Vmin the
symmetrical interrupting current remains
constant at Imax = KI = 23 kA
 Example 1
The calculated symmetrical fault is 17 kA at a
three phase bus where the operating voltage
voltage is 64 kV. The X/R ratio at the is unknown.
Select a circuit breaker from the given tables for
this bus.
 Example 1
Consider the next highest available standard
voltage from the table. Therefore consider a 69
kV class breaker.
At 64 kV, the symmetrical interrupting capability
(72.5)(19)
of the breaker is = 21.5 kA
64
If X/R is unknown, the calculated fault current
should not be more than 80% of the breakers
interrupting capability. We need to do this
check
 Example 1
Calculated fault current = 17 kA
Breakers interrupting capability = 21.5 kA
17
Therefore = 79.1 % < 80%
21.5

So the calculated fault current is not more than

80% of the breakers interrupting capability
therefore the chosen 69 kV class breaker is
suitable for the application.
 Example 2
A 69 kV circuit breaker has a voltage range factor
K of 1.21, a continuous current rating of 1.2 kA
and a short circuit current rating of 19 kA at a
maximum rated voltage of 72.5 kV. Determine
the maximum symmetrical interrupting
capability of the breaker and determine the
voltage range at which the symmetrical
interrupting current is lower than the maximum
symmetrical interrupting current
 Example 2
Maximum symmetrical interrupting capability
= K x rated short circuit current
= 1.21(19)
= 23 kA
72.5
Vmin = ( ) = = 60 kV.
1.21
Therefore the voltage range at which the
symmetrical interrupting current is lower than the
maximum symmetrical interrupting current is 60 kV
72.5 kV
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Tutorial Exercises
Tutorial Exercises