CHAPTER - 3
EHV Circuit Breakers
1.0 Purpose
1.1 Circuit Breakers (CB) are the switching and current interrupting devices.
Basically a circuit breaker comprises a set of fixed and movable
contacts. The contacts can be separated by means of an operating
mechanism. The separation of current carrying contacts produces an
arc. The arc is extinguished by a suitable medium such as dielectric oil,
air vacuum and SF6 gas. The CBs are necessary at every switching
point in the substation.
1.2 A circuit interrupting device operates in an electrical environment which
imposes a unique set of criteria on the device. There are three major
operating conditions - Closed, Open and the transition from closed to
open. In the closed position the device must conduct the continuous
rated current without exceeding the temperature limits. While closed, the
complete insulation system is stressed by system voltage and transient
over voltage caused by lightening, switching and system changes. In
open position, insulation across the open contacts is stressed in addition
to the insulation to ground.
If fault occurs, the Circuit Breaker is expected to interrupt the fault
current within rated interrupting time to minimize any disturbances to the
system. At some point during the opening operation the current is
interrupted, resulting in an electrical separation of the system at the
Circuit Breaker location. Immediately after current zero, the contacts are
stressed by transient voltages produced by the system as it reacts to the
new operating state.
1.3 Additional requirements are inductive and capacitive current switching by
limiting over voltages within allowable limits.
These wide varieties of operating conditions impose conflicting
constraints on a circuit breaker.
The part of CB connected in one phase is called the pole. A circuit
breaker suitable for 3 phase system is called triple pole CB. Each pole
of CB comprises one or more interrupters or arc extinguishing chambers.
2.0 Basic Design
2.1 Circuit Breakers are classified in following categories based on arc
quenching medium.
1. AIR BREAK CIRCUIT BREAKER
2. BULK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
3. MINIMUM OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
4. AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
5. SULPHER HEXAFLOURIDE (SF6) CIRCUIT BREAKER
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6. VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER
2.1.1 AIR BREAK CIRCUIT BREAKER
In the air break circuit breakers, the contact separating and arc extinction
takes place in air at atmospheric pressure. As the contacts are opened,
arc is drawn between them. By cooling the arc, the diameter of arc core
is reduced; the arc is extinguished by lengthening the arc, cooling the
arc, splitting the arc. The arc resistance is increased to such an extent
that the system voltage can not maintain the arc and arc gets
extinguished.
2.1.2 BULK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER
Oil used as an arc extinguishing medium and dielectric material. The
contact separation takes place in steel tanks filled with oil. The gases
formed due to the heat of the arc expand and set the turbulent flow in the
oil.
Arc is extinguished by the virtue of following process.
1) Cooling of arc – The heat of the arc is carried away by the gas.
2) Turbulent flow of oil
3) Rapid building of dielectric strength.
4) High pressure gas has better dielectric strength.
To assist the arc extinction process arc control devices are fitted to the
contact assembly (these are semi-enclosed chamber of dielectric
materials).
In the bulk oil Circuit breaker as a large quantity of oil is required for
clearance between the earthed tank and the live parts within the tank.
For rated voltages above 72.5 kV bulk oil circuit breaker become bulky,
difficult to transport erect and maintain.
2.1.3 MINIMUM OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER (MOCB)
In MOCB current interruption takes place inside “interrupters”. The
enclosure of the interrupter is made of insulating material like porcelain.
Hence the clearance between the live parts and the enclosure can be
reduced and lesser quantity of oil required for internal insulation.
Two chambers separated from each other but both filled with oil, upper
chamber is arc extinction chamber, lower chamber acts like a dielectric
support.
2.1.4 AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER (ABCB)
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EHV Circuit Breakers
In ABCB high pressure, air 20 kg /cm² – 30 kg /cm² is forced on the arc
through a nozzle at the instant of contact separation. The ionized
medium between the contacts is blown away by the blast of the air. After
the arc extinction the chamber is filled with high pressure air which
prevents restrike.
Opening and closing are fast – because air takes a negligible time to
travel from reservoir to the moving contact. The arc is extinguished within
a cycle (Fast in breaking the current).Problem of current chopping and
re-ignition in case of small current breaking.
2.1.5 VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER
A metallic bellow is fixed to the moving contact so that housing can be
sealed and the movement of the movable contact can be permitted. The
chamber is evacuated to high vacuum of the order of 10¯5 mm of
mercury. The high vacuum has high dielectric strength and is good arc
extinguishing medium. After arc extinction dielectric strength of vacuum
is recovered at a very fast rate.
3.0 Selection Criteria And Constructional Details of Circuit Breakers
3.1 Selection Criteria
3.1.1 The selection of the type of circuit breakers is governed mainly by the
following important factors:
(i) Use of pre-insertion resistors (PIR) to control the switching surge
over-voltage
(ii) Requirement of inherent restrike-free operation under all conditions
(iii) Consistent characteristics ;
(iv) Simple and reliable mechanism ;
(v) Operating speed ;
(vi) Ease in maintenance ;
(vii) Reliability and life of plant in view of future developments.
3.1.1.1 Use of Pre – insertion Resistors:
The importance of pre-insertion resistor in reducing over-voltages is of
extreme significance and is well-known. It must, therefore, have the
greatest reliability so far as switching-in action is concerned. Failure of
this item will mean outage of breaker besides the possible damage which
might result due to over voltages. The sequence of operation, control of
insertion time and synchronizing the complete action are matters of great
precision.
3.1.1.2 Requirement of inherent Re-strike free operation under all conditions:
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EHV Circuit Breakers
The principal requirement of a circuit breaker for 400kV system is its
inherent ability to interrupt the charging current of the line.
The world practice is towards such design whose characteristics are well
defined. To this category comes the SF6 breaker whose performance
practically for all types of duties out class air blast. The natural choice is
SF6 breakers.
3.1.1.3 Simple and reliable mechanism:
The performance of circuit breaker depends quite a lot upon the
operating mechanism to close and open the contacts.
3.1.1.4 Operating Speed:
Not only from the considerations of transient stability but also because of
less system disturbances, less damage to the plant involved in a fault
and less wear and tear on the breaker contacts, shorter total break time
has been preferred. The high speed breakers have assumed special
importance both in the weak system having remotely situated power
station loosely connected and in the system stiffly connected with strong
sources. It is felt that reliability and high speed operation must go
together.
The other importance aspect is of pole span. The influence of non-
synchronous opening and closing of three poles when higher than five
millisecond is quite significant and is considered important from over-
voltages due to energization and re-energization. With increase in pole
span the over voltages are higher but after a certain limit there is no
noticeable increase. This occurs when all the unfavorable closing
moments are with in the pole span. With closing resistors it must,
however, be ensured that pre-insertion time is more than pole span of
the breakers.
3.1.1.5 Maintenance problem:
It has been the experience that most of the equipment induced major
failures has been caused by the mal functioning of very minor
components owning to defects which originated during equipment design
and modification stages. The second factor contributing to trouble has
been the installation problem. The lack of good workmanship and skill
causes many inherent failures.
3.2 Constructional details of Circuit Breaker
3.2.1 Interrupter
Interrupter houses the fixed, moving and arcing contacts and the linkage
mechanism for operating moving contacts.
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EHV Circuit Breakers
Fig. Interrupting chamber
Main Contacts conduct the current in closed position of the breaker. It
has low contact resistance and is silver plated. Arcing contact are hard,
heat resistant and are usually of copper alloy. While opening the
contacts, the main contacts dislodge first. The current is shifted to the
arcing contacts. The arcing contacts dislodge later and arc is drawn
between them. This arc is forced upwards by the electro-magnetic forces
and thermal action. The arc ends travel along the arc runner (arcing
horns). The arc moves upwards and is split by arc splitter plates. The
arc is extinguished by the lengthening, cooling, splitting. In some
breakers, the arc is drawn in the direction of the splitter by magnetic field.
There are different types of interrupters depending upon the type of
nozzle design and arc extinction method:
1. Mono blast
2. Double blast
3. Partial double blast
4. Self blast
5. Double motion type
Grading capacitor is connected across the individual contacts of
interrupters with multiple breaks to ensure equal distribution of voltage
across individual contacts.
Where ever required, the closing resistor or Pre insertion resistor (PIR)
chambers also are attached along with the Interrupting Chamber. PIR is
generally used on CBs meant for switching of long transmission lines or
capacitor banks to control the switching over voltages
3.2.2 SUPPORT COLUMN
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EHV Circuit Breakers
It is used for live tank type CB only. It houses the operating rod which is
an insulated rod connecting operating mechanism with Interrupter.
3.2.3 OPERATING MECAHNISM
Operating mechanism drive including trip coil, closing coil, auxiliary
switch etc.
TYPES OF OPERATING MECHANISM
a) Spring assisted motor mechanism
b) Pneumatic operating mechanism
c) Hydraulic mechanism
d) Combination of spring & pneumatic mechanisms.
a) Motor is used for charging the closing spring (manual charging in
addition to motor charging).
b) Preferred stations where compressed air supply is available i.e., where
air blast circuit breakers are installed.
Compressed air at high pressure is used for closing High pressure air is
stored in the receiver of the breaker. Air comes to reservoir from
compressed air system. While closing the air at high pressure (15 – 30
kg/cm²) is admitted in the Pneumatic cylinder.
c) Hydraulic mechanism motor driven hydraulic pump accumulators
- Hydraulic valves and piping.
- Oil tank
- Hydraulic cylinder piston
(Oil is maintained at high pressure in the accumulators 200 – 300
kg/cm²) Piston movement with high pressure by opening of hydraulic
valves.
3.2.4 CONTROL & MONITORING DEVICES
SF6 gas density monitor, pressure gauges, counter etc. control cubicle/
Marshalling box.
3.2.5 PUMPS & COMPRESSORS
Pumps, Compressors, drives etc., for the operating mechanism.
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3.2.6 SOME FEATURES OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS:
3.2.6.1 POLE DESCRIPANCY
This feature is introduced to detect cases in which one or more poles of
a 3 phase CB remains in open condition where as the other poles are
closed. This may arise due to mal-operation or sluggish operation of one
or more poles. It essentially is a timer connected to a series parallel
connection of Auxiliary switch.
3.2.6.2 ANTI PUMPING
Anti pumping feature blocks the closing of a CB more than once (multiple
closing) with a single pro-longed closing impulse (say, the operator
keeps on giving a closing impulse without releasing the closing handle).
3.2.6.3 AUTO RECLOSE
Circuit Breaker shall be capable of performing auto-reclose operation in
case of a transient fault.
3.2.6.4 LOCK OUTS AND ALARMS
- SF6 alarm and L/O
- Operating mechanism alarm / lock out
- Trip circuit supervision
CB OPERATION PHYLOSOPHY
1. CB shall be suitable for operation from Remote (control
Room/Remote control centre) as well as from local MB depending
on position of Local/Remote switch. The protection trip will be
normally directly extended (bypassing local selection)
2. Two trip coils and one close coils normally provided.
3. No interlocks from other equipments like Isolator and Earth switch
for local trip. But CB local close normally allowed only if
associated earth switches are closed.
4. For remote closing and required interlocks from other equipments
like Isolator and Earth switch are provided from CR panels.
5. Auto-reclose is done from CR panels only.
4.0 Properties of SF6 Gas
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4.1 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- Colourless, Odourless, non-toxic and non-flammable.
- BOILING POINT = - 60° at atm. (760 mm)
- Sonic conductivity of SF6 is low (Speed of sound) = 138.5 m/s i.e.,
41% of that in air
CHEMICAL PROPERTY
- SF6 is chemically inert upto 150° C and will not attack metals,
plastics and other substances commonly used in the construction of
H.V. Circuit breaker.
- However, at the high temperature caused by Power arcs it
decomposes into various components (SF4, SF2 etc. and Fluorine).
- Complete absence of carbon in the SF6 molecule major advantage
for an arc interrupting medium.
- All the chemically active impurities formed by the arc at various
temperature recombine in the extremely short time of 10-10 seconds
after extinction of the arc.
- Remaining traces of impurities can be to eliminate by means of
absorbing material (activated alumina).
- Alumina also absorbs moisture and contribute to the SF6 stability.
- Absence of air eliminates contact oxidation. Contact abrasion
extremely small compared to contact in air.
- Contact service life is greatly increased and replacement is rarely
necessary.
ELECTRIC PROPERTY
- Ability to recover dielectric strength quickly after arc extinction
(electro-negative gas).
- (Electrons of electronegative gases get attached to the molecules
and thereby the dielectric strength of the gas is regained).
5.0 TESTING OF CIRCUIT BREAKER
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EHV Circuit Breakers
Governing standards for testing CB in general are IEC-60694, and
62271-100.
A) TYPE TESTS
1. Insulation Tests :
(a) Power Frequency withstand
(b) Lightning Impulse withstand
(c) Switching Impulse Withstand
2. Short Time Current
3. Temperature Rise Test
4. Mechanical Endurance Test (Duty M1 & M2)
5. Electrical Endurance (for distribution class )
6. Short Circuit tests
7. Capacitive Current switching tests.(line charging/cable
charging)
8. Capacitive Current switching Duty C1 & C2
9. Reactor switching test.
10. Seismic withstand test
11. RIV/Corona extinction voltage tests.
12. Special tests –
- Critical current test
- Low and high temperature test
- Out of phase closing test
- Power Frequency withstand at zero gauge pressure & at
lockout pressure with CB in open condition
(POWERGRID specification requirement).
6.0 SALIENT FEATURES OF POWERGRID SPECIFICATION
• Applicable Standard – 62271 -100
• Only SF6 type
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EHV Circuit Breakers
• C1-M1 class.
• Solidly earthed system considered.
• First pole to clear factor (depends on System earthing) - 1.3(for
solidly earthed system).
• CB suitable for auto-reclosures and for out of phase closing.
• PIR for 400kV line breakers.
• Shunt Reactor switching for 400kV CBs.
• Guaranteed SF6 leakage 1% per year.
• Separate SF6 monitoring for each poles for 145kV and above.
• Operating duty – 0-0.3S – CO – 3 min. – CO.
• S.C. rating – 40KA (for 400kV & 220KV)
• 31.5 kA for 145KV
• Line charging interruption Capability – 600A for 420kV, 125A for
245kV (IEC), 50A for 145kV (IEC).
• Operating Mechanism – Pneumatic/Spring/Hydraulic.
• Aux. DC (220V) supply variation – 70 -110% for trip of 85 – 110%
for close.
• 2 Independent trip circuits, each having separate pressure
switches.
References:
1. R. D. Garzon, High voltage circuit breakers: design and applications,
Marcel Dekker, New York, 1997
2. IEC:60694, IEC:62271-100
3. Conference Proceedings, Power Grid internal document
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