Prepared by: Lim K.C.

EOP/124 23-02-2010

What is a circuit-breaker?
It is a switching device for making and interrupting current. This function applies to any devices from the largest circuit-breaker down to the smallest relay.

General
The flow of electric current in a circuit is a form of kinetic energy, and it cannot be stopped instantaneously. The energy must be taken out of the system for all current to cease, and this takes a finite time, no matter how small it may be.

The breaking of AC circuit, and the behavior of arc

Another example

Back

Theory of the circuit-breaker arc

When the contacts of a switch separate while carrying current, that current cannot be stopped there , but will continue to flow between the opening contacts in the form of an arc

The arc is a column of white-hot gas which is ionized by its heat and provides a conducting path for the current
This path has appreciable resistance which increases as the contacts continue to separate and the arc lengthens Eventually the resistance becomes so high that the current falls to the point where it can no longer maintain the arc temperature, ionization ceases, the air ceases to conduct and the arc goes out, finally stopping the current.

V
I 90 90

Resistive load (I in-phase with V)

Capacitive load (I leading V by 90 )

V I 90

90

Inductive load (I lagging V by 90 )

Resistive and Inductive load (I lagging with V between 0 and 90)

When short circuit occurs with an inductive resistive circuit, the fault current is 100% asymmetrical if the fault occurs at the instant of voltage zero. The figure below shows where the asymmetrical is partial between 0% and 100%.

Back

DC interruption
Generator and cable resistance

DC generator

Circuit breaker contacts

Load

Load

V When breaker contacts separate, the current cannot stopped there and will continue to flow in the form of an arc.

After the contacts separate far enough, the arc does not restrike and finally extinguished
DC generator Circuit breaker contacts

Load

Load

AC interruption
Assume that the circuit is purely resistive

AC generator

Circuit breaker contacts

Load

Load

Type of faults:
to fault to to earth fault to earth fault 3 fault

Ohms law
I = V/R R=? R = 0.01 V = 254 volts I = 25,400A

Curve

Direct short circuit

Load

Protection relay will detect the fault. And activate the circuit breaker Contacts open, and the current will flow in the form of an arc

Load

V
-When contacts of circuit-breaker separate while carrying current at certain instantaneous values, the current flow between the opening contacts will be in form of arc I

Load

Continues

V
When instantaneous current goes to natural zero, the arc is extinguished momentarily. I v
When voltage high enough

But when the instantaneous voltage goes high enough to restrike the arc again.

This action will continue for few cycles until the circuitbreaker contacts separated far enough so that the voltage cannot break it down. The current finally interrupted

Load

V
I

Example: AC current breaking G The gap becomes too great for the voltage to break it down Load

After few cycles, the arc goes out

Cable also including inductance Cable has resistance

Load

V I

Assume that the breaker is open at certain instantaneous current as shown in the figure

90

Load Continue

Restriking voltage
The arc restriking after current zero is the voltage which immediately reappears across the gap

90 V

Load

V
I
V V

With inductive circuit, the arc restriking immediately after current at the natural zero, because the voltage is high when current at zero

Load

Main fix contact

The arc would take some Main moving contact time to extinguish.

Contacts will be pitted after operating many times especially high load current

Breaker full open

-To avoid the main contacts damage, the arcing contacts are built

Arcing contacts With arcing contacts, the arc also take some time to extinguish

The arcing contacts will open after the main contacts opening

During breaker closing, the arcing contacts will close first before the main contacts

Breaker fully open

Example

Close

Circuit-breaker arcing contacts closed first, then follow by main contacts. So that the main contacts more lasting and less carbon deposit on the contacts surfaces

Arc chute Metal pieces

With arc chute, the arc extinguished before the breaker fully open.

When the arc, driven upwards by the electromagnetic forces, enters the bottom of the chute, it is split into many sections by the barriers, but the metal pieces ensure electrical continuity between the arcs in each section; the several arcs are thus in series. The electromagnetic forces within each section of the chute cause the arc in that section to take up the form of a helix

Breaker fully open

Close

But when breaking with the small load current, the electromagnetic force due to current loop is not strong, so that the arc driven by the electromagnetic force is weak, Because of this, it would also take some time to extinguish

Air is compressed in a cylinder operated by the tripping mechanism and blows any reluctant arc upwards into the chute

Air Puffer

Closing coil (Discharged) Closing spring

(Discharged) Opening spring

Main breaker contacts

Tripping Coil

Charge

Charging motor

Closing coil (Charged) Closing spring

(Uncharged) Opening spring

Main breaker contacts

M M M M

Tripping Coil

Tripping coil

Close

Charging motor

Closing coil (Discharged) (Charged) Closing spring

(Uncharged) (Charged) Opening spring

Main breaker contacts

Tripping Coil Open

Tripping coil

Charging motor

Closing coil (Discharge) Closing spring

(Discharged) (Charged) Opening spring

Main breaker contacts

Tripping Coil

Repeat

Charging motor

The END