AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER

EE135: POWER SYSTEM PROTECTION

WHAT IS AN AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER?
An electrical device
used to provide
overcurrent and
short-circuit
protection for
electrical circuits over
800 A to 10 kA.
These are usually
used in low voltage
applications below
450 V.
TWO TYPES OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
PLAIN AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
Type of air circuit breaker used for the system voltage of
245 kV, 420 kV, and even more, especially where faster
breaker operation was required.
TYPES OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Axial Blast Type
Air blast is directed along the arc path
Cross Blast Type
Air blast is directed at right angles to the arc path
Radial Blast Type
Air blast is directed radially
AXIAL BLAST AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
CROSS BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
Construction
THREE TYPES OF CONTACTS
MAIN CONTACTS OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
ARCING CONTACTS OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
ARCING HORNS AND CHUTES
MAIN CONTACTS OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
MADE UP FROM GOOD CONDUCTING MATERIAL
USUALLY SILVER OR COPPER
OFFERS LOW RESISTANCE TO THE LOAD CURRENT
THROUGH THE CIRCUIT
AVOIDS OVERHEATING OF THE CONTACTS WHILE IN
SERVICE
ARCING CONTACTS OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
MADE UP OF HARDER MATERIAL WITH HIGH RESISTANCE
USUALLY TUNGSTEN
SHOULD WITHSTAND VERY HIGH ARCING CURRENT
WHEN THE MAIN CONTACTS OPEN, THE ARCING
CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE ARCING CURRENT WITH
HIGH RESISTANCE PATH
ARCING HORNS AND CHUTES
ARCING HORNS ARE MADE UP OF TUNGSTEN OR COPPER
TO CARRY THE ARCING CURRENT
ARC CHUTES ARE MADE UP OF FIRE PROOF INSULATING
MATERIAL
CROSS BLAST AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER
A blast of air is directed at
right angles to the arc
A moving contact arm is
operated in close space to
draw an arc which is forced by
a transitive blast of air in order
to remove the current
When contact is withdrawn,
High pressure cross blast
forces the arc to be
extinguish.
MAJOR PARTS
Moving Contact
Fixed contact
Arc
Arc Splitters
BREAKER
NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCE
WHEN FAULT IS DETECTED
ARC IS PRESENT
THE ARC WILL BE REMOVED USING THE AIR
BLAST
Principle of Operation
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER

This type of circuit breaker is used for system voltage of

245 KV, 420 KV and even more.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
AXIAL BLAST AIR CIRCUIT
BREAKER
UNDER NORMAL CONDITION:
The fixed and moving contacts
are held in closed position with
the help of spring pressure.
There is an
air reservoir connected to the
arcing chamber through an air
valve.
The air valve control the flow of
air into the arcing chamber.
The valve is closed under
normal conditions.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
AXIAL BLAST AIR CIRCUIT
BREAKER
UNDER FAULTY CONDITION:
When a fault occurs a
tripping impulse is
produced which causes
opening of the air valve.
Since the air valve connects
the air reservoir and the
arcing chamber, a high
pressure air enters to
the arcing chamber.
This air pushes away the
moving contact against the
spring pressure.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
AXIAL BLAST AIR CIRCUIT
BREAKER
UNDER FAULTY CONDITION:
The moving contact is
separated and an arc is
struck.
At the same time high
pressure air blast flows
along the arc and takes
away the ionised gases
along with it.
Consequently the arc is
extinguished and current
flow is interrupted.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
CROSS BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
In this type of breaker, an
air-blast is directed at right
angles to the arc.
The cross blast lengthens
and forces the arc into a
suitable chute for arc
extinction.
When the moving contact
is withdrawn, an arc is
struck between the fixed
and moving contacts.
The high pressure cross-
blast forces the arc into a
chute consisting of arc
splitters and baffles.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
CROSS BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
The splitters serve to
increase the length of the
arc and baffles give
improved cooling.
The result is that arc is
extinguished and flow of
current is interrupted.
Since blast pressure is
same for all currents, the
inefficiency at low currents
is eliminated.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF AIR BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
CROSS BLAST CIRCUIT
BREAKER
The splitters serve to
increase the length of the
arc and baffles give
improved cooling.
The final gap for
interruption is great
enough to give normal
insulation clearance so that
a series isolating switch is
not necessary.
ARC QUENCHING IN AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
Used compressed air or gas as the arc interrupting
medium.
To extinguish arc, compressed air is stored in a tank and
released through a nozzle to produce a high-velocity jet.
The air blast needs an additional compressed air system
which supplies air to the air receiver of the breaker. For
opening operation, compressed air is admitted to the arc
extinction chamber.
ARC QUENCHING IN AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
It pushed away the moving contacts. In doing so, the
contacts are separated, and the air blast takes away the
ionized gas along with it and assist arc extinction.
ARC QUENCHING IN AIR BLAST CIRCUIT BREAKER
Air blast extinguishes the arc within on or more cycles,
and the arc chamber is filled with high-pressure air
(30kgf/cm^2), which prevents restrikes.
The high pressure air has higher dielectric strength than
that of atmospheric pressure, hence small contact gap,
about a few centimeter, is enough.
Advantages &
Disadvantages
ADVANTAGES
Air blast circuit breaker is a suitable option to use where
frequent operation is required because of lesser arc
energy
The risk of fire is eliminated in the operation of Air blast
circuit breaker.
Air blast circuit breaker is small in size, because of the
growth of dielectric strength is so rapid (which final
contact gap needed for arc extinction is very small).
ADVANTAGES
Speed of circuit breaker is much higher during operation
of the air blast.
Arc quenching is much faster
The duration of the arc is same for all values of current.
Stability of operation can be maintained and depends on
speed operation of circuit breakers.
It requires less maintenance.
DISADVANTAGES
The air supplier plant requires additional maintenance.
It contains high capacity air compressor.
There is a chance of air pressure leakage from the air
pipes junction.
DISADVANTAGES
There is chance of a high rate rise of re-striking voltage
and current chopping.
The air has relatively lower arc extinguishing properties.
Applications
APPLICATIONS OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Air Circuit Breakers are used for controlling the power
station auxiliaries and industrial plants. They offer
protection to industrial plants, electrical machines like the
transformers, capacitors, and generators.
They are mainly used for protection of plants, where there
are possibilities of fire or explosion hazards.
APPLICATIONS OF AIR CIRCUIT BREAKERS
The air brake principle of the air breaker circuit arc is used
in DC circuits and AC circuits up to 12KV.
The air circuit breakers have high resistance power that
helps in increasing the resistance of the arc by splitting,
cooling and lengthening.
Air circuit breaker is also used in the Electricity sharing
system and NGD about 15kV.
REFERENCES
https://www.eduinblog.com/advant
age-and-disadvantage-of-variable-
circuit-breaker-acb-ocb-mocb-
abcbvcb/
http://www.electricaltechnology.org
/2014/11/air-circuit-breaker-
operation-types-uses.html
https://www.elprocus.com/air-
circuit-breaker-acb-working-
principle-application/
http://circuitglobe.com/air-blast-
circuit-breaker.html
http://www.yourelectrichome.com/2
011/03/principle-of-arc-quenching-in-
air-blast.html
http://www.studyelectrical.com/201
4/05/air-blast-circuit-breakers.html
https://www.electrical4u.com/air-
circuit-breaker-air-blast-circuit-
breaker/
END
Bancud, J., Bautista, Z., Cruz, N., Medillo, F., Simbulan, M.