Power System

Circuit Breakers and Substations

Lecture No. 7
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Lahore

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 1

SULFURHEXAFLUORIDE (SF6) CIRCUIT
BREAKERS

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 2

Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breakers

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 3

 Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker
• The electric arc is a self-sustaining discharge consisting of
a plasma that exists in an ionized gaseous atmosphere.
• The plasma has an extremely hot core surrounded by an
atmosphere of lower temperature gases.
• Figure represents the typical temperature profile of an
arc as a function of its radius, when the arc is being
cooled by conduction.
• The figure shows that there is a relatively thin central
region of very high temperature corresponding to the
core of the arc.
• It also shows the existence of a broader, lower
temperature region and the transition point between
these two regions, where there is a rather sharp increase
in temperature.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 4

Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker
• This characteristic temperature profile simply indicates that the majority of
the current is carried by the hottest region of the arc's core which is
located close to the central axis, the reason is, that an increase in
temperature corresponds to an increase in electrical conductivity.
• Since the arc always tries to maintain its thermal equilibrium, its
temperature will automatically adjust itself in relation to the current
magnitude.
• However, once full ionization is attained, further increase in current do not
lead to increase in temperature.
• Nevertheless, as the current approaches zero, the temperature about the
core of the arc begins to drop and consequently, the region starts losing its
conductivity.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 5
Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker
• The peak thermal conductivity
of SF6, as shown in Figure,
occurs at around 2,000°K;
therefore, near current zero,
when rapid cooling is needed
for interruption, SF6 is
extremely effective in
extinguishing the arc, simply
because at this temperature
electrical conductivity is very
low.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 6
Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker
• At the other side of the spectrum, at high currents the thermal
conductivity of SF6 is not much different from that of other gases and
therefore, the arc cooling process in that region is about the same
regardless of the kind of gas that is being used.
• The main difference between interruption in air and in SF6 is the
temperature at which maximum thermal conductivity takes place.
• These temperatures are about 6,000°K for air and 2,000°K for SF6.
• This difference translates into the fact that SF6 is capable of cooling
much more effectively than air at the lower temperatures and
therefore, it is capable of withstanding higher recovery voltages
sooner.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 7
Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker
• In other words, the time constant of SF6 is considerably shorter than
that of air.
• The assigned time constant for SF6 is 0.1 microseconds while for air is
greater than 10 microseconds.
• The significance of this time constant is appreciated when
consideration is given to applications where a high rate of TRV is
expected, such as in the case of short line faults.
• SF6 can withstand higher recovery rates than air.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 8

Current Interruption in
SF6 Circuit Breaker

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 9

Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 10

Current Interruption in SF6 Circuit Breaker

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 11

 TYPES OF SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS
a. Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
b. Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 12

Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 13

Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Two pressure circuit breakers were fabricated in either a single or a three
tank version, depending mainly in the assigned voltage rating of the device.
• Smaller high pressure reservoirs were installed next to the low pressure
tanks and they were connected to blast valves that operated in
synchronism with the contacts.
• The operating gauge pressures for these circuit breakers were generally
around 0.2 MPa for the low side and 1.7 MPa for the high side (30 psig and
245 psig respectively).
• In the mid-nineteen seventies, the single pressure circuit breakers began to
match the interrupting capabilities of the two pressure circuit breakers and
thus they became a viable alternative.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 14

Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Advantages
• It required a lower operating energy mechanism when compared to
the single pressure circuit breaker designs.
• However, in the context of total energy requirements, the energy that
is spent in compressing the gas for storage and also the additional
energy that is required to prevent liquefaction of the SF6 at low
ambient temperatures must be taken into account.
• Disadvantages
• The liquefaction problem represents the main disadvantage of the
two pressure circuit breaker.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 15

Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• In Figure, at 1.7 Mpa, the
gas will begin to liquefy at a
temperature of
approximately 13ᴼC.
• To prevent liquefaction, and
the consequent drop in the
gas density, electric heaters
are installed in the high
pressure reservoir.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 16

Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Liquefaction of SF6 Gas
• Liquefaction of SF6 not only lowers the dielectric capabilities of the gas but
it can lead to another problem known as moisture pumping which may
happen because of the difference in the condensation point between air
and SF6.
• The problem begins in the high pressure system when the gas liquefies in a
region that is some distance away from the high pressure reservoir.
• If the temperature is not sufficiently low to cause condensation of
whatever amount of moisture was present in that region, then only the
liquefied gas will flow back into the reservoir leaving the moisture behind.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 17

Two Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Since in the mean time, the temperature of the gas in the high pressure reservoir
is kept above the dew point, then the warmer gas will flow back into the circuit
breaker attempting to maintain the original pressure.
• Whatever small amount of moisture is present in the gas contained in the
reservoir it will then be transported to the region where liquefaction is taking
place.
• As the gas liquefies again, then once more it will leave the moisture behind.
• This process can continue until the pressure-temperature conditions change.
• However, during this time, moisture can accumulate significantly at the coldest
point of the gas system, thus increasing the total concentration and reducing the
dielectric capability.
• Other disadvantages noted are the high volumes of gas needed, the natural
tendency for higher leak rates due to the higher operating pressures and the
added complexity that results from the use of the blast valves.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 18
Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 19

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Single pressure circuit breakers were limited to applications requiring lower
interrupting ratings.
• This limitation was due primarily to the extremely high energy output
required from the operating mechanisms in order to overcome not only
the puffing pressure but the pressure increase due to the release of the arc
energy.
• Puffer circuit breakers have been designed as either dead or live tank.
• Single pressure circuit breakers are described as either the puffer or the
self blast circuit breakers.
• However, all single pressure circuit breakers could be thought of as being a
member of the self blast family because in either type of circuit breaker,
the increase in pressure that takes place inside of the interrupter is
achieved without the aid of external gas compressors.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 20

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Puffer Circuit Breakers
• The conceptual drawings
and the operating sequence
of a typical puffer
interrupter is shown in
Figure (a), (b), (c), and (d).

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 21

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Puffer circuit breaker
principle;
• (a) circuit breaker closed,
• (b) start of opening, main
contacts separate,
• (c) arcing contacts separating
gas flow starts,
• (d) interruption completed.
A = Arc, V = Puffer Volume, P
= Puffer Piston, 6 & 8 =
Arcing Contacts, 9 =
Interrupter Nozzle.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 22

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Operational Mechanism
• A unique characteristic of puffer interrupters is that all have a piston
and cylinder combination which is assembled as an integral part of
the moving contact structure.
• Referring to Figure, (a) shows the interrupter in the closed position,
where the volume (V) can be seen. During an opening operation the
main contacts separate first, followed by the arcing contacts, Figure
(b).
• The motion of the contacts decrease the dead volume (V) and thus
compress the gas contained within that volume.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 23
Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• As the contacts continue to separate, the volume is further compressed.
• At the instant when the arcing contact leaves the throat of the nozzle, the
flow of gas along the axis of the arc is initiated.
• At high currents, the diameter of the arc may be greater than the diameter
of the nozzle thus leading to the condition known as current choking.
• When this happens, the nozzle is completely blocked and there is no flow
of gas.
• Consequently, the pressure continues to rise due to the continuous change
of the volume space V and to the heat energy that is extracted from the arc
by the trapped gas.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 24

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• When interrupting large currents, especially those corresponding to a three
phase fault, the opening speed of the circuit breaker is slowed down
considerably due to the thermally generated pressure acting on the
underside of the piston assembly.
• However, when the currents to be interrupted are low, the diameter of the
arc is small and therefore is incapable of blocking the gas flow and as a
result there is a lower pressure available.
• For even lower currents, as is the case when switching capacitor banks of
just simply a normal load current, it is generally necessary to pre-compress
the gas before the separation of the contacts.
• This is usually accomplished by increasing the penetration of the arcing
contact.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 25
Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• The duration of the compression stroke should always be carefully
evaluated to ensure that there is adequate gas flow throughout the
range of minimum to maximum arcing time.
• In most cases, depending on the circuit breaker design, the minimum
arcing time is in the range of 6 to 12 milliseconds.
• Since the maximum arcing time is approximately equal to the
minimum arcing time plus one additional major asymmetrical current
loop, which has an approximate duration of 10 milliseconds, then the
range of the maximum arcing time is 16 to 22 milliseconds.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 26

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• Arcing Time Duration
• What is significant about the arcing time duration is that since
interruption can take place at either of these times, depending only
on when a current zero is reached, then what is necessary is that the
appropriate pressure be developed at that proper instant where
interruption takes place.
• It is rather obvious that at the maximum arcing time, the volume has
gone through the maximum volume reduction and has had the
maximum time exposure to the heating action of the arc and thus the
gas pressure is expected to be higher.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 27

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• For the minimum arcing time condition, both the compression and
the heating of the gas are minimal and therefore the pressure
generated is relatively low.
• The critical gas flow condition for a puffer interrupter is around the
region of the minimum arcing time.
• However, consideration must be given to the opening speed of the
circuit breaker in relation to its opening stroke in order to assure that
the assumed maximum arcing time is always less than the total travel
time of the interrupter.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 28

Single Pressure SF6 Circuit Breakers
• When interrupting large currents in a three phase fault, there is a tendency
for the circuit breaker to slow down and even to stall somewhere along its
opening stroke.
• This slowing down assures that the current zero corresponding to the
maximum arcing time is reached before the circuit breaker reaches the end
of its opening stroke.
• However, when interrupting a single phase fault that is not the case i.e.,
because during a single phase fault, the energy input from the fault current
is lower which represents a lower generated pressure. So, the total force
that is opposing the driving mechanism is much lower.
• Therefore, it is quite important to carefully evaluate the single phase
operation to assure that there is a sufficient overlap between the stroke
and the puffing action and the maximum arcing time of the circuit breaker.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 29

Self Blast Circuit Breakers – SF6 Type

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 30

Self Blast Circuit Breakers – SF6 Type
• Self-Blast Circuit Breakers
• Self blast circuit breakers take advantage of the thermal energy released by the
arc to heat the gas and to raise its pressure.
• In principle, the self blast circuit breaker idea is quite similar to the concept of the
explosion pot used by oil circuit breakers.
• The arc is drawn across a pair of contacts that are located inside of an arcing
chamber and the heated high pressure gas is released alongside of the arc after
the moving contact is withdrawn from the arcing chamber.
• In some designs to enhance the interrupting performance, in the low current
range, a puffer assist is added.
• In other designs, a magnetic coil is also included.
• The object of the coil is to provide a driving force that rotates the arc around the
contacts providing additional cooling of the arc as it moves across the gas.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 31

Self Blast Circuit Breakers
– SF6 Type
• In addition to cooling the arc, the
magnetic coil also helps to decrease the
rate of erosion of the arcing contacts
and thus it effectively extends the life of
the interrupter.
• In some designs, a choice has been
made to combine all of these methods
for enhancing the interruption process
and in most of the cases this has proven
to be a good choice.
• A cross-section of a self blast
interrupter pole equipped with a
magnetic coil is included in Figure.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 32

 Arcing contact system of SF6 Circuit Breakers

Summary of Arcing contact system of SF6 circuit breakers of (a) double-pressure type (b) puffer type (c) self-
blast type and (d) rotating-arc type
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 33
Pressure Increase of SF6 Characteristics Curves

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 34

Pressure Increase of SF6 Produced by an Electric Arc
• The pressure increase produced by
an electric arc burning inside of a
small sealed volume (constant
volume) filled with SF6 gas can be
calculated with a reasonable degree
of accuracy using the curve obtained
by Beattie-Bridgman equation.
pv² = RT(v+b) – a
• Where p = pressure (Pa), v = volume
(m³ molˉ¹), R = ideal gas constant
(8.3143 J. molˉ¹ Kˉ¹), T = absolute
temperature (K).

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 35

Pressure Increase of SF6 Produced by an Electric Arc
• Values of Coefficient
of Heat Capacity (Cv)
for SF6 as a function
of temperature are
given in Figure at
constant volume.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 36

Parameters Influencing SF6 Circuit Breaker
Performance

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 37

Parameters Influencing SF6 Circuit Breaker
Performance
• Pressure, nozzle diameter, and rate of change of current were the
parameters chosen before as the base for evaluating the recovery
capabilities of air blast circuit breakers.
• To facilitate the comparisons between the two technologies the same
parameters have now be chosen for SF6 interrupters and the results
are shown graphically in Figures (next slides).

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 38

Parameters Influencing SF6 Circuit Breaker
Performance

Interrupting relationship between

current and voltage for various
nozzle diameters.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 39

 Parameters Influencing SF6 Circuit Breaker
Performance

Comparison of interrupting
capability of SF6 using data from
three independent sources.
Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 40
Parameters Influencing SF6 Circuit Breaker
Performance

Dependency of the recovery

voltage upon pressure for SF6

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 41

Parameters Influencing SF6 Circuit Breaker
Performance

Interrupting capability for

SF6-N2 mixtures.

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 42

Thank You

Engr. Raheel Muzzammel 43