SEMINAR REPORT

ON
 WHAT IS A CIRCUIT
BREAKER?
A circuit breaker is an equipment which can

 make or break a circuit either manually

or automatically under normal conditions
 break a circuit under abnormal conditions
POINTS TO BE DISCUSSED:-

PRINCIPLE
ARCS
CLASSIFICATION
SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER—DETAILS
CONCLUSION
Fixed Fixed
contact contact
ARC ARC IS QUENCHED
ARC
BY MEDIUM

Moving Moving
contact contact

OPERATING
PRINCIPLE OF
BREAKER IN A CIRCUIT BREAKER
 OVERVIEW OF ARCS IN BREAKERS-:

During the separation of

contacts, due to large
fault current and high
current density at the
contact region the
surrounding medium
ionises and thus a
conducting medium is
formed. This is called the
ARC.
 PRINCIPLES OF ARC
EXTINCTION
Factors responsible for arc:-

Potential difference between the contacts

Ionised particles between the contacts

By removing any one of these the arc can

be quenched.
 CLASSIFICTION OF CIRCUIT
BREAKERS

OIL AIR VACCUM SF6

OIL AIR VACCUM SF6

CIRCUIT BLAST CIRCUIT CIRCUIT
BREAKER CIRCUIT BREAKER BREAKER
BREAKER
OVERVIEW OF SF6 GAS:-
Electrical properties
1.
1. High
High dielectric
dielectric strength
strength
2.
2. Excellent
Excellent arc
arc quenching
quenching ability
ability
3.
3. Excellent
Excellent thermal
thermal stability
stability
4.
4. Good
Good thermal
thermal conductivity
conductivity
Physical & Chemical properties

1.
1. Chemically
Chemically inert
inert
2.
2. Non-toxic
Non-toxic

3.
3. Non-corrosive
Non-corrosive
4.
4. Non-flammable
Non-flammable
5.
5. High
High density
density

6.High
6.High electro-negativity
electro-negativity
 Dielectric properties of SF6 gas:-

 DS of sf6 is 2.5 times of air

 DS of sf6 is 30% less than oil
 DS of sf6 is equal to oil at
63700 N/m2
 And 15% higher at 122500
N/m2
Advantages of SF6 gas:-

1.
1. Increased
Increased safety
safety
2.
2. Reduced
Reduced size
size
3.
3. Easy
Easy installation
installation
4.
4. Low
Low maintenance
maintenance
SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER
OPERATION
SF6 DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS
SF6
SPARK

SF4 + 2F
H2O M

SOF2 + 2HF MFn

H2O SiO2

SiF4 + 2 H2O
SO2 + HF
Amount of each decomposition product
depends on :-

 magnitude & duration of discharge

 materials of construction of equipment
 contamination levels of moisture and air inside the
equipment
REMOVAL OF SF6 BYPRODUCTS:-
Byproducts are corrosive & likely to affect the
organic materials.
Absorbent materials used in circuit breakers
 activated alumina( effective for SOF2,H2S,SF2)
 molecular sieves( sodalime-CaO.NaOH)-removes
stable gases such as SF4,SiF4 & S2F2

So suggested mix is 50/50 of sodalime &

alumina. The suggested weight of absorbent is
10% of the weight of the gas
 ADVANTAGES OF SF6 CIRCUIT
BREAKERS

 Very short arcing period

 Can interrupt much larger
currents as compared to
other breakers
 No risk of fire
 Low maintenance, light
foundation, minimum
auxiliary equipments
 No over voltage problem
 CONCLUSION

Harnessing the utilities of SF6 gas in

power system and power system
equipments, makes it more reliable and
safer to use.
The countless advantages this SF6 gas
has to offer will take us to new heights in
the prevalent orthodox power system.
THANK U ALL FOR A PATIENT
HEARING. HOPE I SATISFIED THE
CURIOSITY OF THE AUDIENCE.

NOW I WELCOME ALL QUERIES

FROM MY REPORT.