VACCUM CIRCUIT BREAKERS(VCB)

In such breakers, vacuum degree of

vacuum being in the range from (10-7 to 10-5
torr) is used as the arc quenching medium.

Since vacuum offers the highest insulating

strength, it has far superior arc quenching
properties than any other medium.

When contacts of a breaker are opened in

vacuum, the interruption occurs at first
current zero with dielectric strength between
the contacts building up at a rate thousands
of times that obtained with other circuit
breakers i.e. the arc produced in vacuum, is
quickly extinguished due to the fast rate of
recovery of dielectric strength in vacuum.
PRINCIPLE:
When the breaker operates, the
moving contact separates from
the fixed contact and an arc is
struck between the contacts.
The arc is quickly extinguished
because the metallic vapors,
electrons and ions produced
during arc are diffused in a
short time and seized by the
surfaces of moving and fixed
members and shields.
Since vacuum has very fast rate
of recovery of dielectric
strength, the arc extinction in a
vacuum breaker occurs with a
short contact separation (say
0.0625 cm).
CONSTRUCTION:
It consists of fixed contact, moving
contact and arc shield mounted inside a
vacuum chamber.
The movable member is connected to
the control mechanism by stainless
steel bellows .This enables the
permanent sealing of the vacuum
chamber so as to eliminate the
possibility of leak.
A glass vessel or ceramic vessel is
used as the outer insulating body.
The arc shield prevents the
deterioration of the internal dielectric
strength by preventing metallic vapours
falling on the inside surface of the outer
insulating cover.
 WORKING:
When the breaker operates, the
moving contact separates from the
fixed contact and an arc is struck
between the contacts.
The arc is quickly extinguished
because the metallic vapors,
electrons and ions produced
during arc are diffused in a short
time and seized by the surfaces of
moving and fixed members and
shields.
Since vacuum has very fast rate of
recovery of dielectric strength, the
arc extinction in a vacuum
breaker occurs with a short
contact separation (say 0.0625 cm).
 Advantages Disadvantages

1. VCB are compact, reliable 1. Vacuum circuit breakers

and have longer life . are very expensive Production
2. They have low arc energy. in small quantities is
uneconomical.
3. Risk of fire is eliminated.
2. For above 36KV VCB `s
4. Maintenance is less. are not used.
5. There is no generation of 3. They require high
gas during and after operation. technology for production.
6. They can withstand 4. In case of loss of vacuum,
lightning surges. the entire breaker is useless .

Applications: For outdoor applications ranging from 22 kV to

66 kV. Suitable for majority of applications in rural area.
 Water Circuit Breaker:
In these types of CBs insulating cover divides
the chamber into two parts:
i. The lower partPressure chamber
ii. The upper part--Expansion chamber
The contacts are kept in water. When a fault
occurs, the moving contact is pulled up and
the water of the pressure chamber is
Changed into steam due to the heat of the
arc. The steam so produced reaches a
pressure of about 12 bar, lifts the cover &
Expands suddenly into the expansion
chamber. Consequently, there is a rapid fall
in pressure & temperature of steam in the
Pressure chamber, leading to interruption of
arc.
In case of fault not being severe & not sufficient to produce a steam of pressure
high enough to raise the cover, expansion & cooling take place as the moving
contact rod is withdrawn from the throat.
These circuit breakers are much smaller than oil circuit breakers when they are used
for interrupting small currents & operate within one or two cycles.
 CIRCUIT BREAKER RATINGS
The rating of a circuit breaker is given according to the
duties that are performed by it. The circuit breaker is
required to perform following major duties:
1.A circuit breaker must be capable of breaking the circuit
and isolating the faulty section in case of faults. This is
described as of C.B.

2.It must be capable of being closed under faulty condition.

This is described as of C.B.

3.It must be capable of carrying fault current for a short

period of time.
This is described as .
BREAKING CAPACITY

It is current that a circuit breaker is

capable of breaking at a given
recovery voltage under specified
conditions. The breaking capacity is
always stated at the r.m.s value of
fault current at the instant of
contact separation. When a fault
occurs there is considerable
asymmetry in the fault current due
to presence of dc component. The
dc component dies away rapidly.
The contacts are separated at DD
as shown.
At this point, fault current has
x = max value of a.c component
y = d.c component
Therefore Symmetrical breaking current = r.m.s value of a.c
component
= x / [2] 1/2
Asymmetrical breaking current = r.m.s value of a.c component
=[[x / [2]1/2 ]2 + y2 ]
Breaking capacity is expressed in MVA by taking into account the
rated breaking current and rated service voltage. Thus if I is the
rated breaking current in amperes and V is rated service line
voltage in volts, then for a three phase circuit breaking capacity
= 3 * V * I * 10 6 MVA
MAKING CAPACITY
The capacity of a breaker to make current depends upon its ability to withstand
and close successfully against the effects of electromagnetic forces. These forces
are proportional to the square of maximum instantaneous current on closing. So
making capacity is stated in terms of a peak value of current. The peak value of
current during the first cycle of current wave after the closure of circuit breaker
is known as making capacity. To find making capacity multiply symmetrical
breaking current by root 2 to convert from r.m.s to peak and then by 1.8 to
include the doubling effect of maximum asymmetry.
Making capacity = 2.55 * symmetrical breaking capacity.
SHORT TIME RATING
It is the period for which the circuit breaker is able to carry fault current while
remaining closed. The fault on the system of very temporary nature persist for 1
or 2 sec after which the fault will be cleared, so the breaker should not be
tripped in such situations. This means the circuit breakers should be able o carry
high current safely for some specified period while remaining closed. i.e they
should have short time rating. It depends on its ability to withstand
electromagnetic force effects and temperature rise.
 OPERATING MECHANISM

Spring mechanism
For circuit breakers up to 245 KV, spring operating mechanism is used. The
closing spring gets charged by geared motor. During closing stroke the
closing spring is discharged. It closes the breaker and also charges the
opening springs. The C.B mechanism is basically very simple since it
compresses a motor reducer and two springs.
Hydraulic mechanism

The hydraulic cylinder is mounted at the base of interrupter

unit and the hydraulic rod is pushed up during closing stroke and
pushed down during opening stroke.
The hydraulic oil at atmosphere pressure from the low pressure
tank is pumped into accumulators at high pressure oil is used for
opening and closing operations.
PNEUMATIC MECHANISM
The pressure of operating air produced by the self
enclosed motor compressor unit is supervised by a pressure
gauge and controlled by a pressure switch. This type of system
is providing for each pole of 420KV and 765KV.
In EHV OCB, compressed air is used for closing and a
spring is used for opening. The spring is charged during the
closing stroke. In ABCB, compressed air is used for both
closing and opening. In some cases of ABCB, the moving
contact is held in closed position by a spring. When compressed
air enters the arc chamber and its pressure exceeds the spring
force, the contacts are opened. The contacts automatically come
in closed position by the spring action when the supply of
compressed air is stopped. Therefore, the supply of compressed
air must be maintained till the auxiliary CB switch is opened.
References:

1. Power System Protection & Switchgear, Badri Ram, D N Vishvakarma,

Tata MicGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd, 2006,ISBN 0-07-462350-8.
2. Switchgear & Protection, Sunail S. Rao, Khana Publishers, 1997.
3. Power System Protection & Switchgear, B Ravindarnath & M Chandar,
New Age Int. Publishers, 2008, ISBN-81-085226-758-4.
4. Principles of Power System, V K Mehata & Rohit Mehta, S. Chand &
Company Ltd, 2006, ISBN-81-219-0594-X.
5. A Text Book of Power System Engineering, R K Rajput, Laxmi Publication,
2006.
6. Switchgear & Power System Protection, Ravidra P. Singh, PHI Learning
Private Ltd, 2009, ISBN-978-81-203-3660-5.