MV Distribution

Circuit-breakers
LF1 - LF2 - LF3
1 to 17.5 kV

■ Merlin Gerin ■ Square D ■ Telemecanique

Contents

Page
Presentation 2
RI stored energy operating mechanism 4
Technical features 6
Dimensions and weights 7

1
 Presentation

Application The advantages of tried and tested technology

The Merlin Gerin LF circuit-breakers are three-pole
Safety
indoor circuit-breakers using SF6 technology.
The breaking medium is sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) used at low pressure
Designed to operate and protect public and industrial
(0.15 MPa, i.e. 1.5 relative bar).
distribution networks from 1 to 17.5 kV, they comply
with the IEC 56 standard. The insulating enclosure containing the 3 poles is equipped with safety membranes.
With self-expansion, the breaking technique used in LF circuit-breakers, all current
types, capacitive and inductive, can be made or broken without generating
overvoltage which could damage your installation.
Moreover, the nominal features, nominal current breaking under nominal voltage,
are maintained at 0 relative bar of SF6.

Reliability
The motor charged spring stored energy operating mechanism is a key factor
of device reliability: Schneider draws on 25 years of experience on this type
of mechanism, 150,000 of which are already in operation.
Schneider’s mastery of design and checking of sealed systems guarantees
sustained device performance well at least 30 years.

Increased endurance
The mechanical and electrical endurance of LF circuit-breakers are superior
to those recommended by the IEC.
The LF circuit-breakers have successfully passed mechanical endurance tests for
well over 10,000 switching operations, as well as electrical endurance tests several
dozen times short-circuit current: these circuit breakers are able to break their
nominal current 10,000 times.
Bare fixed LF1.
Less maintenance
Throughout device service life, which in normal operating conditions may be at least
30 years, the only maintenance required is on the mechanical operating mechanism
once every 10 years or every 10,000 operations.
Although no maintenance is performed on poles, a diagnosis is possible:
c contact wear can be checked by external pole measurement,
c SF6 pressure can be continually monitored by a pressure switch.

Environmentally-friendly
The LF circuit-breakers are designed to ensure protection of the environment:
c the materials used, both insulating and conductive, are identified, and easy
to separate and recycle,
c the SF6 can be recovered at end of service life and re-used after treatment.

Quality
Each circuit-breaker undergoes systematic routine tests in order to check quality
and conformity:
c pole sealing check,
c checking proper mechanical operation of the device, plus its associated
locking mechanisms,
c checking simultaneous closing of contacts,
c checking power frequency insulation level,
c checking main circuit resistance,
c checking auxiliary circuit insulation,
c checking switching speeds,
c checking switching cycle,
c measuring switching times.
The results are recorded on the test certificate for each
device.
The entire circuit-breaker creation and manufacturing
process undergoes quality control in accordance
The withdrawable version of the LF circuit-breakers with the requirements of the French Quality Assurance
1
is designed to equip the MV functional units Association (AFAQ): ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certification. ISO 900
of the MCset range. The LF circuit-breakers have successfully passed
the type tests required by the IEC 56.
ISO
9002

2
 Description of the device
The basic fixed version consists of:
c 3 poles incorporated in an insulating enclosure of the “sealed pressure system”
type. The sealed assembly is filled with SF6 at low pressure (0.15 MPa, i.e. 1.5 bar).
c a RI type operating mechanism,
c a front panel housing the manual operating mechanism and the status indicators,
c upstream and downstream terminals for power circuit connection,
c a terminal block for connection of the external auxiliary circuits.
Optional:
c a supporting frame equipped with rollers and ground fixing brackets for simplified
handling and installation,
c circuit-breaker locking in open position by keylock installed on the front plate
of the operating mechanism,
c wiring of the pressure switch mounted on the cover of the insulating enclosure.

LF3 on supporting frame.

a
b

Principle of the self-expansion

breaking technique
This technique is the result of many years’ experience in SF6 technology
and of major research work.
It combines the effect of thermal expansion to the rotating arc technique in order
to create arc blowing and quenching conditions.
The result is reduced stored energy and arcing contact erosion, i.e. increased
mechanical and electrical endurance.
The operating sequence of a self-expansion breaking chamber whose moving part
Fig.1 Fig.2 is driven by the mechanical operating mechanism is as follows:

Fig.1: the circuit-breaker is closed.

Fig.2: on opening of the main contacts (a), the current is shunted

into the breaking circuit (b) ;

d Fig.3: on separation of the arcing contacts, an electric arc appears in the expansion
volume (c). This arc rotates under the effect of the magnetic field created by the coil
c (d) through which flows the current to be broken. The overpressure created by the
temperature build-up of the gas in the expansion volume (c) causes a gaseous flow
e blowing the arc inside the tubular arcing contact (e) and resulting in arc quenching
when the current passes through the zero point.

Fig.4: the circuit-breaker is open.

Fig.3 Fig.4

Electric arc in a self-expansion breaking chamber.

3
 RI stored energy
operating mechanism

Operation of the mechanical

operating mechanism
This mechanism guarantees the device an opening and closing speed unaffected
by the operator, for both electric and manual orders.
It carries out the O and CO cycles and is automatically recharged by a gear motor
within less than 15 s after closing.
It consists of:
c the stored energy operating mechanism which stores in springs the energy
required to open and close the device.
c a gear motor electrical charging device with optional manual charging by lever
(useful on loss of auxiliary supply).
c manual order devices by push buttons on the front panel of the device.
c an electrical remote closing device containing a release with an antipumping relay.
c an electrical opening device containing one or more releases, for example:
v shunt trip devices,
v undervoltage releases with time delay adjustable from 1 to 3 sec,
v mitop, a low consumption release, used only with the Sepam 100 LA
protection relay.
c an operation counter.
c a position indication device by mechanical indicator (black and white)
and a module of 14 auxiliary contacts whose availability varies according
to the diagram used.
c a device for indicating “charged” operating mechanism status by mechanical
indicator and electrical contact.

RI operating mechanism.

Standard diagram

Sm1
Sm2
Sm3
Sn

J Circuit breaker.
KN Anti-pumping relay.
M Spring charging motor.
M1-M2 End-of-charging contacts.
M3 “Operating mechanism charged” indication contact.
M
QF Circuit breaker auxiliary contacts.
SD Fault (Mitop) trip indication momentary contact. J QF
SE Trip indication maintained contact.
Sm1 Closing pushbutton (outside).
Sm2 Opening pushbutton for shunt release (outside). M1 M2
KN
Sm3 Opening pushbutton for undervoltage release (outside). Y02
Sn Closing disable contact (outside). SE Y01 M3 SD SP
SP Pressure-switch contact.
YF Closing release.
Mitop
YM
Y01-Y02 Shunt opening releases.
YF
YM Undervoltage opening release.
Mitop Mitop opening release (autonomous).

4
RI operating mechanism low voltage auxiliaries
Electrical spring charging closing release opening releases
M YF YO1, YO2 YM MITOP
supply voltages
AC (V) 48 - 110 - 220 48 - 110 - 220 48 - 110 - 220 Sepam 100 LA supply
50 HZ
AC (V) 120 - 240 120 - 240 120- 240 Sepam 100 LA supply
60 HZ
DC (V) 24-30-48-60-110-125-220 24-30-48-60-110-125-220 24-30-48-60-110-125-220 Sepam 100 LA supply
consumptions
AC 380 VA 160 VA 160 VA 100 VA
DC 380 W 50 W 50 W 10 W

Opening release combination choices

1st release single shunt double shunt undervoltage MITOP number of contacts
release (Y01) release (Y02) release (YM) available:
O: open
2nd release C: closed
without 5O - 4C - 1I 5O - 3C - 1I 5O - 5C - 1I 5O - 5C - 1I I: changeover
single shunt
release (Y01) 5O - 4C - 1I 5O - 4C - 1I
double shunt
release (Y02) 5O - 3C - 1I 5O - 3C - 1I
undervoltage
release (YM) 5O - 4C - 1I 5O - 3C - 1I 5O - 5C - 1I
MITOP 5O - 4C - 1I 5O - 3C - 1I 5O - 5C - 1I

Specific points
Conditions for use
This circuit-breaker operates in the following
atmospheric and climatic conditions:
c climatic condition(1): - 5 °C to + 40 °C.

Standard packaging
Basic fixed assembly: packaging on untreated
wooden pallet.
Fixed assembly with frame: packaging on 2 untreated
wooden pallets.

(1)
For other values, please consult us.

5
 Technical features

LF1, LF2 circuit-breakers

IEC 56 LF1 LF2
rated voltage kV, 50/60 Hz 7.2 12 7.2 12 17.5
insulation level kV rms 50 Hz - 1 mn 20 28 20 28 38
kV, impact 1.2/50 µs 60 75 60 75 95
rated current A 630 c c c c c c c
1250 c c c c c c c
(1)
2000 c c c
breaking capacity Isc kA, rms 25 31.5 25 31.5 50 40 31.5
making capacity kA, peak 63 79 63 79 125 100 79
permissible short time withstand current kA, rms, 3 s 25 31.5 25 31.5 50 40 31.5
capacitor breaking capacity A 440 440 440 440 440
rated switching sequence O-3 mn - CO-3 mn - CO c c c c c
O-0.3 s - CO-15 s - CO c c c c c
O-0.3 s - CO-3 mn - CO c c c c c
operating times ms opening 48 48 48 48 48
breaking 70 70 70 70 70
closing 65 65 65 65 65

LF3 circuit-breaker
IEC 56 LF3
rated voltage kV, 50/60 Hz 7.2 12 17.5
insulation level kV, rms 50 Hz - 1 mn 20 28 38
kV, impact 1.2/50 µs 60 75 95
rated current (Ia) A 1250 c
2500 c c c c c c c c c c
3150 c c c c c c c c c c
breaking capacity Isc kA, rms 25 31.5 40 50 25 31.5 40 50 25 31.5
making capacity kA, peak 63 79 100 125 63 79 100 125 63 79
permissible short time withstand current kA, rms, 3 s 25 31.5 40 50 25 31.5 40 50 25 31.5
capacitor breaking A 440 440 440
capacity
rated switching sequence O-3 mn - CO-3 mn - CO c c c
O-0.3 s - CO-15 s - CO c c c
O-0.3 s - CO-3 mn - CO c c c
operating times ms opening 48 48 48
breaking 70 70 70
closing 65 65 65
ANSI C37.04-C37.06-C37.09 LF3
rated maximum voltage kV, 60 Hz 4.76 8.25 15
rated voltage range K factor 1.24 1.25 1.3
rated insulation level kV, rms 60 Hz - 1 mn 19 36 36
kV, impact 1.2/50 µs 60 95 95
rated continuous current A 1200 c c c
2000 c c c
3000 c c c
rated short-circuit current kA, rms 29 33 28
(at rated max kV)
maximum symmetrical interrupting kA, rms 36 41 36
capability and rated short-circuit current
closing and latching capability kA, peak 97 111 97
(2.7 K times rated short-circuit current)
rated interrupting time 60 Hz cycles 5 5 5
(1)
Used only in fixed installations: consult us.

6
Basic fixed assembly 50 50
35
connection
25
50 270

LF1 - LF2 - LF3

on
off
330
on
590 off

LF1 LF2 LF3

A 493 554 728
weight (kg) 106 128 149.5 A 536 34

Fixed assembly
with supporting frame
LF1 - LF2 - LF3
on
off
330
on
off

995

LF1 LF2 LF3

B 542 602 776
555
C 160 180 240
D 145 165 225
E 145 165 225
weight (kg) 124 148 168 B 539 34

Connections
Direct connection on device: Connection on pads:
c LF1 c LF2: c LF3
c LF2 < 2000 A 2000 A
c LF2 < 95 kV impact 1250 A (at 95 kV impact)
52 128
630 A (at 95 kV impact) 8 holes ø12.2
3 x 40
11 11 32

20 15
3 x 30
40

C E
20 40

D E
15
66 40
60
7.5
3 x 2M10 x 26 (used)

63 22.5 4 x ø12

7
Schneider Electric SA Postal address As standards, specifications and designs change from time This document has been
F-38050 Grenoble cedex 9 to time, please ask for confirmation of the information given printed on ecological paper.
tel: +33 (0)4 76 57 60 60 in this publication.
telex: merge 320842 F

Publishing: Schneider Electric SA

Design, production: Idra
Printing:
AMTED397052EN/1
ART.78654 06 / 1998