1

Ar
cFor mati
onProcessand
Ci
rcui
tBreaker
s
Ci
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Aci rcuitbr eak erisapi eceofequi pmentwhi chcan
(i
)mak eorbr eakaci r
cuitei therman ual
lyorbyr emot econtrolun dernormalcon diti
on s
(i
i
)br eakaci rcuitautomat ical l
yunderf aultcon dit
ion s
(i
i
i)mak eaci rcuiteit
herman ual l
yorbyr emot econ trolunderfaul tconditi
on s
Thusa ci rcuitbr eakeri ncor poratesman ual( orr emot e con trol)aswel lasaut omat i
c con trolfor
switchin gf unctions.Thel at tercont rolempl oysr elaysan doper at eson l
yun derfaultcon diti
on s.
Oper ating pr incipl
e.A ci rcui tbr eakeres sential
ly con sists off i
xed an d movi ng con tacts,cal l
ed
electrodes .Undernor maloper ati
ng condi ti
ons ,t hese con t
act sr emain closed an d wi llnotopen
automat icall
y un ti
landunl esst hesys tem becomesf aul
ty.Ofcour se,thecon t
act scanbeopen ed
man uallyorbyr emotecon t rolwhen everdes ir
ed.Whenaf aultoccur sonan ypar toft hes ystem,t he
tr
ipcoi lsoft he cir
cuitbr eak ergeten ergised an dt he movin gcon tactsar e pull
ed apar tby s ome
mechan ism,t husopeni ngt heci rcui
t.Whent hecon t
act sofaci rcuitbreakerares epar atedun derf ault
condi ti
ons,anar ciss tr
uckbet weent hem.Thecur rentist husabl et o con t
inueun tilthedi scharge
ceases.Thepr oducti
onofar cnoton l
ydel ayst hecur r
en tinterrupti
onpr ocessbuti tal sogen erates
enor mousheatwhi chmaycaus edamaget ot hes ys t
em ort ot heci r
cuitbreakerits el
f.Ther efore,the
mainpr obl em i naci r
cuitbr eak eristoext inguisht hear cwi thi
nt hes hortestposs i
bletimes othatheat
gener atedbyi tmaynotr eachadanger ousval ue.
Ar
cPhen
omenon
Whenashor t-ci
rcui toccurs,aheavycur ren tf lowst hrought hecon tactsoft he* ci
rcuitbreak erbef ore
theyar eopenedbyt hepr otect i
vesys tem.Att hei nstan twhent hecon t
actsbegi nt os eparate,t he
cont actar eadecr easesr apidlyandl argef aul tcur ren tcaus esi ncreasedcur rentden si
tyan dhencer ise
i
nt emper ature.Theheatpr oducedi nthemedi um bet weencon tact s(usuall
yt hemedi umi soi lorair)is
suf fi
cien ttoioniset heairorvapour isean di oniset heoi l.Thei on i
sedai rorvapouract sascon duct or
andanar cisst ruckbet weent hecon tact s.Thep. d.bet weent hecon tactsisqui t
es mallan di sjust
suf fi
cien ttomai nt ainthear c.Thear cpr ovi desal ow r es i
st ancepat han dcon sequentlyt hecur rentin
the ci rcuitremai nsuni nterr
upt ed so longast he ar c per si
s ts.Dur ingthe arcingper iod,t he current
flowi ngbet weent hecont actsdependsupont hear cr es i
st ance.Thegr eaterthear cr es i
stance,t he
smal lert hecur rentt hatf l
owsbet weent hecon tact s.Thear cr esi
stancedepen dsupont hef ollowing
fact ors:
(i
)Degr eeofi onisat i
on— t hear cr es i
stan cei n cr eas eswi t hthedecr eas eint hen umberofi oni
s ed
par ti
clesbet weent hecon t
act s.
(i
i)Len gthoft hear c— t hear cr esist
an cei ncr eas eswi tht hel engthoft hear ci .
e.,separ ati
onof
cont act s.
(i
ii)Cr oss-sect i
onofar c— thear cr esistan cei n cr eas eswi tht hedecr easeinar eaofX- sect i
onoft he
arc.
Pr
inci
plesofAr
cExt
inct
ion
Beforedi scussingt hemet hodsofar cext incti
on,itisn ecessarytoexami nethef actorsresponsi
blefor
themai ntenan ceofar cbetweent hecon tacts.Thes ear e:
(i
)p.d.bet weent hecon tacts
(i
i)i
onisedpar ti
clesbet weencont acts
Takingthesei ntur n,
(i
)Whent hecont act shaveasmal lseparat i
on,thep. d.betweent hem iss uffi
cienttomai nt
ainthearc.
One way t o ext i
ngui sht he arcist os eparatet he con tactstos uchadi stance thatp.d.becomes
i
nadequat et omai nt ai
nt hear c.However ,thismet hodi simpract
icablei nhighvol t
ages ystem wherea
separationofmanymet r
esmayber equi
red.
(i
i)Thei on i
sedpar ticl
esbet weent hecon tactstendt omai ntaint
hear c.I
ft hear cpathisdeioni
sed,t
he
arcext i
nct ionwi llbef acil
i
tated.Thismaybeachi evedbycool i
ngt hear corbybodi l
yremovi ngt
he
i
on i
sedpar ti
clesf romt hespacebet weent hecon tact s.
Met
hodsofAr
cExt
inct
ion
Ther earet womet hodsofext i
nguishi
ngt hearci ncircuitbreakersviz.
1.Highresist ancemet hod.2.Lowr esistanceorcur rentzer omet hod
1.Highresi stancemet hod.Inthismet hod,arcres i
stancei smadet oi ncr
easewi tht i
mes ot hatcurr
ent
i
sr educedt oaval uei nsuf
fici
entt omai nt
ainthear c.Con sequentl
y,t hecurr
en tisinterruptedort hearc
i
sext i
nguished.Thepr inci
paldisadvantageoft hi
smet hodi sthaten ormousen ergyi sdissipatedinthe
arc.Ther ef ore,i
tisempl oyedonl yind.c.cir
cuitbreak ersan dlow-capacitya.c.circuitbreak ers.
Ther esistanceoft hear cmaybei ncreasedby:
 2

(i
)Lengt heni ngt hear c.Ther esi stanceoft hear ci sdi rect lypr opor tion alt oi tsl en gt h.Thel en gt hoft he
arccanbei ncr easedbyi ncreasi ngt hegapbet weencon tact s.
(i
i)Cool ing t he ar c.Cool i
ng hel psi nt he dei on i
s at ionoft he medi um bet weent he con tact s.Thi s
i
ncr eas est hear cr es istance.Ef f i
cientcool in gmaybeobt ai nedbyagasbl astdi rect edal on gt hear c.
(i
ii
)Reduci ng X- sect ionoft he ar c.I ft he ar ea ofX- sect i
onoft he ar ci sr educed,t he vol t age
necessar yt omai nt aint hear ci si ncr eas ed.I not herwor ds ,t her es i
s tan ceoft hear cpat hi si ncreas ed.
Thecr os s- sect i
onoft hear ccanber educedbyl et tingt hear cpas st hroughan ar row open i
ngorby
havi ngsmal lerar eaofcont act s.
(i
v)Spl itt i
ngt hear c.Ther esi st anceoft hear ccanbei n creas edbys plitt i
ngt hear ci ntoanumberof
smal lerar csi nser i
es.Eachon eoft hes ear csexper ien cest heef fectofl en gt hen i
n g an dcool i
ng.The
arcmaybespl i
tbyi n troduci ngsomecon duct i
ngpl at esbet weent hecon tact s.
2.Low r esi st anceorCur rentzer omet hod.Thi smet hodi sempl oyedf orar cext in ctioni na. c.ci rcui ts
only.I nt hi smet hod,ar cr esis tancei sk eptl owun tilcur ren ti szer owher et hear cext in guishesn atur ally
andi spr event edf rom r estr i
k ingi nspi teoft her is i
n gvol tageacr os st hecon t act s .Al lmoder nhi gh
powera. c.ci rcui tbr eak ersempl oyt hi smet hodf orar cext inct i
on .
Inana. c.syst em,cur rentdr opst o zer o af terever y hal f-cycl e.Atever y cur ren tzer o,t he ar c
ext ingui s hesf orabr i
efmomen t.Now t hemedi umbet weent hecon tact scon tain si on san del ect ron ss o
thati thassmal ldi elect r i
cst rengt handcanbeeas ilybr ok endownbyt her i
sin gcon tactvol tagek n own
asr est ri
ki ngvol tage.I fsuchabr eak downdoesoccur ,t hear cwi l
lper sistf oran ot herhal fcycl e.I f
i
mmedi at elyaf tercur rentzer o,t hedi elect rics t r
en gt hoft hemedi umbet weencon tact sisbui ltupmor e
rapidl yt han t he vol tage acr os st he con tact s,t he ar cf ailst or es tr i
ke an dt he cur rentwi llbe
i
nter r upt ed.Ther api di ncreaseofdi elect rics tren gt hoft hemedi umn earcur r en tzer ocanbeachi eved
by:
(a)causi ngt hei on isedpar ti
cl esi nthes pacebet weencon t act st or ecombi n ei nton eut r almol ecul es .
(b)sweepi ngt hei oni s edpar ticlesawayan dr eplaci n gt hembyun -
ion isedpar ticles
Ther ef or e,t her ealpr oblem i na. c.ar cint er ruptioni st or api dlydei on iset hemedi um bet weencon t act s
ass oonast hecur r entbecomeszer os ot hatt her i
s i
n gcon tactvol tageorr es tr i
kingvol tage
cann otbr eak downt hes pacebet weencon t act s.Thede- i
on i
s ationoft hemedi umcanbeachi evedby:
(i
)lengt heni ngoft hegap.Thedi elect ri
cs tren gthoft hemedi umi spr opor tion alt ot hel engt hoft hegap
bet weencont act s.Ther efor e,byopen ingt hecon tact sr api dly,hi gherdi el ect rics t ren gt hoft hemedi um
canbeachi eved.
(i
i)hi ghpr essur e.I ft hepr es sur ei nt hevi ci ni
tyoft hear ci si n
cr eas ed,t heden sityoft hepar ticl es
cons titut ingt hedi schar geal soi ncr eas es .Thei ncr eas edden si
t yofpar ticlescaus eshi gherr at eofde-
i
on isat i
onan dcon sequent l
yt hedi elect r i
cs tren gthoft hemedi umbet weencon tact si si ncr eas ed.
(i
ii
)cool ing.Nat ur alcombi nat ionofi on isedpar ticlest ak espl acemor er api dlyi ft heyar eal lowedt o
cool .Ther ef or e,di el ect rics tr engt hoft hemedi um bet weent hecon tact scanbei n cr eas edbycool ing
thear c.
(i
v)bl astef fect .I ft he ioni sed par t
iclesbet weent he con t
act sar es weptaway an dr epl aced by
union isedpar ticles ,t hedi elect ricst ren gthoft hemedi um canbei ncreas edcon s i
der abl y.Thi smaybe
achi evedbyagasbl as tdirect edal ongt hedi schar georbyf orci ngoi lin tot hecon tacts pace.
I
mpor
tantTer
ms
Thef ol
lowi ngar ethei mpor t
antt ermsmuchus edi ntheci rcui
tbreak eranalysi
s:
(i
)Ar cVol tage.Iti st hevol t
aget hatappear sacr osst hecont actsoft heci r
cui
tbreakerduri
ngt he
arci
ngper i
od.
Ass oonast hecon t
act soft heci r
cuitbreakers eparate,anarci sf ormed.Thevol t
aget hatappears
acrosst hecont act sdur i
ngar ci
ngper iodiscal l
edt hear cvoltage.I t
sval ueislow exceptfort he
*peri
odt hef aul
tcur rentisatornearzer ocur rentpoin t
.Atcurr entzero,t hearcvol
tager i
sesrapi
dly
topeakval uean dt hispeakvol taget endstomai ntai
nt hecurrentflowi nthef or
mofar c.
(i
i)Restriki
ngvol age.I
t ti
st het r
ansientvolt
aget hatappear sacr ossthecont act
satornearcur r
ent
zeroduringar ci
ngper iod.

Atcurr
entzer o,ahi
gh-f
requencytransi
entvolt
ageappearsacrossthecontact
sandiscaus edbyt he
rapi
ddistri
but
ionofenergybet weenthemagn eti
can del
ectri
cf i
eldsassoci
atedwit
ht hepl antand
tran
smi
s si
onli
nesoft hesystem.Thistransi
entvolt
ageisknownasr est
riki
ngvolt
age(Fig.19.1
).The
 3

currenti nter rupt i

oni nt heci rcuitdepen dsupont hisvol t
age.I ft her estri
kingvol tager i
sesmor er apidly
thant hedi elect ri
cst rengt hoft hemedi um bet weent hecon tact s,thear cwi llper s i
s tforan otherhal f
-
cycle.Ont heot herhand,i ft hedi el
ect rics trengthoft hemedi um buildsupmor er apidl
yt hant he
restri
kingvol t age,t hear cfai l
st or es t
rikean dt hecur rentwi llbei nterr
upt ed.
(i
ii
)Recover y vol tage.I tist he nor malf requency ( 50 Hz)r .m.s.vol tage t hatappear sacr osst he
contact soft heci rcuitbr eakeraf terf inalar cext inction.I ti sappr oximat ely equalt ot hesyst em
voltage.
Whencon t act sofci r
cui tbr eakerar eopen ed,cur ren tdr opst ozer oaf t
erever yhal fcycle.Ats ome
currentzer o,t he cont actsar e separ at ed suf fi
ciently apar tan d dielectrics t
r en gthoft he medi um
betweent hecont act sat tainsahi ghval ueduet ot her emovalofi oni
sedpar ticl
es .Ats uchani nstan t,
themedi umbet weent hecont act sisst ron gen ought opr even tt hebr eakdownbyt her estri
ki
n gvol tage.
Cons equen tly,t hef inalar cext inctiont ak espl acean dci rcuitcur rentisi nterrupted.I mmediat el
yaf ter
fi
nalcur renti nterrupt ion,t he vol tage t hatappear sacr osst he con tact shasa t r
ansientpar t( See
Fig.
19.1).However ,t heset ransientosci llati
onss ubs i
der apidlyduet ot hedampi n gef fectofs ys tem
resi
s t
anceandn or malci r
cuitvol t
ageappear sacr os st hecon tact s.Thevol tageacr osst hecont act sis
ofn ormalf requen cyandi sk nownasr ecover yvol tage.
Cl
assi
fi
cat
ionofCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Ther e are severalways ofcl assi
fyingt he circuitbreakers.However ,the mos tgen eralway of
classif
icati
onisont hebas i
sofmedi um usedf orar cext i
ncti
on.Themedi um usedforar cext i
ncti
onis
usuallyoil,ai
r,sulphurhexaf l
uori
de( SF6)orvacuum.Accor dingl
y,ci r
cuitbreakersmaybecl assi
fi
ed
i
nt o:
(i
)Oilcircui
tbreaker swhichemploysomei nsul
atingoil(e.
g.,tr
ans f
ormeroi l
)forarcext i
nction.
(i
i)Air-
blastcir
cuitbr eakersi
nwhichhighpres sureair-
blastisusedf orext i
ngui
shingthearc.
(i
ii
)Sul phurhexaf luroi
de cir
cuitbreakersi n whi ch sul
phurhexaf luori
de (SF6)gas is us ed forarc
ext i
ncti
on.
(i
v)Vacuumci rcui
tbr eakersi
nwhichvacuumi sus edforar cextincti
on .
Eacht ypeofci rcui
tbr eakerhasit
sownadvan tagesan ddisadvan t
ages .
Oi
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
I
nsuchci
rcui
tbr
eak
ers,s
omei
nsul
ati
ngoi
l(e.
g.,t
ran
sfor
meroi
l
)isusedasanar
cquenchi
ngmedi
um.

The
cont act sar eopenedun deroi lan danar ciss truckbet weent hem.Theheatoft hear cevapor at
est he
surroun dingoi landi ssociat esi ti nt
oas ubst ant i
alvolumeofgas eous* hydrogenathi ghpr es sur
e.The
hydr ogengasoccupi esavol umeabouton et housan dtimest hatoft heoi ldecompos ed.Theoi lis,
ther efore,pus hedawayf rom t hear can danexpan dinghydr ogengasbubbl es urroundst hear cregion
andadj acentpor ti
onsoft hecont acts(SeeFi g.19.2)
.Thear cext incti
oni sf acili
tatedmai nl
ybyt wo
processes .
Firstly,thehydr ogengashashi ghheatcon duct i
vityan dcoolst hear c,thusai dingt hede- i
onisati
onof
themedi umbet weent hecon t
act s.Secon dly,t hegass etsupt urbulenceint heoi lan df orcesi tint
ot he
spacebet weencon tacts,t husel i
minati
ngt hear cingproductsf romt hear cpat h.Ther esultist hatarcis
ext ingui
s hedandci rcuitcur r ent†i nter
rupted.
Advant ages.Theadvan t agesofoi lasanar cquen chingmediumar e:
(i
)I tabsor bst hear cener gyt odecompos et heoi li
ntogas eswhi chhaveexcel l
en tcool i
ngpr oper t
ies.
(i
i)I tact s as an i nsulatoran d permit
ss mal lercl earance bet ween l i
ve con ductor s and ear thed
component s.
(i
ii
)Thes urroundingoilpr esent scool i
ngs ur
f acei nclos eproximityt ot hearc.
Disadvant ages.Thedi sadvant agesofoi lasanar cquen chingmedi umar e:
(i
)I tisinflammabl ean dt her ei sar i
skofaf i
re.
(i
i)Itmayf ormanexpl os i
vemi xturewi t
hai r
(i
ii
)Thear cingproduct s( e. g.,car bon)remai ni ntheoi lan ditsqual ity deteriorateswi ths ucces si
ve
oper ations .Thisnecessit atesper i
odiccheck ingan dreplacemen tofoi l.
TypesofOi
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Theoi
lci
rcui
tbr
eak
ersf
ind ext
ensi
veusei
nthepowers
yst
em.Thesecanbecl
assi
fi
edi
ntot
he
 4

foll
owi ngt ypes:
(i
)Bul koi lcircuitbreakerswhichuseal argequan ti
tyofoi l
.Theoi lhast os ervetwopur pos es.First
ly,
i
text i
n guishest hear cdur i
ngopeni ngofcon tactsan ds econ dly,iti nsul
atest hecur rentcon ducti
n g
partsf romonean ot
herandf romt heear t
hedt ank.Suchci rcuitbreak ersmaybecl assi
fiedi nto:
(a)Plainbr eakoi lcircui
tbreaker s(b)Ar ccon tr
oloilcircui
tbr eak er
s .
I
nt hef ormert ype,n ospecialmeansi savailableforcon trolli
ngt hear candt hecon t
act sar edi rectly
expos edt ot hewhol eoft heoi li
nt het ank.However ,i
nt hel att
ert ype,s pecialarccon troldevi cesar e
empl oyedt ogett hebenefici
alact i
onoft hear casef fici
entlyaspos s
ible.
(i
i)Lowoi lcircuitbreakerswhi chusemi ni
mumamoun tofoi l
.Ins uchci rcui
tbreakers,oilisus edon l
yf or
arc ext inction;t he curr
entcon duct i
ngpar tsar einsulated by ai rorpor celai
noror gan i
ci ns ul
ati
n g
mat eri
al .
Pl
ainBr
eakOi
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Apl ain
-breakoi lcir
cuitbreakeri
nvolvest hes implepr ocessofs eparati
ngthecon tactsun derthewhol e
oft heoi lint het ank.Thereisno speci als ystem f orarccon tr
olothert hant hei ncreasei nlength
causedbyt hesepar ati
onofcont acts.Thear cext i
ncti
onoccur swhenacer taincriti
calgapbet ween
thecont actsi sr eached.Thepl ai
n-breakoi lcircuitbreakerist heear l
i
estt ypef rom whi chal lother
cir
cuitbr eakershavedevel oped.Ithasaver ys implecon st
ruct ion.I
tcon si
stsoff ixedandmovi ng
contact senclosedi nast rongweather -
t i
ghtear thedt ankcont aini
n goi
luptoacer t
ai nlevelan danai r
cushionabovet heoillevel
.Theaircus hionpr ovidess uffi
cientr oom toall
ow f orther ecepti
onoft he
arcgas eswi thoutt hegenerati
onofun safepres sureinthedomeoft hecir
cuitbreak er.Italsoabs orbs
themechan i
calshockoft heupward

oilmovement .Fi g.1 9.3showsa *doubl ebr eakpl ainoilcircui

tbr eak er.
I
ti s cal l
ed a doubl e br eak becaus ei t pr ovides t wo br eak si n
series.Un dernor maloper ati
ng con di
t i
ons ,t he f i
xed an d movi ng
cont act sr emaincl osedandt he break er car ries t he n ormal ci rcuit
curren t.When a f aul toccur s, themovi n gcon tact sarepul leddown
by t he pr otect ive s yst em and anar ci ss t r
uckwhi chvapour i
sest he
oilmai nlyi n to hydr ogen gas. Thear cext i
nctioni sfacili
tatedbyt he
foll
owi ngpr ocesses:
(i
) The hydr ogen gas bubbl e gen erated ar oun dt he arc cool st he
arc col umn an d ai ds t he deionisation oft he medi um bet ween
thecon t act s.
(i
i)Thegasset supt ur bul
ence int he oilan d hel psi nel i
minat i
ngt he
arcing pr oduct sf rom t he arc path.
(i
ii
)Ast hear clen gt hen sduet o thes epar atingcon tacts,thedi electri
c
strengt h of t he medi um is increased.
Ther es ultoft hes eact ionsist hatats omecr iti
calgapl ength,thear cisext i
n guishedan dt heci rcuit
curren tisi nterrupt ed.
Disadvant ages
(i
)Ther ei snos peci alcont rolovert hearcothert hant heincreasei nlen gthbys eparati
n gthemovi ng
cont act s.Ther ef or e,f orsucces sfuli
nterr
upti
on ,l
on gar cl
engthisn eces sary.
(i
i)Thes ebr eak er shavel ongandi nconsi
stentarcingt i
mes.
(i
ii
)Thes ebr eak ersdonotper mithighspeedinterruption.
Duet ot hes edi sadvan t ages,plain-br
eakoilcir
cuitbr eakersareus edon l
yf orlow- volt
ageappl i
cat i
on s
wher ehi ghbr eak i
ng- capaci ti
esar enotimpor t
an t
.Iti saus ualpract i
cet ous es uchbr eak ersf orl ow
capaci tyi nstallat i
onsf orvol t
agesnotexceedi ng†1 1k V.
Ar
cCont
rolOi
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
I
ncas eofpl ain
-br eakoi lcircuitbr eak erdi scussedabove,t herei sver yl i
ttlear t
ifi
cialcon trolovert he
arc.Ther efore,compar at i
vel yl ongar cl engthises sentialinor dert hatt urbulenceint heoi lcaus edby
thegasmay assi sti nquen chin git.However ,iti sn eces sar y an ddes irablet hatf inalar cext inct
ion
shouldoccurwhi let hecont actgapi ss ti
lls hort.Fort hispur pos e,s omear ccon t
rolisincor por atedan d
thebreak ersaret hencal ledar ccont rolci r
cuitbreak ers.Ther ear et wot ypesofs uchbr eak er s,namely
:
(i
)Self-blastoilcir cuitbr eaker s— i nwhi char ccon tr
oli spr ovi dedbyi nternalmean si .
e.thear citsel
fis
employedf oritsownext inctionef f
icien tly.
(i
i)Forced- bl
astoi lci rcuitbr eaker s— i nwhi char ccon t
roli spr ovi dedbymechan i
calmean sext ernalto
thecircuitbreak er.
(i
)Sel f-
blastoi lci rcuitbr eaker s.Int hist ypeofci rcuitbr eak er,t hegas espr oduceddur ingar ci
n gare
confinedt oasmal lvolumebyt heus eofani n sul
at i
ngr igidpr ess urechamberorpots ur roundin gthe
contacts.Si nce t he s pace avai l
abl ef ort he ar cgas esi sr es t
r i
cted by t he chamber ,aver y high
pressurei sdevel oped t of or ce t he oi lan d gast hr
oughorar oun dt he ar ct o ext i
n guis hit.The
magnitudeofpr es suredevel opeddepen dsupont heval ueoff aultcur rentt obei nterrupt ed.Ast he
pressurei sgener at edbyt hear ci t
sel f,t herefore,s uchbr eak er sar es omet imescal leds elf -generated
 5

pressureoi lcircuitbr eak ers.Thepr essurechamberi sr elativelycheapt omak ean dgivesr educedf inal
arcext inct i
ongapl en gthan dar cingt imeasagai nstthepl ain-
breakoi lcircuitbreak er.Sever aldes i
gn s
ofpr essurechamber s( somet imescal ledexpl osionpot s)havebeendevel opedan daf ewoft hem
aredescr i
bedbel ow:
(a)Plainexpl osi
onpot .Itisar i
gidcyl i
nderofi nsul
at i
n gmat erialanden closest hef ixedandmovi n g
contact s( SeeFi g.1 9.4).Themovi ngcon tacti sacyl i
n dri
calr odpas s i
ngt hroughar es tri
ctedopen i
n g
(cal
ledt hroat)att hebot tom.Whenaf aultoccur s ,thecon t
act sgets epar atedan danar ci sst r
uck
betweent hem.Theheatoft hearcdecompos esoilintoagasatver yhighpr essureint hepot .Thishigh
pressuref or cest heoi lan dgast hroughan dr oundt hear ct oext i
nguishi t.Ifthef i
nalar cext incti
on
doesn ott ak eplacewhi let hemovi ngcon tacti ss ti
llwi thinthepot ,itoccur simmedi atelyaf t
ert he
movi ng cont actl eavest he pot .Iti sbecaus e emer gen ce oft he movi ng con tactf rom the poti s
foll
owedbyavi ol entr ushofgasandoi lthrought het hr oatpr oducingrapidext i
nction.
Thepr incipallimitationoft histypeofpoti st hatitcan notbeus edf orver yl ow orf orver yhighf ault
currents.Wi thlow

faultcur r ent s,thepr essuredevel opedi ss mall

,t her ebyi ncreasingt hear ci
ngt ime.Ont heot herhan d,
withhi ghf aul tcurr
en ts,thegasi sproduceds or api dlyt hatexpl os i
onpoti sliablet obur stduet ohi gh
pressur e.Fort hisreas on,plainexplos i
onpotoper ateswel lonmoder ates hort-circuitcurrentson ly
wher et her at eofgasevol ut
ionismoder ate.
(b)Cr ossj etexpl osionpot .Thistypeofpoti sj ustamodi ficati
onofpl ainexpl osionpotan di s
i
llustratedi nFi g.19.5.Itismadeofi nsul
atingmat er i
alan dhaschan nelsonon es i
dewhi chactasar c
spli
tter s.Thear csplittershelpinincreasingthear cl ength,thusf acili
tati
ngarcext inction.Whenaf ault
occur s,t he movi ng cont actoft he ci r
cuitbreak erbegi nst os eparate.Ast he movi ng contacti s
withdr awn ,t hear cisin i
ti
allystruckinthet opoft hepot .Thegasgen eratedbyt hear cexertspres sure
ont heoi li nt hebackpas sage.Whent hemovi ngcon tactun cover sthear cs pli
tterduct s
,f r
eshoi lis
forced * acr osst he ar c path.The ar ci s,theref or e,dr i
vens idewaysi ntot he “ arcs pli
tters”whi ch
i
ncr eas et hear clength,causingar cext i
nction.

Thecr os s-jetexplosi
onpoti squiteefficientforint
er r
upti
ngheavyf aul
tcurr
ents .However,forlow
faul
tcur r ents,the gaspr essur eis†smallan d consequentl
yt he potdoesn otgi ve a sati
sfactory
operati
on.
(c)Self-compensat edexpl osionpot.Thist ypeofpoti sessenti
all
yacombi nati
onofpl ainexplosion
potandcr ossjetexplosionpot .Theref
or e,itcanint
er r
uptlow aswellasheavys hortci
rcui
tcurren t
s
withreas onableaccur acy.Fig.19.
6showst heschematicdiagramofs elf-
compensatedexplosionpot .It
consist
soft wochamber s,t heupperchamberi sthecr oss-
jetexplosi
onpotwitht woar cspli
tterducts
 6

whilet hel oweron ei st hepl ainexpl os i

onpot .Whent hes hor t -circuitcur ren ti sheavy,t her ateof
gener at ionofgasi sver yhighandt hedevi cebehavesasacr os s-jetexpl os ionpot .Thear cext i
nction
takespl acewhent hemovi ngcont actun cover st hef i
rstors econ dar cs plit
t erduct .However ,onl ow
short -circuitcur rent s,therat eofgasgen erat i
oni ss mal lan dt het i
poft hemovi n gcon t acthast het ime
tor eacht hel owerchamber .Dur i
ngt hist ime,t hegasbui l
dsups uf fi
cien tpr es sur east her eisver ylittl
e
l
eak aget hroughar cs plit
terduct sduet ot heobs truct i
onof fer edbyt hear cpat han dr ightan gl eben ds.
Whent hemovi ngcont actcomesoutoft het hr oat ,thear ci sext inguis hedbypl ai npotact i
on .Itmaybe
notedt hatast hesever i
tyoft heshor t-circuitcur ren tin creas es ,t hedevi ceoper at esl essan dl essas
apl ainexpl osionpotandmor eandmor easacr os s-jetexpl os ionpot .Thust het en den cyi st omak e
thecon trols elf-compens ati
ngovert hef ullran geoff aul tcur ren t st obei n terrupt ed.
(i
i)For ced- blastoi lci r
cuitbr eaker s.Int hes elf -blas toilci rcuitbr eak er sdis cus sedabove,t hear cit sel
f
gener at est henecess arypr ess uret of orcet heoi lacr os sthear cpat h.Themaj orl imi t
at i
onofs uch
break er si st hatar cingt imes t end t o be l on g an di n con sisten twhen oper at i
n g agai ns tcur ren t
s
cons ider ablyl esst hant her atedcur ren ts .Iti sbecas uet hegasgen erat edi smuchr educedatl ow
valuesoff aultcur ren t
s.Thi sdi fficultyi sover comei nf orced- bl as toi lci r
cui tbr eak er sinwhi cht he
necessar ypr essur ei sgener atedbyext er nalmechan i
calmean si ndepen den toft hef aul tcur rent st obe
brok en.I naf or ced- blastoi lcircui
tbr eak er,oi lpr es surei scr eat edbyt hepi s ton -cyl i
n derar rangemen t.
Themovementoft hepi stoni smechan ical l
ycoupl edt ot hemovi ngcon tact .Whenaf aultoccur s,the
cont act sgetsepar at edby t hepr otect ives ys tem an danar ci ss tr uckbet weent hecon t act s.The
pist
onf orcesa j etofoi lt owar dst he con tactgap t o ext i
ngui sht he ar c.I tmay be n ot ed t hat
necessar yoi lpr ess urepr oduceddoesn oti nan ywaydepen dupont hef aultcur ren tt obebr ok en .
Advant ages
(a)Si nceoi lpr es suredevel opedi sindepen den toft hef aul tcur ren tt obei nt
er rupt ed,t heper for man ce
atlowcur rentsi smor econ sistentt hanwi ths elf-blas toi lci r
cui tbr eak er s.
(b)Thequant ityofoi lrequiredi sreducedcon s i
der ably.
LowOI
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Int hebul koilcircui tbr eak er sdiscusseds of ar,theoi lhast oper for mt wof un cti
on s.Fi r
st l
y,i tact sas
anar cquenchi ngmedi umandsecon dl y,itin sulatest hel ivepar tsf romear th.I thasbeenf oun dt haton ly
asmal lper cent ageofoi li sact uallyusedf orar cext inct i
onwhi l
et hemaj orpar tisut i
lisedf ori ns ulation
pur pos es.Fort hisr eas on ,t hequant ityofoi linbul koi lci rcuitbr eak ersr eachesaver yhi ghf igureas
the sys tem vol t
age i ncr eases.Thi sn oton lyi ncreas est he expen ses ,t an ks i
ze an d wei ghtoft he
br eakerbuti tal so i ncr easest he f irer iskan d mai n ten an ce pr obl ems .The f actt haton ly as mall
per cen tageofoi l(about1 0% oft ot al)int hebul koi lci rcuitbr eakeri sact ual lyus edf orar cext inction
leadst ot heques tionast owhyt her emai nderoft heoi l,thati sn oti mmedi at elys ur r
oun dingt hedevi ce,
shoul dnotbeomi ttedwi t hconsequents avin gi nbulk ,wei ghtan df irer i
sk.Thi sledt ot hedevel opmen t
ofl ow- oilcir
cuitbr eak er.A l ow oi lci rcuitbr eakerempl oyss oli
dmat er i
alsf orins ul
at i
onpur pos esan d
usesas mallquant ityofoi lwhi chi sj usts uff i
cientf orar cext incti
on .Asr egar dsquen chin gt hear c,t he
oilbehavesi dent icallyi nbul kaswel lasl ow oi lci r
cui tbr eak er.Byus ings uitabl
ear ccon troldevi ces,
thear cext i
nctioncanbef ur t
herf aci li
tatedi nal owoi lci r
cui tbr eak er.
Const ruct i
on.Fi g1 9.7showst hecr osss ect ionofas i
n glephas elow oi lci rcuitbr eak er.Ther ear et wo
compar tmentss epar at edf rom eachot herbutbot hf i
lledwi t hoi l.Theupperchamberi st heci rcuit
br eakingchamberwhi let hel oweron ei st hes uppor t
ingchamber .Thet wochamber sar es epar at edbya
par ti
tionandoi lfrom on echamberi spr even tedf rom mi xingwi tht heot herchamber .Thi sar ran gemen t
per mitst woadvant ages.Fi rstl
y,t heci rcui tbr eakingchamberr equi resas mal lvolumeofoi lwhi chi sj ust
enoughf orar cext inct i
on.Secondl y,t heamoun tofoi lt o ber epl acedi sr educedast heoi lint he
suppor tingchamberdoesn otgetcont amin atedbyt hear c.
(i)Suppor ti
ngchamber .Itisapor celainchambermoun tedonamet alchamber .Itisf il
ledwi thoi lwhi chi s
physi cal l
y separ at edf rom t heoi li nt heci rcuitbr eak ingcompar tmen t.Theoi li nsi
det hesuppor ting
chamberand t he an nularspace f or med bet weent he por cel aini n sulati
onan d bak eli
s ed paperi s
empl oyedf orinsulat ionpur poseson ly.
 7

(i
i)Ci rcui t-breaking chamber .I ti s a por cel ain en closure moun t
ed on t he top of t he s uppor ti
ng
compar tment .Itisf i
ll
edwi thoi landhast hef oll
owi ngpar ts:
(a)upperandl owerf ixedcont act s
(b)movi ngcont act
(c)t urbul at or
Themovi ngcont acti shol low andi ncludesacyl inderwhi chmovesdownoveraf i
xedpi ston.The
turbul atori sanar ccont roldevi ceandhasbot haxi alan dr adialven ts.Theaxi alven t i
n gens urest he
i
nt errupt ionofl owcur rentswher easr adialven ti
nghel psi nthei nterruptionofheavycur ren ts.
(i
i
i)Topchamber .Iti samet alchamberan di smoun tedont heci rcui
t -
br eak i
ngchamber .Itpr ovides
expan sionspacef ort heoilint heci rcuitbr eak i
n gcompar tmen t.Thet opchamberi sal sopr ovidedwi th
as epar at orwhi chpr even t
san yl ossofoi lbycen tri
fugalact ioncaus edbyci rcuitbr eak eroper at i
on
dur i
ngf aul tcondi tions.
Oper at ion.Undernor maloper at ingcondi tions ,themovi ngcon t
actr emain sen gagedwi t
ht heupperf ixed
cont act .Whenaf aultoccur s,t hemovi ngcon tacti spulleddownbyt het rippi
ngs pri
ngsan danar cis
struck .Thear cen ergyvapor isest heoi lan dpr oducesgas esun derhi ghpr es sure.Thi sact i
oncon strai
ns
theoi lt opas st hroughacent ralhol ei nt hemovi ngcon t
actan dr esultsinf orcings eriesofoi lthrough
ther espect i
vepass agesoft het ur bulator .Thepr oces soft ur bul
at i
oni sor der l
y on e,inwhi cht he
sect ion soft hear car esuccessi vel yquen chedbyt heef fectofs eparates treamsofoi lmovi ngacr oss
eachs ect ioni ntur nan dbear i
ngawayi t
sgas es .
Advant ages.Al owoi lcircuitbr eak erhast hef oll
owi ngadvan tagesoverabul koi lcir
cui tbr eaker:
(i
)I trequi r esl esserquant i
tyofoi l
.
(i
i)Itr equi ressmal lerspace.
(i
ii
)Ther ei sr educedr iskoff ire.
(i
v)Mai ntenan cepr obl emsar er educed.
Disadvant ages.A l ow oi lcir cui tbr eakerhast hef ollowin gdis advan tagesascompar edt oabul koi l
circuitbr eak er:
(i
)Duet osmal lerquant i
tyofoi l,t hedegr eeofcar bon isationisi ncreased.
(i
i)Ther ei sadi fficultyofr emovi ngt hegas esf romt hecon t
acts pacei nt ime.
(i
ii
)Thedi elect ri
cst ren gthoft heoi ldet er i
or atesr apidlyduet ohi ghdegr eeofcar bonisat i
on .
 8

Mai
ntenanceofOi
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
The mai ntenance ofoi lcircuitbr eakeri sgen er all
y con cer ned witht he check ing ofcon tact san d
dielectr
icst r
engt hofoi l
.Af teraci rcui
tbr eak erhasi nterruptedf aul
tcur rentsaf ew timesorl oad
currentssever alt i
mes,itscont actsmaygetbur ntbyar cingan dt heoilmayl os es omeofi tsdi electri
c
strengthduet ocar boni
sation.Thisr es ul
tsint her educedr upturin
gcapaci t
yoft hebr eaker.Ther efore,
i
ti sa good pr act i
ce toi nspectt he circui
tbr eak eratr egularinterval
sof3or6 mon ths .Dur i
ng
i
ns pecti
onoft hebr eaker,thef ol
lowi ngpoi nt
ss houl dbek epti nview:
(i
)Checkt hecurr entcarryingpartsandar cingcon tacts.Ift hebur ni
ngissever e,thecon tactss houldbe
replaced.
(i
i)Checkt hedi electri
cst rengthoft heoi l
.Ift heoi lisbadl y discol
oured,i ts houldbechan gedor
recon di
ti
oned.Theoi lingoodcondi ti
ons houldwi thstand30k Vf oron eminutei nas t
andardoi lt esti
ng
cupwi th4mmgapbet weenel ect r
odes .
(i
ii
)Checkt hei nsulati
onf orpossi bledamage.Cl eant hes urfacean dremovecar bondepos itswi tha
strongan ddryf abr i
c.
(i
v)Checkt heoill evel.
(v)Checkcl osingandt ri
ppingmechani sm.
Ai
r-
BlastCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Thesebr eak ersempl oyahi ghpr ess ure* air-
bl astasanar cquen chingmedi um.Thecon tactsar eopen ed
i
naf l
owofai r-blastes tablishedbyt heopen ingofbl astval ve.Theai r-blas tcool st hear cands weeps
away t hear ci ngpr oduct st ot heat mos pher e.Thi srapidlyi n creas est hedi elect ri
cs t
ren gthoft he
medi um bet ween con tact s and pr even tsf rom r e-establishingt he ar c.Con sequen t
ly,t he ar ci s
ext i
nguishedandf lowofcur renti sinter rupted.
Advant ages.Anai r-blas tcircuitbr eak erhast hef ollowingadvan tagesoveranoi lcircuitbr eak er:
(i
)Ther i
skoff i
r ei sel i
mi nated.
(i
i)The ar ci ng pr oduct sar e compl et elyr emoved by t he bl as twher east he oildet eriorateswi th
success i
veoper ation s;theexpenseofr egul aroi lreplacemen tisavoi ded.
(i
ii
)Thegr owt hofdi elect r
icst rengt hi ss or apidt hatf inalcon tactgapn eededf orar cext i
n ctionis
ver ysmal l.Thi sr educest hesi zeoft hedevi ce.
(i
v)Thear cin gt i
mei sver ysmal lduet ot her api dbuil
dupofdi elect ri
cs trengthbet weencon t
act s.
Ther efor e,t hear cener gyisonl yaf ract ionoft hati noilcir cuitbr eak ers ,thusr esulti
n ginl essbur ni
ng
ofcont act s.
(v)Duet ol es serar cener gy,ai r
-blastci rcuitbr eak ersarever ys uitabl ef orcon ditionswher ef requent
oper ationi sr equi red.
(vi)Theen er gysuppl i
edf orar cext i
nct ioni sobt ainedfromhi ghpr ess ureai ran disi ndepen den toft he
cur r
en ttobei nt errupt ed.
Disadvant ages.Theuseofai rast hear cquen chin gmediumof ferst hef oll
owi ngdi sadvan tages:
(i
)Theai rhasr el ativelyi nferiorar cext i
n guishingpr operties.
(i
i)Theai r-bl astci rcuitbr eak ersar ever ys en si
tivet ot hevar i
ationsi nt her ateofr i
seofr es t
riki
ng
vol t
age.
(i
ii
)Con sider ablemai ntenancei srequi redf ort hecompr ess orplan twhi chs uppliest heai r-
blas t.
Theai rbl astci rcui tbr eak ersar ef indin gwi deappl i
cati
on sinhi ghvol tagei nstall
at i
on s.Maj orityoft he
circuitbreak ersf orvol tagesbeyond1 10k Var eoft hi
stype.
TypesofAi
r-
BlastCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Dependi
nguponthedi
rect
ionofai
r-bl
astinr
elati
ont
ot hear
c,air
-bl
astcir
cui
tbreakersarecl
assi
fi
ed
i
nto:
i
()Axial
-bl
astt
ypeinwhi
chtheai
r-
blasti
sdir
ectedal
ongthearcpathasshowninFi
g.19. i
8()
.
 9

(i
i)Cross- blasttypei nwhicht heair-
blastisdirectedatr i
ghtan gl
est othearcpat hass howninFig.19.8
(i
i)
.
(i
ii
)Radi al-blasttypei nwhicht heair
-blasti
sdi rectedradi
al l
yass howninFig.19.
8( i
ii
).
(i
)Axi al-blastai rcircui
tbr eaker.Fig19.9s howst hees sentialcomponen t
sofat ypicalaxialbl
as tair
circui
tbr eak er.Thef i
xedan dmovi ngcon tactsarehel dint hecl osedpositi
onbys pringpressureun der
nor malcon ditions.Theairreser voi
riscon nectedtot hear ci
n gchambert hr
oughanai rvalve.Thisval ve
remainscl osedundern ormalcondi ti
on sbutopen saut omat i
cal l
ybyt het ri
ppingimpuls ewhenaf ault
occur sont hesyst em.

Whenaf aultoccur s,thet r

ippi
ngi mpuls ecaus esopen ingoft heai rvalvewhi chcon nectst heci r
cuit
breakerr eser voi rtot hear cingchamber .Thehi ghpr essureai ren teri
ngthear ci
ngchamberpus hesaway
themovi ngcont actagain stspringpr ess ure.Themovi ngcon tacti sseparatedan danar cisst ruck.At
thes amet ime,hi ghpr essureai rblastf l
owsal on gt hear can dtak esawayt heionisedgas esal ongwi th
i
t.Cons equent ly,t hear ci sext i
nguishedan dcur ren tf l
ow i sinter r
upted.Itmayben otedt hati ns uch
circui
tbr eak ers,t hecont actsepar at i
onr equiredf ori nterruptionisgen eral
lys mall(
1 ·
75cmors o).Such
a smal lgap may cons ti
tutei nadequat e cl ear an ce f ort he n ormals ervice voltage.Ther efore,an
i
sol at
ingswi tchi sincorpor atedasapar toft hist ypeofci r
cuitbr eaker.Thisswitchopen simmedi ately
afterfaul tinterr upti
ont opr ovidet hen eces sarycl earancef ori nsulat
ion.
(i
i)Cross- blastai rbreaker .Inthistypeofci rcuitbr eaker,anai r-blastisdir
ectedatr i
ghtan glest ot he
arc.Thecr oss- blastlengt hensandf orcest hear ci ntoas uitablechut ef orarcext i
ncti
on .Fig.19.10
showst heess ent i
alpar tsofat ypicalcr os s-blas tairci rcuitbr eaker.Whent hemovi ngcon tacti s
withdrawn ,anar ciss truckbet weent hef i
xedan dmovi ngcon tacts.Thehi ghpr essurecr os s-
blast
forcest hear cin toachut econsi st
ingofar cs pl
itter s

andbaffl
es.Thes pl
it
tersservetoincr
easet
helengthofthear candbaffl
esgiveimprovedcool
i
ng.
Theresul
tisthatarcisext
ingui
shedandfl
owofcur
r enti
sint
err
upted.Si
nceblastpr
essur
eissamefor
 1
0

al
lcurr
ents,theineffi
ciencyatlow cur
rent
sisel
imi
nat
ed.Thefinalgapfori
nter
r upt
ioni
sgr
eatenough
togi
ven ormalinsul
ati
oncl ear
ancesothataseri
esi
solat
ingswi
tchisnotnecessary.
Sul
phurHexaf
lour
ide(
SF6)Ci
rcui
tBr
eak
ers
Insuchci rcuitbr eakers,sulphurhexaf louri
de( SF6)gasi sus edast hear cquen chi ngmedi um.TheSF6i s
anel ect ro- negativegasandhasast rongt en dency t oabs orbf reeel ectr
on s.Thecon tact soft he
break erar e opened i na hi ghpr essur ef l
ow ofSF6 gasan d anar ci sstruckbet weent hem.The
conduct i
ngf ree elect r
onsi nt he ar c ar er apidly captured by t he gast of ormr el ati
vel yi mmobile
negat ivei ons.Thi slossofconduct i
ngel ectron sint hear cquick l
ybui ldsupen oughi n sul
at i
ons tr
ength
toext in guisht hear c.TheSF6ci r cuitbr eakershavebeenf oun dt obever yef fectivef orhi ghpower
andhi ghvol tageser vice.
Const ruct ion.Fig.19.11showst hepar tsofat ypicalSF6ci rcui
tbr eak er.Itcon si
s t
soff ixedandmovi ng
cont act sencl osedi nachamber( calledar ci nterrupti
onchamber )con taini
ngSF6 gas .Thi schamberi s
conn ect ed
toSF6gasr eservior.Whent hecont act sofbr eak erareopen ed,t heval vemechan i
s m per mitsahi gh
press ureSF6gasf r
omt hereser voi rtof lowt owar dsthear cinterrupt i
onchamber .Thef i
xedcon tactis
ahol l
ow cyl indri
calcur r
entcar ryingcon tactf i
ttedwi thanar chor n.Themovi ngcon tacti salsoa
holl
ow cyl inderwi thr ectangul arhol esi nthes idest opermittheSF6gast oletoutt hrought hes eholes
afterf lowi ngal ongandacr osst hear c.Thet i
psoff i
xedcon t
act ,movi n gcont actan dar cinghor nare
coat edwi thcopper -tungstenar cr esistantmat erial
.SinceSF6 gasi scos tly,i tisr econ diti
on edan d
reclaimedbysui tableauxi li
arysyst emaf tereachoper ati
onoft he
break er .

Wor king.Int heclos edpos iti

onoft hebr eak er,thecon tact sr emai ns urroun dedbySF6gasatapr ess ure
ofabout2· 8k g/cm2.Whent hebr eak eroper at es ,t hemovi ngcon tacti spul l
edapar tan danar ci s
struckbet weent hecont act s.Themovemen toft hemovi ngcon t
acti ss ynchr oni
sedwi ththeopen ingof
aval vewhi chper mitsSF6gasat1 4k g/cm2pr ess ur ef romt her eservoi rt ot hear ci
n terruptionchamber .
Thehi ghpr essuref low ofSF6 r apidly abs orbst hef reeel ect ron si nt hear cpatht of or mimmobi le
negat i
vei on swhi char einef fectiveaschar gecar riers .Ther esul tist hatt hemedi um bet weent he
cont act squickly bui ldsuphi ghdi el ect ri
cs tren gt han dcaus est heext in ctionoft hear c.Af t
ert he
break eroper ati
on( i.e.,af terar cext inct i
on),theval vei scl os edbyt heact ionofas etofs pri
ngs.
Advant ages.Duet ot hesuper iorar cquen chingpr oper tiesofSF6 gas ,t heSF6 ci rcuitbr eakershave
man yadvant agesoveroi lorai rcircuitbr eak er s.Someoft hemar el i
s t
edbel ow:
(i
)Duet othesuper iorar cquenchi ngpr oper tyofSF6,s uchci rcuitbr eak ershavever ys hortarcingtime.
(i
i)Sincet hedi elect rics trengt hofSF6gasi s2t o3t i
mest hatofai r,suchbr eakerscani nterr
uptmuch
l
ar gercur r
ent s.
(i
ii
)TheSF6 ci r
cuitbr eakergi vesnoi s el
ssoper at ionduet oi t
scl os edgasci rcui
tan dn oexhaus tt o
atmos pher
eunl i
ket heai rblastci r
cui tbr eaker .
(i
v)Thecl osedgasencl osurek eepst hei nteri
ordr ys ot hatt herei sn omoi s tureproblem.
(v)Ther ei
snor i
skoff ir
ei nsuchbr eak ersbecaus eSF6gasi sn on -
inf l
ammabl e.
(vi)Ther ear enocar bondepos i
tss ot hattr ack i
n gan di nsulat ionpr oblemsar eelimi
nat ed.
(vii
)TheSF6br eak er shavel ow mai nt enancecos t,lightf oun dat i
onr equiremen tsan dmi ni
mum auxili
ar y
equipment .
(vii
i)Si nce SF6 br eak ersar et otally en clos ed an ds eal ed f rom at mos pher e,they ar e parti
cularly
 1
1

suit
abl ewher eexpl osionhazardexi s
tse.g.
,coalmines.
Disadvant ages
(i
)SF6br eakersarecost l
yduet othehighcos tofSF6.
(i
i)SinceSF6gashast ober econditi
onedaf t
erever yoperat
ionoft hebreaker,addi
ti
onalequipmentis
requiredf orthispurpos e.
Appl i
cat i
ons.A t ypicalSF6 cir
cuitbreakercon si
stsofinter
rupteruni
tseachcapabl eofdeal ingwith
curren t
supt o60k Aandvol t
agesi ntherangeof50— 80k V.An umberofun i
tsarecon nectedi
ns er
ies
accor dingtot hesyst emvol tage.SF6cir
cuitbreakershavebeendevel opedf orvol
tages1 1
5k Vto230
kV,powerr atings10MVAt o20MVAan dint
errupti
ngtimelessthan3cycl es.
VacuumCi
rcui
tBr
eak
ers(
VCB)
I
nsuchbr eak ers,vacuum ( degreeofvacuumbei ngi nt heran gef rom1 0-to1 0-5t orr)isus edast hear c
quenchi ngmedi um.Sincevacuumof f ersthehi ghes tins ul
atings tren gth,ithasf ars uper iorar cquen ching
proper ti
est hananyot hermedi um.Forexampl e,whencon tact sofabr eak erar eopen edi nvacuum,t he
i
nter ruptionoccur satf irstcur rentzer owi thdi elect r
ics tren gthbet weent hecon tact sbui l
di ngupata
ratet hous andsoft imeshi ghert hant hatobt ainedwi thot herci rcuitbr eak ers.
Principle.Thepr oductionofar ci navacuum ci rcuitbr eak eran di tsext in ctioncanbeexpl ain edas
follows:Whent hecont act soft hebr eakerar eopen edinvacuum( 10-t o1 0-5t orr)
,anar cispr oduced
bet weent hecont actsbyt hei oni sationofmet alvapour sofcon tact s.However ,t hear ci squi ckly
ext i
n guishedbecauset hemet all
icvapour s,el
ect ron san dion spr oduceddur i
n gar cr api dlyconden s eon
thes urfacesoft heci rcuitbr eak ercon tacts,r es ul
tingi nqui ckr ecover yofdi elect ri
cs trengt h.The
readermaynot et hesal i
entf eat ur eofvacuum asanar cquen chingmedi um.Ass oonast hear ci s
producedi nvacuum,i tisqui cklyext i
nguishedduet ot hef as trat eofr ecover yofdi elect ri
cs tren gt hin
vacuum.
Const ruction.Fi g.1 9.
12 showst he par tsofa t ypicalvacuum ci rcuitbr eak er .Itcon sist
soff i
xed
cont act ,movi ngcont actandar cshi eldmoun tedi nsideavacuum chamber .Themovabl ememberi s
conn ect edt ot hecont rolmechani sm bys tainl
es ss t
eelbel lows .Thi sen ablest heper man ents eal i
n gof
thevacuumchambersoast oel iminat et hepos s i
bilit
yofl eak .Agl assves selorcer ami cves seli sus ed
ast he out eri nsulati
ng body.The ar cs hi
eld pr even t
st he det eri
or ati
onoft he in ternaldi el ectr i
c
strengt hbypr event i
ngmet alli
cvapour sfalli
ngont hein si
des urfaceoft heout erin sulatingcover .
Wor king.Whent hebr eak eroper ates,t hemovi ngcon tacts epar at esf romt hef i
xedcon tactandanar c
i
sst ruckbet weent he cont acts.The pr oductionofar ci sdue t ot hei on isat i
onofmet ali on san d
depen dsver ymuchupont hemat erialofcon t
act s .Thear ci squi cklyext i
ngui shedbecaus et hemet alli
c
vapour s,el ectronsandi onspr oduceddur ingar car e

di
ffusedinas horttimean dseizedbyt hesurfacesofmovi ngan dfi
xedmember
sandshi
elds.Since
vacuum hasveryf astrat eofr ecoveryofdi el
ectricstr
ength,thear
cexti
nct
ioni
navacuum breaker
occurswithashortcont actsepar at
ion(say0·625cm) .
Advantages.Vacuumci rcuitbreakershavethef oll
owingadvantages:
(i
)Theyar ecompact ,r
eliableandhavel ongerli
fe.
 1
2

(i
i)Ther ear en of i
rehazar ds.
(i
ii
)Ther eisn ogener ationofgasdur i
ngan daf teroper ation .
(i
v)Theycani nterruptan yf aul tcur rent
.Theout stan dingf eatur
eofaVCBi st hatitcanbr eakan y
heavyf aultcurrentper f ectlyj ustbef oret hecon tact sr eacht hedef i
nit
eopenpos it
ion.
(v)Theyr equirelitt
lemai ntenanceandar equi etinoper ation.
(vi)Theycansuccessf ullywi thst andlight
nings urges.
(vii
)Theyhavel owar cener gy.
(vii
i)Theyhavel owi nert i
aandhencer equires mall
erpowerf orcon t
rolmechanism.
Appl i
cat i
ons.Foracount rylikeI ndia,wheredi stancesar equi telargean daccessibil
it
yt or emoteareas
diffi
cult,thei nstall
at i
onofsuchout door,mai ntenan cef reecircuitbreakersshoul dpr oveadef ini
te
advant age.Vacuumci rcuitbr eak ersar ebei ngempl oyedf orout doorappl i
cati
onsr angingfrom22k Vt o
66k V.Evenwi t
hl i
mitedr ati
ngofsay60t o1 00MVA,t heyar esuitableforamaj orityofappl i
cati
onsin
ruralareas .
Swi
tchgearCompon
ent
s
Thef ollowingaresomei mpor t
antcompon entscommont omos toft heci rcui
tbreaker
s:
i
()Bus hings i
(i
)Circuitbreakercont acts
i
(i
i)Instrumen ttransf
ormers ( iv)Bus-barsan dconduct ors
(i
)Bushi ngs.Whenahi ghvol tagecon ductorpas sest hroughamet als heetorf r
amewhichisatearth
potential,thenecess ar yinsul
at i
onispr ovidedi nthef orm ofbus hing.Thepr i
maryfunct
ionoft he
bushingi st o preventel ectri
calbr eakdownbet weent he encl
osed con duct
oran dthe sur
roundi
ng
earthedmet alwor k
.Fi g.19.
13( i
)

showst he us e ofbushi ngf orapl ain-breakoi lci rcuitbr eak er .The hi ghvol t age con duct orpas ses
thr ought he bushi ngmade ofsome i ns ul
atingmat er i
al( e.g. ,por celain,s teat i
te) .Al thought here are
sever alt ypesofbushi ng( e.g.
,condensert ype,oi lf i
lled et c.),they per for mt he s ame f un ctionof
i
ns ulatingt heconduct orf rom ear thedt ank.Thef ail
ur eoft hebus hingcanoccuri nt woways .Fir
s t
ly,
thebr eakdownmaybecaus edbypun ct urei.e.,di elect ri
cf ailureoft hei nsulat i
n gmat er ialoft hebus hi
ng.
Secondl y,t hebr eak downmayoccuri nt hef or m ofaf lash- overbet weent heexpos edcon duct orat
eit herendoft hebus hingandt heear thedmet al.Fi g.19. 13( i
i
)i l
lustratest hes et wopos si
bili
t i
es.The
bus hingsar eso desi gnedt hatf lash-overt ak espl acebef or et hey getpun ct ured.I ti sbecaus et he
punct ure gen erallyr ender st he bus hingi nsulat ionun servi ceabl e an di ncapabl e ofwi thstandi ngt he
nor malvol tage.Ont heot herhand,af lash-overmayr es ulti ncompar ati
vel yhar mles sbur ni
n goft he
sur f aceoft hebushi ngwhi chcant hencon tinuet ogi veadequat es ervicepen di ngr epl acemen t.
(i
i)Ci rcuitbr eak ercont act s.Theci r
cuitbr eak ercon tact sar er equiredt ocar ryn ormalaswel lass hor t
-cir cuitcur rent.Incar r
yin gt henor malcur r
en t,iti sdes ir
abl et hatt het emper at ures houl dn otriseabove
thes pecif i
edl imi tsandt hatt her es houldbel ow vol tagedr opatt hepoi n tofcon t act .Incar ryi
ng
br eak ing and mak i
ng shor t-cir
cuit cur rents,t he chi ef ef fect st o be deal t wi th ar e mel ting and
vapour i
sat i
onbyt heheatoft hear can dt hos eduet oel ect romagn eticf or ces .Ther ef ore,t hedes i
gn
ofcon t
act sisofcons ider abl eimpor t
an cef ors at i
s factor yoper ationoft heci rcui tbr eak ers.Ther ear e
thr eet ypesofci rcui tbreak ercont actsvi z.
(a)Tul i
pt ypecont act s.Fi g.1 9.
14( i
)showst heTul ipt ypecon tact.Itcon s i
st sofmovi ngcon tactwhi ch
movesi nsidet hef ixedcon tacts.Atcon t
acts epar at i
on ,t hear ci sgen eral l
yes tabl i
s hedbet weent he
tipsoft hef ixed
 1
3

cont actsandt het i

poft hemovi ngcon t
actass howninFig.1
9.1
4(ii
).Theadvant ageoft hi
stypeof
cont actisthatarcingisconfi
nedtot heregionswhicharenotincont
acti nthefull
yen gagedposi
tion.
(b)Fi ngerandwedgecont acts.Fi
g.1 9.
15( i
)showst hefi
ngerandwedget ypecon tact.Thistypeof
cont actislargelyusedf orlow-volt
ageoi lcir
cuitbreak
ersowingtot hegen eralunsui
tabil
it
yforus e
wi t
har ccon tr
oldevices.
(c)But tcontacts.Fig.19.
15(ii
)showst hebuttt ypecontactandisf ormedbyt hes pri
ngsandt he
movi ngcont act.I
tpos sessestwoadvan tages.Fir
stl
y,spr
ingpress
urei savail
ablet oas si
stcon t
act
separ ati
on.Thisis

usefuli nsi ngle-breakoi lci rcui

tbr eak ersan dai r-bl
as tci rcuitbr eak erswher er elati
velys mall“ l
oop”
forcesar eavai l
abl et oass istinopeni ng.Secon dly,ther eisn ogr ipf or ces ot hatt histypeofcon tacti s
especial l
ys ui
tabl ef orhighershor tcircuitrati
ng.
(i
ii
)Instrumentt ransf ormer s.Inamoder npowers ystem,t heci r
cui t
soper ateatver yhi ghvol t
agesan d
carrycur rentoft housandsofamper es.Themeas uri
n ginstrumen tsan dpr otect ivedevi cescan notwor k
satisf
act ori
lyi fmount eddi rectlyont hepowerl ines.Thi sdi f
ficultyisover comebyi nstall
inginstrumen t
transfor mer s on t he powerl i
nes.The f unct i
on oft hes ei nstrumen tt r
an sfor mersi st ot ran sform
voltagesorcur rent sint hepowerl inest oval ueswhi char econ ven ien tfort heoper at i
onofmeas uri
ng
i
ns t
rument sandr el ays.Ther earet wot ypesofi ns tr
umen ttran sformer svi z.
(a)Cur ren ttransf or mer( C.T. )
(b)Pot en ti
alt ransf ormer( P.T.)
Thepr imar yofcur renttr ans formeri scon nectedi nt hepowerl ine.Thes econ dar ywi ndin
gpr ovidesf or
theinst rumen tsandr elaysacur rentwhi chisacon stantf ractionoft hecur r
en ti ntheline.
Simil
arly,a pot ent ialt r
ans formeri scon nected wi t hi t
spr i
mar yi nt he powerl i
ne.The s econ dary
providesf ort hei nstrument sandr elaysavol tagewhi chi sak n ownf ractionoft hel i
nevol tage.Fi g.
19.1
6s howst heuseofi nstrumentt r
an sformers .The* poten ti
alt ransf ormerr at ed66, 000/1 1
0Vpr ovides
avol tagesuppl yf ort he
 1
4

potentialcoilsofvol t
met eran dwat tmet
er .Thecur rentt ran sformerrated1 000/5A s uppli
escur r
ent
tot he currentcoi l
sofwat tmeteran d ammet er.The us e ofi nst
rumentt ran sformersper mit
st he
foll
owingadvant ages:
(a)Theyi solatet hemeasur ingi nstr
umentsan drelaysf r
omhi gh-voltagepowerci rcuit
s.
(b)Thel eadsi nthesecondar ycircui
tscarryr el
ativelys mallvol tagesandcur ren t
s.Thispermitstous e
wiresofs mal l
ersi zewi thminimumi nsul
ati
on .
(i
v)Bus- barsandconduct or s.Thecur rentcar r
yingmember si naci r
cuitbreak ercon si
stoff ixedan d
movi ngcontact san dt heconduct orsconn ecti
ngt heset ot hepoi ntsexternalt ot hebr eaker.Ifthe
switchgearisofout doort ype,t hesecon nectionsarecon nect eddirectl
yt otheover headl i
nes.I
ncas e
ofindoorswi tchgear ,theincomi ngconduct orstot hecircuitbr eakerarecon nect edt othebus -
bars.
Pr
obl
emsofCi
rcui
tIn
ter
rupt
ion
Thepowersyst em contai
nsanappreci
ableamountofinductanceands omecapaci
tance.Whenaf aul
t
occurs,theenergyst or
edi nthesyst
em canbeconsiderabl
e.Inter
rupt
ionoffaul
tcurrentbyacircui
t
breakerwi l
lresul
tinmostoft hestoredener
gydi ssi
patedwi t
hinthecir
cui
tbreaker,theremai
nder
beingdissi
patedduri
ngoscill
atory

surgesi nt hesyst em.Theos cill

at orys urgesar eun des irableand,t herefore,thecircuitbr eak ermus tbe
des i
gn edt o dissipat easmuchoft hes tor eden er gy aspos si
ble.Fi g.19.17(i
)s howsas hor t-
circuit
occur i
ngont het ransmissi
onl ine.Fig1 9.17( i
i)showsi tsequivalentci r
cui twhereLi st hein duct anceper
phaseoft he* *syst em upt ot hepoi ntoff aultan dC i st hecapaci tanceperphas eoft hes yst em.The
resistanceoft hes ystemi snegl ectedasi tisgen er al l
ys mall.
(i
)Rat eofr i
seofr e-stri
kingvol tage.I ti st her ateofi ncreas eofr e-stri
k i
ngvoltagean di sabbr eviated
by R.R. R.V.Usual l
y,t hevol tagei si nk V an dt imei nmi cr
osecon dss ot hatR.R.R.V.isi nk V/μs ec.
Cons i
dert heopen ingofaci rcui tbr eak erun derf aultcon dit
ionsshowni ns impl
ifi
edf ormi nFi g.1 9.17( i
i
)
above.Bef orecur rentinterrupt ion,t hecapaci tan ce C i ss hort
-circuitedbyt hef aultan dt hes hor t
-
cir
cuitcur rentt hrought hebr eak erisl i
mitedbyi n ductan ceLoft hes ystem onl
y.Con s equen tly,t he
short-circuitcur rentwi l
llagt hevol tageby90ºass howni nFig.1 9.18,wher eIr epresen tst hes hor t
-
cir
cuitcur rentand ea r epr esent st hear cvol tage.I tmaybes eent hatint hi
scon dition ,the* entire
generat orvol t
ageappear sacr ossi nduct an ce L.Whent hecon tactsar eopen edan dt hear cf i
nally
extinguishesatsomecur rentzer o,thegen er atorvol tageei ssudden l
yappl i
edto
 1
5

the i
nduct
ance and capacitance i
nser
ies s L–C combi
.Thi nat
ion f
orms an osci
l
lat
ory ci
rcui
tand
producesatr
ansientoffrequency:

whi chappear sacr osst hecapaci orC an

t dhen ceacr os st hecon tactsoft heci rcui tbr eak er .Thi s
tran si
entvol t
age,asal readynot ed,i sk nownasr e- str i
kingvol t agean dmayr eachani nstant an eous
peakval uet wicet hepeakphase- neut ralvol tagei .
e.2Em.Thesyst eml oss escaus et heos cill
at ion st o
decayf airlyrapi dl ybutt heini
t i
alover shooti ncr eas est hepos s i
bi l
ityofr e-s tr
ikingt hear c.
I
ti st her ateofr i
seofr e-stri
kingvol tage( R.R.R.V. )whi chdeci deswhet hert hear cwi l
lr e-strikeorn ot .
I
fR. R.R. V.i sgr eat ert hant her ateofr iseofdi elect r
ics t
ren gthbet weent hecon tact s ,thear cwi llre-
strike.However ,t hear cwi llfailt or e-stri
kei fR. R.R.V.i sles st hant herat eofi ncr eas eofdi elect ri
c
strengt hbet weent hecont actsoft hebr eaker .Theval ueofR. R. R. V.depen dsupon:
(a)r ecover yvol tage
(b)nat uralf requen cyofosci ll
at i
ons
Foras hor t-ci
rcui toccur ingneart hepowers tat i
onbus- bar s,C bei ngs mall
,t hen aturalf requen cyf n( 
1/2∏ √LC)wi llbehi gh.Cons equent l
y,R. R.R.V.wi l
lat tai nal argeval ue.Thust hewor s tcon dit
ionf ora
circuitbr eak erwoul dbet hatwhent hef aultt ak espl acen eart hebus -bars.
(i
i)Cur rentchoppi ng.I ti st hephenomenonofcur renti nterrupt ionbef oret henat uralcur rentzer oi s
reached.
Cur rent choppi ng * * main l
y occur si n air-blas t ci rcui t br eak er s becaus et hey r etaint he s ame
ext ingui shingpoweri rrespect i
veoft hemagn itudeoft hecur ren tt obei nterrupt ed.Whenbr eak i
n gl ow
cur rent s( e.
g.,tr ansf or mermagnet i
singcur ren t)wi ths uchbr eak er s,thepower f ulde- ion isi
ngef fectof
air-blastcaus est hecur r enttof allabr uptlyt ozer owel lbef or et hen aturalcur ren tzer oi sr eached.
Thisphen omen oni sk nownascur rentchoppi ngan dr es ultsint hepr oductionofhi ghvol taget r an sien t
acr os st hecont act soft heci rcuitbr eak erasdi scus sedbel ow:
Cons i
deragai nFi g.1 9.17( i
i)repeat edasFi g.1 9.19( i)
.Suppos et hear ccur renti siwheni ti schopped
downt ozer oval ueasshownbypoi ntai nFi g.1 9.19( ii).Ast hechopoccur satcur ren ti,theref or e,t he
s=Li
2
ener gys toredi ni nduct ancei /2.Thi sen ergywi llbet ran s ferredt ot hecapaci t anceC,char ging
thel at tert oapr os pect ivevol tageegi venby:

Thepr ospectvevol tageei sver y***highascompar edtot hedielectr

ics t
rengt
hgainedbyt hegaps o
thatt hebr eakerr estr
ikes.Ast hede-ionisi
ngf orceissti
llinaction,therefor
e,chopoccursagai nbut
thear ccur rentthi
st i
mei ssmal l
erthanthepr eviouscase.Thisi
nducesal owerpros
pective
voltaget or e-i
gnitethear c.Inf act
,severalchopsmayoccurun ti
lal ow enoughcurrenti
sinterr
upted
whichpr oducesi nsuffi
cientinducedvoltaget ore-str
ikeacrossthebr eakergap.Consequent
ly,thefi
n al
i
nterrupt i
onofcur renttak esplace.
 1
6

Exces si
vevol t
age sur gesdue t o curr
en tchoppingar epr eventedby s hunti
ngt hecon tactsoft he
break erwi thar esistor( resi
stanceswitching)sucht hatreigni
ti
oni sun l
ik
elyt ooccur .Thisisexpl ained
i
nAr t19.19.
(i
ii
)Capaci tivecur r entbr eaking.Anothercaus eofexces sivevol tages ur
gesi nthecircuitbreaker sis
thei nterruptionofcapaci ti
vecur r
ents.Exampl esofs uchinstancesar eopen ingofanun loadedl ong
transmi ssi
onl ine,disconnect i
ngacapaci torban kusedf orpowerf actorimprovemen tetc.Con si
dert he
simple equi valen tci rcuitofanun l
oaded t r
an smi
ssionl i
nes howni nFig.1
9.20.Sucha l ine,although
unloadedi nt henor malsense,wi llactually carry acapaci t
ivecur r
entIonaccoun tofappr eciable
amoun tofcapaci tan ceCbet weent heli
ne

andt heear th.

Letussuppos et hatt hel inei sopenedbyt heci rcui tbr eak eratt hei nstantwhenl i
necapaci ti
vecur ren t
i
szer o[poi nt1inFi g.1 9.21].Att hisinstan t,thegen erat orvol tageVgwi l
lbemaxi mum ( i.
e.,Vgm)l agging
behindt hecur ren tby90º .Theopen i
ngoft hel i
n el eavesas tan dingchar geoni t(i.e.,endBoft hel i
ne)
andt hecapaci torC1i schar gedt oVgm.However ,t hegen eratoren doft hel ine( i
.e.,endA oft hel i
ne)
cont inues i ts normalsi nusoi dalvar iation s.The vol t age Vr acr os st he ci rcuitbr eak erwi llbe t he
differ encebet weent hevol tagesont her espect i
ves ides .Itsinitialval uei szer o(poi nt1 )an di
n creas es
slowl yi nt hebegi nning.Buthal facycl el ater[ poin tRi nFi g.19. 21],thepot en ti
aloft heci rcui
tbr eaker
cont act‘ A’becomesmaxi mumnegat ivewhi chcaus est hevol tageacr os st hebr eak er( Vr)tobecome2
Vgm.Thi svol t
agemaybes ufficientt or es tri
ket hear c.Thet wopr evious l
ys epar at edpar tsoft he
circuitwi llnow bej oinedbyanar cofver yl owr es istan ce.Thel inecapaci tancedi schar gesaton cet o
reducet hevol tageacr osst heci rcuitbr eak er ,thuss et tinguphi ghf r
equen cyt ransien t.Thepeakval ue
oft he in it
ialt r
an si
en twi llbe t wice t he vol tage att hati nst anti .e.,4 Vgm.Thi swi llcaus et he
transmi ssionvol taget oswi ngt o 4Vgm t o+Vgm i .e.,3Vgm.
Ther e-st ri
kear ccur rentqui ckl
yr eachesi tsf irstzer oasi tvar iesatn aturalfr equen cy.Thevol tageon
thel i
nei snow−3Vgm andonceagai nthet wohal vesoft heci rcuitar es epar atedan dt hel ineisis olated
att hispot ential.Af terabouthal facycl ef urther ,theaf ores aideven tsar er epeat edevenonmor e
formi dabl escal ean dt hel i
nemaybel eftwi t
hapot ent alof5Vgm aboveear
i t
hpot en tial.Theoret i
cally,
thisphenomenonmaypr oceedi nf i
nitelyi ncreas ingt hevol tagebys ucces si
vei ncremen tof2t imesVgm.
Whi l
et heabovedescr i
pt i
onr elat est ot hewor stpos si
blecon diti
on s,iti sobvi oust hati ft hegap
break downs trengthdoesnoti ncr easer apidlyen ough,s ucces siver e-strikescanbui ldupadan ger ous
vol t
agei nt heopenci r
cui tline.However ,duet ol eak agean dcor on al oss,t hemaxi mumvol tageont he
li
nei ns uchcas esi slimitedt o5Vgm.
Resi
stanceSwi
tchi
ng
I
thasbeendiscussedabovethatcurrentchoppi
ng,capaci
tivecurrentbreakingetc.gi
ver
isetosevere
volt
ageoscil
lat
ions.Theseexcessi
vevol tagesurgesduri
n gci
rcuitint
errupti
oncanbepr event
edby
theuseofshuntresi
stanceRconnectedacrossthecircui
tbreakercontactsass hownint
heequival
ent
 1
7

cir
cui
tinFi
g.19.
22.Thi
sisknownasr
esi
stan
ceswi
tchi
ng.Ref
err
ingt
oFi
g.1
9.22,whenaf
aul
toccur
s,
thecont
actsoftheci
rcui
tbreak
er

areopenedandanar cisstruckbet weent hecontacts .Si

ncet hecon tactsar eshuntedbyr esi
st anceR,
apartofar ccur rentflowst hroughthisresis
tance.Thi sr esultsi nthedecr easeofar ccurren tan dan
i
ncreaseinther ateofde- ionisati
onoft hearcpat h.Con sequen t l
y,thearcr esist
anceisincreased.The
i
ncreasedar cresistanceleadst oaf ur
therincreasei ncur rentt hroughs huntresist
ance.Thispr ocess
conti
nuesunt i
lt hear ccur r
entbecomess os mallthati tf ai
lst o maintainthear c.Now,t hear cis
exti
nguis
hedandci rcui
tcur rentisinter
rupted.Thes huntr es i
storal sohelpsinl i
miti
ngtheos ci
llat
ory
growthofre-stri
k i
ngvol t
age.I tcanbepr ovedmat hemat i
cal lyt hatnaturalfrequencyofos cil
lationsof
thecir
cuitshowni nFig.19.
22i sgivenby:

Theef fectofs huntresistanceRi stopr even ttheos ci

ll
atorygrowthofr e-strik
ingvol tagean dcaus e
i
tt ogr owexponent i
all
yupt or ecover yvol tage.Thisisbeingmos teffecti
vewhent heval ueofRi ss o
chosent hatt heci rcui
tiscr i
ticall
ydamped.Theval ueofRr equi
redf orcrit
icaldampi ngi s0·5√ L/C .
Fig.19.23s howst heos cill
atorygr owt handexpon enti
algrowthwhent hecircuitiscrit
icallydamped.To
sum up,r esistorsacr ossbr eak ercon t
act smay be us ed to perform one ormor e oft he fol
lowing
function s:
(i
)Tor educet her ateofr iseofr e-stri
kingvol t
agean dthepeakval ueofr e-str
iki
ngvol tage.
(i
i)Tor educet hevol t
agesur gesduet ocur rentchoppingan dcapacit
ivecurren tbreaking.
i
(ii
)Toen sureevenshar ingofr e- st
rik
ingvol taget r
ansientacrosst hevariousbr eaksi nmul tibreak
circui
tbr eak ers.
I
tmay be not ed thatval ue ofr esist
an ce requir
ed to perform eachf unctioni sus ually di
fferent
.
However ,iti sof t
ennecessar yt o compr omisean dmak eoner esi
st ordo mor et hanon eoft hese
function s.
Ci
rcui
tBr
eak
erRat
ings
A circuitbr eakermay be cal led upont o oper at e underal lcon diti
ons.However ,majordutiesare
i
mpos edont hecir
cui tbreak erwhent hereisaf aul tont hes ystemi nwhichi ti
scon nected.Underfaul
t
condi t
ions,acircui
tbr eak erisr equi
redt oper for mt hef oll
owingt hr
eedut i
es:
(i
)Itmus tbecapabl eofopen i
ngt hef ault
yci r
cui tan dbr eaki
ngt hef aul
tcur r
ent.
(i
i
)Itmustbecapabl eofbei ngcl osedont oaf aul t.
(i
i
i)Itmustbecapabl eofcar r
yingf aultcurrentf oras hortt i
mewhi lean othercircui
tbreaker(i
ns er
ies)
i
scl earingthef aul
t.
Corres pondingtot heabovement i
oneddut i
es,t heci rcui
tbreak ershavet hreer at
ingsviz.
(i
)break i
ngcapaci ty( i
i)mak i
ngcapaci tyan d(i
ii)s hort-ti
mecapaci ty.
(i
)Br eakingcapacit y.Iti
scur r
ent( r.
m. s.
)thataci rcuitbreakeriscapabl eofbr eakingatgivenrecovery
voltageandunderspeci fi
edcondi ti
ons( e.g.
,powerf actor,rateofr iseofr estr
iki
ngvoltage).

Thebr eaki
ngcapaci
tyi salwaysst
at edatther .
m.s.val
ueoff aultcur
rentattheins
t antofcont
act
separati
on.Whena f aul
toccurs,thereiscon si
derabl
e asymmetryint he f
aul
tcurrentdue tothe
presenceofad.c.compon ent
.Thed.c.componentdiesawayr api
dly,atypi
caldecr
emen tfact
orbei
ng
 1
8

0·8percycle.Ref
erri
ngto Fig.19.
24,thecont
actsar
esepar
atedatDD.́Att
hisi
nst
ant
,thef
aul
t
curr
enthas
x=maximumval ueofa.c.
componen
t
y=d.c.component

I
ti sacommonpr act icet oexpr esst hebr eak ingcapaci tyi nMVA byt ak ingi nt oaccoun tt her at ed
break ingcur r
entandr at edser vi cevol tage.Thus ,ifIi st her at edbr eak i
ngcur ren tinamper esan dV i s
ther at eds er vicel i
nevol t agei nvol ts,t henf ora3- phas eci rcui t,
Br eak ingcapaci t y=√3 VxIx 10-6MVA
I
nI ndi a( orBr itain) ,iti sausualpr act i
cet ot akebr eak ingcur ren tequalt ot hes ymmet r i
calbr eak ing
cur ren t.However ,Amer icanpr act icei st ot ak ebr eak i
ngcur ren tequalt oas ymmet r i
calbr eak ingcur ren t.
Thust heAmer icanr at i
n ggi vent oaci rcui tbr eak eri shi ghert hant heI n dianorBr i
tis hr ati
n g.
I
ts eemst obei llogi calt ogi vebr eak ingcapaci tyi nMVAs incei ti sobt ainedf r omt hepr oductofs hor t-
circuitcur rentandr ateds ervicevol tage.Whent hes hor t-circui tcur ren tisf l
owi ng,t her ei son lyas mal l
vol tageacr osst hebr eak ercont act s,whi let hes ervi cevol tageappear sacr os st hecon tact sonl yaf ter
thecur ren thasbeeni nt er rupted.ThusMVA r at i
ngi st hepr oductoft woquan titieswhi chdonotexi s t
simul tan eous lyi nt heci rcui t .
Ther ef or e,t he* agr eedi nt ernat ionals tan dar dofs peci fyingbr eak ingcapaci tyi sdef inedast her at ed
symmet ricalbr eak ingcur ren tatar at edvol tage.
(i
i)Mak ingcapaci t y.Ther ei sal waysapos s ibili
tyofcl os ingormak ingt heci rcui tun ders hor t-circui t
condi tions.Thecapaci tyofabr eak ert o“ mak e”cur ren tdepen dsuponi tsabi l
ityt owi ths tan dan dcl os e
success ful l
y agai ns tt he ef fect sofel ect r
omagn et i
cf or ces .Thes ef orcesar e pr opor ti
onalt ot he
squar eofmaxi mumi nst ant aneouscur ren toncl os i
n g.Ther efor e,mak ingcapaci t yi ss tatedi nt er msofa
peakval ueofcur ren tinst eadofr .m. s.val ue.
Thepeakval ueofcur rent( incl udi ngd. c.component )dur ingt hef i
rstcycl eofcur rentwaveaf tert he
closur eofci rcui tbr eakeri sknownasmaki ngcapaci t y.
I
tmaybenot edt hatt hedef init i
oni scon cer nedwi tht hef irs tcycl eofcur ren twaveoncl os ingt he
circuitbr eak er .Thi si sbecauset hemaxi mum val ueoff aul tcur rentpos si
blyoccur sint hef i
rs tcycl e
on l
ywhenmaxi mum as ymmet ryoccur si nan yphas eoft hebr eak er.I not herwor ds ,themak i
ngcur ren t
i
s equalt ot he maxi mum val ue of as ymmet r
icalcur ren t.To f indt his val ue,we mus t mul tiply
symmet ricalbr eak ingcur rentby√2t ocon ver tt hisf r
om r .m. s.t opeak ,an dt henby1 ·8t oi ncludet he
“doubl ingef fect ”ofmaxi mumasymmet ry.Thet ot almul ti
pl i
cat ionf act orbecomes√2x 1·8=2· 55.
Ther ef or e,Mak ingcapaci t y=2· 55xSymmet ricalbr eak i
ngcapaci ty
(i
ii
)Shor t-timer at ing.I ti st heper iodf orwhi cht heci rcui tbr eakeri sabl et ocar ryf aultcur r
entwhi l
e
remai ningcl osed.
Somet imesaf aul tont hes yst em i sofver yt empor ar yn at urean dper sistsf or1or2s econ dsaf ter
whi cht hef aul ti saut omat icallycl ear ed.I nt hei nter estofcon ti
nuityofs uppl y,t hebr eak ershoul dn ot
tri
pi ns uchs ituat ions.Thi smeanst hatci rcui tbr eak erss houl dbeabl et ocar r yhi ghcur ren ts af elyf or
somespeci f i
edper iodwhi ler emai ningcl os edi .
e.,t heys houl dhavepr ovens hor t- ti
mer at ing.However ,
i
ft hef aul tper sist sf oradur at i
onl on gert hant hes peci fiedt imel imit,t heci rcui tbr eak erwi llt rip,
discon nect ingt hef ault ys ect ion.
The s hor t-time r at i
ng ofa ci rcui tbr eak erdepen ds upon i ts abi l
ityt o wi ths tan d( a)t he
elect r omagnet icf orceef fect sand( b)t het emper at urer i
se.Theoi lci rcuitbr eak er shaveas peci fied
l
imitof3s econdswhent her at ioofsymmet r i
calbr eak ingcur ren ttot her at edn or malcur ren tdoesn ot
exceed40.However ,ift hisr at i
oi smor et han40,t hent hes peci fi
edl imitis1s econ d.
Nor malcur rentr at i
ng.I ti st her .
m. s .val ueofcur ren twhi cht heci r cuitbr eak eri scapabl eofcar rying
cont inuous l
yati t sr at edf requencyun ders peci fiedcon dition s .Theon lylimit ationi nt hiscasei st he
temper at urer iseofcur r ent -car ryi ngpar t s.

SELF-TEST
1
.Filli
nt hebl
anksbyi nsert
ingappr opri
atewor ds/fi
gur
es.
i
()Acircuitbreak
eropens. .
..
..
..
..
..
.whenaf aul
toccursonthesystem.
i
(i
)Aci rcui
tbreakercan...
.
..
..
..thecircui
timmediatel
yafterautomati
coperati
on.
i
(i
i)Whent hecontactsofaci r
cuitbreakerareopenedont heoccurr
enceofaf aul
t,an..
.
..
..
.i
sstruck
.
i
(v)Ana. c.ci
rcui
tismor eeasil
yi nt
erruptedthanad.c.ci
rcui
tbecauseal
ternati
ngcurr
entprovi
des
.
.
...
..
.
..
..
.
..
 1
9

(v)Ift helen gthoft hear ci ncr eas es,itsresistan ceis. .

...
...
..
..
...
(vi)Ifdielect r
icst rengt hoft hemedi umbet weencon tact sbui ldsupmor er api
dlythant her
e-str
iki
ng
voltage,t henar cwi llbe. .
..
...
.
...
...
..
...
(vii
)Inanoi lcircuitbr eaker ,.
...
...
..
..
...
..
.isusedast hear cquen chingmedi um.
(vii
i)Thequant ityofoi lneededf orar ccon t
roloi lcircuitbr eak ersi s..
...
.
..
..
...t
hant hatofpl
ainbreakoil
cir
cui
t
break er.
(i
x)Cur rentchoppi ngmai nlyoccur sin...
...
.
...
.
..
..
..circuitbr eak ers.
(x)Capaci t
ivecur ren tbreak i
ngr es ul
tsin. .
..
..
..
..
..
..
...
.
..
.
2.Pickupt hecor r
ectwor ds/f igur esfromt hebr acket sandf illinthebl ank s.
(i
)Cr ossj etexpl osionpotbr eak ercani nterr
upt. ..
..
..
..
..
..s hortci rcuitcur r
en tseffi
cientl
y.
(heavy,l ow)
(i
i)Inf orcedbl astoi lcircuitbr eak ers,theext inguishingf or cei s...
..
..
..thef aultcurr
en ttobeint
errupt
ed.
(dependentupon,i ndependentof )
(i
ii
)Inl owoi lcircuitbr eak ers,....
..
..
...
..
.
.isusedf ori nsulationpur poses .(soli
dmat er
ial,oi
l)
(i
v)For ced-blas tcircuitbr eak ershave. .
..
..
..
..
..
.
.s peedofci rcuiti nterrupti
on .(l
ow,high)
ANSWERSTOSELF-
TEST
1 i
.()aut
omati
call
y( i
i)remake(i
i
i)arc(iv)naturalcurrentzer v)i
os( ncr
eas vi
ed( )ext
ingui
shed
(vi
i
)somemineraloil(vii
i
)l i
ess(x)air
-blast(x)voltages ur
ges
i
2.( i
)heavy(i
)independentof(ii
i)sol
idmat eri
al(i
v)hi gh
CHAPTERREVI
EW TOPI
CS
1.Whati saci rcuitbr eak er?Des cribei tsoper ati
ngpr i
nciple.
2.Discusst hear cphen omen oni naci rcuitbreaker .
3.Expl aint hevar iousmet hodsofar cext i
ncti
oni naci r cuitbr eak er.
4.Def ineandexpl ai nt hef ol
lowin gt ermsasappl iedt oci rcuitbr eak ers:
(i
)Ar cvol tage
(i
i)Rest ri
k i
ngvol tage
(i
ii
)Recover yvol tage
5.Descr ibebr i
ef lyt heact i
onofanoi lcircuitbreak er.Howdoesoi lhelpinarcext i
nction?
6.Discusst headvan tagesanddi sadvan tagesofoi lcircuitbr eak ers.
7.Expl ai
nwi thneats ket chest hecon structi
onandwor kingoft hef ollowi
ngci r
cuitbreakers:
(i
)Plainexpl osionpot
(i
i)Crossj etexpl os ionpot
(i
ii
)Sel f-
compens at edexpl osionpot
8.Expl aint hedi f ferencebet weenbul koi lcir
cuitbreak er san dl ow- oilci
rcui
tbr eakers.
9.Discusst hecons truct i
onaldet ailsan doper ationofat ypi callow- oilci
rcuitbreaker?Whatar eitsrel
ati
ve
mer i
tsanddemer its?
10.Discus st hepr inci pleofoper ationofanai r
-blastci rcuitbr eak er.Whatar et headvan t
agesanddisadvantages
ofusingai rast hear cquenchi ngmedi um?
11.Explainbr ief l
yt hef ollowingt ypesofai r-bl
as tcircuitbr eak ers:
(i
)Axi al-blastt ype
(i
i)Cross -blastt ype
12.Whatar et hei mpor tantcomponen tscommont omostofci rcuitbreakers?Di scusseachcomponent
brief
ly.
13.Wr iteashor tnot eont herateofr e-stri
ki
ngvol t agei ndicat i
ngi tsimportanceinthear cexti
nct
ion.
14.Discus st hephen omen onof
(i
)Cur rentchoppi ng
(i
i)Capaci tivecur r en tbr eaki
ng
15.Wr iteshor tn ot esont hef oll
owi ng:
(i
)Resi stances witchi ng
(i
i)Circuitbr eak err at i
ngs
(i
ii
)Circui tinter r
upt i
onpr oblems
DI
SCUSSI
ONQUESTI
ONS
1.Whydoplainbreakoilci
rcui
tbr eakershaveal ows peedofci r
cui
tint
err
upt
ion?
2.I
sitl
ogi
calt oexpressthebreak i
ngcapacityofaci r
cuitbreakerinMVA?Di s
cuss.
3.Whyiscurr
entinterr
upti
oneas ieri
nana. c.ci
rcuitthaninad. c.ci
rcui
t?
4.Whyarecircui
tbreakersdesignedt ohaveas hor t
-ti
mer ati
ng?
5.I
sarcproducti
oninaci r
cuitbreakerunfortun
at emainfestati
on?

6thSemester Br
anch:El
ect
ricalEngg. Subj
ect
:SGP Chapt
er:5,
6
AssignmentNo.4

1
.Di
scusst
he ar
c phen
omen
oni
na ci
rcui
tbr
eak
er.Expl
aint
he var
iousmet
hodsofar
c
 20

ext
inct
ioni
nacircui
tbr
eak
er.
3+3+3=9

2.Defi
net
hef
oll
owi
ng(
anyf
ive) 3x
5=15

i
)Arc voltageii
)Restr
iki
ngVol
tage,i
i
i)Recover
yVol t
age,i
v)Break
ingCapaci
ty,v)Mak i
ng
Capaci
ty,vi)Shortt
imerati
ngvii
)RRRV vii
i
)Resis
tanceswit
chi
ngix)Curr
entChopping,x)
Capaci
ti
vecurrentbr
eaki
ng

3.Wri
teadvan
tage&di
sadvant
agesofLow Oi
lCi
rcui
tBr
eak
er,SF6Ci
rcui
tBr
eak
er,Ai
rblast
Cir
cui
t Br
eaker (any one)
.
3+3=6

POSTERPRESENTATI
ONNO.
3(Dr
awi
ndr
awi
ngsheetan
dusecol
ourpens)

1. Descri
bet hecon st
ructi
onaldet ail
san doperat i
onofaBulkOi lCi
rcui
tBr eakerwith
neatdiagr
am. ( anyone)–Gr oup1
3+3+3=9
2.Des cri
bet hecons truct
ionaldetailsandoperationofMOCBorLow Oi lCir
cuitBreaker
withneatdiagram.–Gr oup2
3+3+3=9
3.Des cri
be withdi agram the constructi
onaldetail
sand oper
ati
onofAi rbl astCircui
t
Break
erwi thneatdiagram.–Gr oup3
3+3+3=9
4.Des cri
bewi thdiagram thecons tructi
onaldetai
lsandoperat
ionofSF6Ci r
cuitBreaker
withneatdiagr
am.–Gr oup4
3+3+3=9
5.Des cri
be withdi agram the const r
ucti
onaldetailsan
d operat
ionofVacuum Ci rcui
t
Break
erwi thneatdiagram..–Gr oup5
3+3+3=9