Contents

Introduction
 Operating mechanism
 Types of circuit breakers
 Air Blast circuit breaker
 Vacuum circuit breaker
 Oil circuit breaker
 SF6 circuit breaker
 Conclusion
 Introduction
 A circuit breaker is a mechanical switching
device, capable of making, carrying
and breaking currents under normal
circuit conditions. It is also capable of
making and carrying currents for a
specified time and breaking currents
under specified abnormal circuit
conditions, such as those of a short
circuit.
 Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is a piece of equipment which can

(i) make or break a circuit either manually or

by remote control under normal conditions

(ii) break a circuit automatically under fault

conditions

(iii) make a circuit either manually or by remote

control under fault conditions
 Circuit Breakers
IEEE definition:
“A device designed to open and close a
circuit by nonautomatic means, and to
open the circuit automatically on a
predetermined overcurrent without damage
to itself when properly applied within its
rating.”
 Operating Principle
Circuit Breaker consists of two contacts:

Fixed contact.
Moving contact.
Under normal operating conditions, these contacts
remain closed and will not open automatically until
and unless the system becomes faulty.
 When a fault occurs on any part of the system, the
trip coils of the circuit breaker get energized and the
moving contacts are pulled apart by some mechanism,
thus opening the circuit.
 Operating Principle
When the contacts of a circuit breaker are separated
under fault conditions, an arc is struck between
them.
The production of arc not only delays the current
interruption process but it also generates enormous
heat which may cause damage to the system or to
the circuit breaker itself.
Therefore, the main problem in a circuit breaker is
to extinguish the arc within the shortest possible
time .
Fixed
Fixed
contact
contact
ARC ARC IS
ARC
QUENCHED BY
MEDIUM
Moving
Moving
contact
contact

OPERATING
PRINCIPLE
OF BREAKER IN A CIRCUIT BREAKER
Arc Phenomenon
During the separation of contacts, due to large
fault current and high current density at the
contact region the surrounding medium ionizes
and thus a conducting medium is formed. This is
called the ARC.
During the arcing period, the current flowing
between the contacts depends upon the arc
resistance.
The greater the arc resistance, the smaller the
current that flows between the contacts.
Arc Phenomenon
The arc resistance depends upon the following
factors :
Degree of ionization
Length of the arc
Cross-section of arc
Factors responsible for the maintenance of arc
between the contacts. These are :
 p.d. between the contacts
 ionized particles between contacts
Arc Extinction
 Arc Extinction

Temperature zones in
arc
 Methods of Arc Extinction

There are two methods of extinguishing the arc in circuit
breakers viz.
 High resistance method.
 Low resistance or current zero method
 High resistance method. In this method, arc resistance is
made to increase with time so that current is reduced to a
value insufficient to maintain the arc.
The resistance of the arc may be increased by :
(i) Lengthening the arc.
(ii) Cooling the arc.
(iii) Reducing X-section of the arc.
(iv) Splitting the arc.
 Methods of Arc Extinction

Low resistance or Current zero method. This
method is employed for arc extinction in a.c. circuits
only.
In this method, arc resistance is kept low until current
is zero where the arc extinguishes naturally and is
prevented from restriking inspite of the rising voltage
across the contacts.
All modern high power a.c. circuit breakers employ
this method for arc extinction.
There are two theories to explain zero current
method
Recovery Rate Theory
Energy Balance Theory
 Methods of Arc Extinction
In an a.c. system, current drops to zero after every half-cycle.
At every current zero, the arc extinguishes for a brief moment.
 Now the medium between the contacts contains ions and
electrons so that it has small dielectric strength and can be
easily broken down by the rising contact voltage known as
restriking voltage.
 If such a breakdown does occur, the arc will persist for
another half-cycle.
 If immediately after current zero, the dielectric strength of
the medium between contacts is built up more rapidly than
the voltage across the contacts, the arc fails to restrike and the
current will be interrupted.
 Methods of Arc Extinction
The rapid increase of dielectric strength of the medium near current zero
can be achieved by :
 (a) causing the ionized particles in the space between contacts to
recombine into neutral molecules.
 (b) sweeping the ionized particles away and replacing them by
unionized particles.
The de-ionization of the medium can be achieved by:
 (i) lengthening of the gap.
 (ii) high pressure.
 (iii)cooling.
 (iv)blast effect.


 Restriking voltage
Restriking voltage. It is the transient voltage that appears
across the contacts at or near current zero during arcing
period.
At current zero, a high-frequency transient voltage appears
across the contacts and is caused by the rapid distribution of
energy between the magnetic and electric fields associated
with the plant and transmission lines of the system. This
transient voltage is known as restriking voltage .
 The current interruption in the circuit depends upon this
voltage. If the restriking voltage rises more rapidly than the
dielectric strength of the medium between the contacts, the
arc will persist for another half-cycle. On the other hand, if
the dielectric strength of the medium builds up more rapidly
than the restriking voltage, the arc fails to restrike and the
current will be interrupted
Restriking voltage
 Recovery voltage
Recovery voltage.
It is the normal frequency (50 Hz) r.m.s. voltage that
appears across the contacts of the circuit breaker after final
arc extinction. It is approximately equal to the system
voltage.
When contacts of circuit breaker are opened, current drops
to zero after every half cycle.
At some current zero, the contacts are separated
sufficiently apart and dielectric strength of the medium
between the contacts attains a high value due to the
removal of ionized particles.
At such an instant, the medium between the contacts is
strong enough to prevent the breakdown by the restriking
voltage.
 Recovery voltage
Recovery voltage.
Consequently, the final arc extinction takes place
and circuit current is interrupted.
 Immediately after final current interruption, the
voltage that appears across the contacts has a
transient part (See Fig. 19.1).
However, these transient oscillations subside
rapidly due to the damping effect of system
resistance and normal circuit voltage appears
across the contacts. The voltage across the
contacts is of normal frequency and is known as
recovery voltage.
Recovery Rate Theory-By slepain
Slepian’s Theory of Arc Extinction
•Arc extinction process is a race
between dielectric strength and
restriking voltage
•Residual column of ionized gas
exists after current zero
•If Dielectric strength builds up
faster than Restriking voltage- arc
extinguishes.
•This theory incomplete
–compares restrike voltage and
dielectric strength
–does not cover arcing phase
–does not consider energy relations
in arc
 Energy Balance Theory
Cassie’s Theory of Arc Extinction
•Arc consists of column at uniform temp, well defined boundary
•Uniform distribution of energy in column, temp remains constant
•Arc cross section adjusts itself to accommodate current
•Power dissipation proportional to column cross-section
•Energy equation

•Breakdown occurs if power fed in arc > power loss

 Arc Extinction in Oil
Arc extinction in OIL
•Arc decomposes dielectric oil
•Gasses produced increase chamber pressure
•Flow of gasses channelized through vents
•Arc gets extended into vents cooled by flowing gases
•Gas contains 70% hydrogen -good dielectric strength
•Contact area filled with fresh dielectric for arc
extinction
•Chamber may be pressurized with inert gas
 Arc Extinction in Vacuum
Arc extinction in VACUUM
•Current leaves contact from small intensely hot
spots
•Metal vaporizes from spots
•Vapor constitutes the plasma in vacuum arc
•Rate of vapor emission -current in arc
•At current zero plasma may vanish
•Vacuum has very high dielectric strength-though
arc may not restrike
 Arc Extinction in Air Blast
Arc extinction in AIR-BLAST
•Air flows from high pressure reservoir during
arc extinction process
•Flow rate governed by throttle diameter of
nozzle, pressure difference, nozzle profile
•Almost supersonic speed of air flow-rapid
reduction of arc diameter
•Arc does not reappear after final current zero
 Arc Extinction in SF6 Gas
Arc extinction in SF6 gas
•SF6 atoms and molecules attracts electrons,
forms ‘–ve’ ions
•‘–ve’ ions heavier than electrons-resistance of
plasma increases rapidly
•Gas flows through nozzle over arc - takes the
heat away
• Medium regain dielectric strength rapidly
Classification of Circuit Breaker
According to their location

Outdoor Circuit Breaker )1

2) Indoor Breaker

Based on External Design

Dead Tank Type )1

2) Live Tank Type

According to the voltage level of
installation types of circuit breaker are
referred as

Ultra High Voltage( Above 765 KV) )1

Extra High Voltage (300KV to 765 KV) )2
High Voltage Circuit Breaker(66KV to 220 KV) )3
4) Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker (1KV to 52 KV)
Low Voltage Circuit Breaker(Less than 1KV) )5
Based on Medium used for
ARC Quenching
Oil Circuit Breakers

Vacuum Circuit Breakers

Air Blast Circuit Breakers

SF6 Circuit Breakers

OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
It is designed for 11kv-765kv.
These are of two types
• BOCB (Bulk oil Circuit Breaker)
• MOCB (Minimum oil Circuit Breaker)

The contacts are immersed in

oil bath.
Oil provides cooling by
hydrogen created by arc.
It acts as a good dielectric
medium and quenches the arc.
Advantages:
Oil has good dielectric strength.
 Low cost.
Oil is easily available.
It has wide range of breaking capability.

Disadvantages:
Slower operation , takes about 20 cycles for arc
quenching.
It is highly inflammable , so high risk of fire.
High maintenance cost.
VACCUM CIRCUIT BREAKER
 It is designed for medium voltage
range (3.3-33kv).
 This consists of vacuum of pressure
(1*10-6) inside arc extinction chamber.
 The arc burns in metal vapor when the
contacts are disconnected.
 At high voltage, it’s rate of dielectric
strength recovery is very high.
 Due to vacuum arc extinction is very
fast.
 The contacts loose metals gradually
due to formation of metal vapors.
Advantages:
Free from arc and fire hazards.
Low cost for maintenance & simpler mechanism.
Low arcing time & high contact life.
Silent and less vibrational operation.
Due to vacuum contacts remain free from corrosion.
No byproducts formed.

Disadvantages:
High initial cost due to creation of vacuum.
Surface of contacts are depleted due to metal vapours.
High cost & size required for high voltage breakers.
AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKERS
This operates using high velocity blast of air which
quenches the arc.
It consists of blast valve , blast tube & contacts.
Blast valve contains air at high pressure.
Blast tube carries the air at high pressure & opens the
moving contact attached to spring.
There is no carbonization of surface as in VCB.
Air should be kept clean & dry to operate it properly.
Advantages:
High speed operation as compared to OCB.
Ability to withstand frequent switching.
Facility for high speed reclosure.
Less maintenance as compared to OCB.

Disadvantages:
Little moisture content prolongs arcing time.
Pressure should be checked frequently for frequent
operation.
Risk of fire hazards due to over voltages.
It can’t be used for high voltage operation due to
prolonged arc quenching.
 SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS
 It contains an arc interruption chamber containing SF6 gas.
 In closed position the contacts remain surrounded
by SF6 gas at a pressure of 2.8 kg/cm2 .
 During opening high pressure SF6 gas at 14 kg/cm2 from its
reservoir flows towards the chamber by valve mechanism.
 SF6 rapidly absorbs the free electrons in the arc path to form
immobile negative ions to build up high dielectric strength.
 It also cools the arc and extinguishes it.
 After operation the valve is closed by the action of a set of
springs.
 Absorbent materials are used to absorb the byproducts and
moisture.
Advantages:
 Very short arcing period due to superior arc quenching
property of SF6 .
 Can interrupt much larger currents as compared to other
breakers.
 No risk of fire.
 Low maintenance, light foundation.
 No over voltage problem.
 There are no carbon deposits.
Disadvantages:
 SF6 breakers are costly due to high cost of SF6.
 SF6 gas has to be reconditioned after every operation of the
breaker, additional equipment is required for this purpose.
CONCLUSION:
Therefore, we conclude that circuit breaker is
the most essential part of the electrical
networks as it protects every device from
damage. It helps us to detect the fault and area
affected by it. Nowadays vacuum and SF6
circuit breakers are widely used due to their
reliable and fast operations.