DIFFERENT TYPE OF CB AND

ITS FUNCTIONS.
ERECTION, TESTING &
COMMISSIONING OF CB.
 CB STANDARDS

 For Circuit Breakers IEC 62271-100

 For New SF6 Gas IEC 60376
 SF6 Gas in Service IEC 60480
 CIRCUIT BREAKER
 A mechanical device capable of making,
carrying and breaking currents under
normal conditions as well as under
specified abnormal conditions.
Primary functions of Circuit Breaker
• Carry rated current at rated voltage and
power frequency when in closed position
with least resistance.
• Interrupt rated currents at rated voltage
and power frequency on command.
• Interrupt fault currents depending on the
fault level of that particular location
• Maintained rated dielectric (power &
impulse voltages) in open position.
 Current interruption principle
**Arc interruption theory:
a) High resistance method.
b) Low resistance method or current zero
interruption.

In AC current when the current is passing through

zero at that moment ionization is at minimum and if
the ions could be removed either by recombining
them in to neutral molecules or by sweeping them
away by inserting insulating medium at a rate faster
than rate of ionization, the arc will be quenched.
 Current interruption principle…..

a) On opening moving contacts move rapidly.

b) Electric arc is initiated by electrical ionization
and sustained by thermal ionization.
c) As contact moves arc gets stretched.
d) The gas in the chamber sweeps the arc which
is cooled.
e) Circuit opening achieved if rate of rise of
dielectric strength>rate of rise of re-striking
voltage.
TRV
Internal Details of Interrupter
Breaker Operation
Close operation…
Closing section..
Open operation
Opening section..
Puffer mechanism..
Current interruption
Resistance Circuit
Inductance Circuit
Reactor Switching
Line/ Filter Switching
 Types of Circuit Breaker
On the basis of operating
mechanism:
a) Pneumatic. (ABB Make 400kV CB)
b) Pneumatic-spring. (CGL make 400kV CB )
c) Hydraulic. (BHEL make 400kv CB)
d) Spring. (AREVA,ABB Make-400kV)
e) Hydraulic - spring. (commonly used in GIS S/s)
 Types of Circuit Breaker
On the basis of arc quenching medium:
a) Air at atmospheric pressure.
b) Compressed air (Air blast circuit breaker)
c) Oil which generates hydrogen for arc extinction
d) Ultra high vacuum.
e) Sf6
Sf6 is by far the most effective interrupting
medium in terms of :
1) Heat absorption.
2) Trapping free electrons.
3) Recombining rapidly to re-establish a high di-electric
strength.
Type of CBs
Dielectric Strength of different
mediums
 Oil Circuit Breaker
 Heat from arc decompose the mineral oil in to
gases mainly hydrogen.
 High pressure gas blows out through the arc.
 Cold oil flows on the arc which is extinguished.
 Used up to 220kV.
 Periodical replacement of oil is required to over
come the production of carbon particles.
 Air Blast Circuit Breaker
 Air is compressed at high pressure.
 Compressed air is released and directed
towards the arc.
 The arc is finally extinguished.
 Interruption must take place at first
current zero after the optimum gap has
reached otherwise restrikes may take
place at subsequent zeroes due to falling
pressures.
 Vacuum Circuit Breaker
 Vacuum is employed in interrupter.
 Seperation of contacts causes release of metal
vapour giving rise to electrons & positive metal ions
to form arc.
 Vapour density depends on current to be interrupted.
 Contacts seperation needed is of the order of few
millimeters – fast operation.
 Quick build up of di-electric strength due to
condensing, quick diffusion of metal vapour.
 Recovery strength: 1kV/microsec for 100A in
comparison to 50V/microsec in case of air gap.
 Contact Metal – Copper bismuth,silver bismuth,silver
lead, copper lead.
 SF6 Circuit Breaker.
 Mostly CB’s at 220kV & 400kV level are SF6 CB.

WHY SF6 CB……….?

 SF6 gas used at 7kg/sqcm pressure to quench the arc.

 SF6 gas posses much higher dielectric strength then that

of air at same pressure, subsequently electrical
clearances are reduced and pressure at which SF6
should be stored and used are relatively smaller.
 An electronegative gas i.e its molecules rapidly absorb
free electrons in the arc path forming slow moving
negative ions, which are ineffective as current carriers.
 Property of fast recombination after the source
energizing the spark is removed. (This property make SF6 CB
100 times more effective in comparison to ABCB to quench the arc.)
 SF6 Circuit Breaker cont…
 SF6 CB withstand severe rate of rise of recovery voltage.
 SF6 gas has excellent heat transfer property.
 Chemically stable at temperature at which oil begins to
decompose and oxidize.

Limitations:
 On reaction with moisture, easily hydrated to give fluorides
compounds which causes degradation of insulation and
corrosion in the interrupting chamber.
 Decomposition of SF6 gas due to reaction of erosion
products with SF6.
 Restriction of exposure of SF6 in environment.
Different components of Circuit Breaker
a) Main Interrupter:
b) Pre insertion resistor:

 At 400kV level PIR present in the line

length > 200km.
 PIR value = 400ohms.
 Suppress transient overvoltages &
traveling wave effects arising from the
energization of long line.
 Closes 8 to 12msec prior to main contact.
 No role in fault interruption.
 c) Grading Capacitor:

 Connected in parallel across each

interrupter.

 The capacitive current drawn by the

grounded capacitors is balanced by the
grading capacitor resulting in even
distribution of recovery voltage across the
interrupters.
d) Operating links & tie insulated rod.
 Transfer the motion from the operating mechanism
to the interrupter.
 Provides insulation w.r.t to earth.
 e) Operating mechanism assembly.
i) Spring Pneumatic operation :
 Air is used for opening operation and spring is used for
closing operation.
 Most common in 400kV CGL make CB.
ii) Hydraulic mechanism :
Required pressure is created along with nitrogen gas for both
closing & opening operation. Most common in 400kV BHEL
make CB
iii) Pneumatic mechanism :
Compressed air is used for opening & closing operation. Most
common in 400kV ABB make CB.
Operation of Pneumatic drive :
 f) Coils, Auxiliary switches, Pressure
switches/indicators, Control cubicle, compressor,
 Two Trip coils and one closing coil.
 Separate DC for each trip coil.
 Auxiliary switches changes their state (NO-NC or NC-NO) based on
movement transferred by operating mechanism in each phase.
 Three possible connection between auxiliary switches of each phase.
 Auxiliary switches extend closing & tripping command and give required
indications & signals to control and relay panel.
 Pressure switches to generates alarm/lockout signal on loss of SF6 in CB
and air/oil in operating mechanism.
 Three pressure indicators for SF6 in each phase and one pressure
indicator for oil/air.
 Control cubicle provides housing for Interpanel/relay & control panel
wiring, selector switch REMOTE/CONTROL, motor protection switches,
MCB’s, auxiliary contactor, counters, etc.
 Compressors to build up the required pressure of air/oil in operating
mechanism. CGL make CB have two air compressors and ABB & BHEL
make CB have one compressor.
 g) Anti-pumping relay & Pole discrepancy relay.
 Function of anti-pumping relay is to ensure that
continues closing command shall not be extend
to the closing coil. i.e anti-pumping prevents
the CO-C operation.
 It may possible that one or two pole do not get
open on execution of open command, in that
case PD relay comes in to circuit to ensure that
remaining poles must open after 2.5sec of
opening of first pole.
 Rating & duty cycle of Circuit Breaker
 Rating continuous rating .(400kV-2000A &
220kV-2500A)
 Rated short circuit current breaking
capacity.(40kAmp + DC component )
 Symmetrical interrupting capability.(40kA rms)
 Rated short making current =(2.5*Sym..
Breaking capacity.) - (100kAp)
 Short time rating. (40kA rms for 1 sec)
 Trip time max.(25msec-400kV & 35msec-
220kv)
 Total closing time.(<150msec )
 Rating & duty cycle of Circuit Breaker….
 Max difference in the instant of
closing/opening
a) With in a pole = 2.5msec

b) Between poles (opening) = 3.3msec

c) Between poles (closing)= 5 msec

 Pre insertion resistance =400ohms.

 Minimum pre insertion time = 8msec

 Opening of PIR = At least 5msec prior to

opening of main contact.
 Operating duty cycle:O-.3sec-CO-3min-CO

 CO-15sec-CO
 Storage of Circuit Breaker:
 Initial check ups on receipt of CB at site:
a) Check for any physical damage on
insulators.
b) No oil seepage should be from grading
capacitor.
c) Always place Breaker parts on elevated
leveled ground to ensure absence of water
logging.
d) Regularly monitor the positive pressure
inside the DAC and pole column.
 Erection of Circuit Breaker
1) Placed breaker supports on the prepared
foundation.
2) Mount the pole column on breaker support and
ensure that gas coupling is positioned in according
to general lay out drawing.
3) Mounting of DAC and coupled the same with tie
insulated rod.
4) Coupled the acctuator assembly with the tie rod of
support column.
5) Make all pipe connection between each phase
operating mechanism to compressor.
6) Make all possible interpole wiring as per drawing.
7) For CGL make CB, apply slow closing procedure
measure the parameters of stroke, over travel and
wipe of mechanism.
 Filling of SF6 gas :
 Measure the dew point of SF6 gas stored in external cylinder.
 Evacuate the Circuit breaker up to required vacuum
 Check there is no drop in vacuum.
 Fill the Nitrogen gas at positive pressure and ensure that
there is no drop in positive pressure.
 Release the Nitrogen gas and fill the SF6 gas in breaker for
required pressure.
 Measure the dew point of SF6 gas which should be more
than -35degC at atm pressure or more than -15degC at rated
pressure.
 Check any leakage for SF6 gas with the help of SF6 gas
detector or by wrapping polythene on suspected joints.
 Pre commissioning operational checks for CB
 Low SF6 Pressure alarm.
 Operational lock out for gas/Air.
 Compressor start/stop switch.
 CB auto-reclose lock out.
 CB closing lockout.
 Mechanical closing Interlock. (For ABB CB)
 Air/oil pressure drop in operation.
 Number of operation from local when breaker initially
close or open.
 Air/oil pressure drop in 24hrs.
 Check for pole discrepancy & Anti-hunting feature.
 Pre commissioning testing on CB
1)Dew point measurement:
-- Dew point of SF6 gas at rated pressure is the tempreature at
which gas stars condensing.
-- Dew point indicates the change in the value of di-electric
properties of gas which do get changed due to mixing of
impurities like moisture & decomposed products.
-- Dew point of SF6 gas should be more than -35degC at atm
pressure or more than -15degC at rated pressure.
2) IR Measurement and coil resistance measurement:
Measure the IR for the control circuit and breaker. In open & closed condition).
IR shall not be less than Mohm for control circuit & 1Gohm for Breaker.
Measure the coil resistance & series resistor.
 Pre Commissioning tests ….cont
3) Capacitance & Tan delta of CB grading capacitor:
--CB grading capacitors have oil filled capacitor elements. The
healthiness of the capacitor elements could be checked by
measurement of Cap & Tan delta.
-- Tan delta is defined as the ratio of resistive component of
current to that of capacitive current flowing in an insulating
material. The more the resistive component of the current, the
more will be the dissipation factor indicating the deterioration
of insulation.
**Test procedure: Earthing of kit – connect LV & HV at apposite
side of grading cap – Select UST mode in test kit – Test shall
be carried out at 2kV/10kV.
Pre Commissioning tests ….cont
4) Circuit Breaker operating timings.
Required for ….
• Close & opening time of main & PIR contacts.
• CO,OC & OCO operation timings.
• Auxiliary switches timing.
• Close & Open coil current.
Limits:
Closing time should be manufacturer specified and in no case shall
exceed 150msec.
Opening time should be manufacturer specified and in no case shall
exceed 25ms for 400kV & 35ms for 220kV.
PIR must get open prior to 5ms before opening of main contacts.
PIR must get close between 8-12ms before closing of main contact.
Pole to Pole discrepancy-3.33ms
Break to Break discrepancy – 2.5ms.
Adjustment in closing timing shall be carried out by adjusting
plunger movement of trip/close coil and adjustment in operating
mechanism.
 Pre Commissioning tests ….cont
5) Static contact resistance measurement.
**Measure the contact resistance under static
condition to indicate wear out and
misalignment of the main contacts.
Test Procedure:
Earthing of kit – Breaker in closed position -
connect leads sequentially across each
interrupter – Lead must be connect as close to
CB flange – surface of lead connection should
be cleaned – Inject 100A current through the
kit.
 Pre Commissioning tests ….cont
5) Dynamic contact resistance measurement:
i) DCRM is basically to monitor condition of CB mian & arcing
contacts without opening the interrupter.
ii) DCRM test gives information on erosion of arcing & main
contact, contact misalignment, contact wipe, main & arcing
contact resistance, healthiness of damping system, contact
travel & speed, mechanical integrity of various components.
iii) It plots the variation in contact resistance while first, the
arcing and then the main contacts engage and disengage
during CO operation.
iv) By injecting 100Amp(DC) current during CO operation (delay
-300msec & sampling freq-10kHrtz), voltage drop across
arcing & main contacts is measured to compute resistance
values in dynamic condition.
DCRM CONNECTION ARRANGEMENT
Remember…..
 Sampling frequency of kit is 10kHz (min)
 DCRM to be taken for CO operation.
 CO delay time to be atleast 300 ms hence requiring
plot length of about 450ms.
 CB flanges where Current and Voltage cables are to
be connected, should be thoroughly cleaned by
CTC
 Connection should be done only on Interrupter
flanges and not on PIR or grading Capacitor
flanges.
 Current leads to be connected outside whereas
Voltage leads to be connected inside.
 Main contact resistance <75micro ohm/break.
Typical DCRM Signature
DCRM of CGL Make CB
Suspected Pole
Thank you for your kind
attention please