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Types of Circuit Breaker and its Application in Substation Protection

October 2017
Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 8(1):213-220

DOI:10.11591/ijeecs.v8.i1.pp213-220

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Authors:

Hui Hwang Goh

Taylor's University

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Power system consists of the generation, transmission, distribution, and substation. All the power system component requires suitable protection devices as the protection system to protect the system during fault occur. In this paper, the circuit breaker has been selected as one of the protection devices in several applications. The types of circuit breaker that has been reviewed in this paper are oil circuit breaker (OCB), air circuit breaker (ACB), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breaker, vacuum circuit breaker, and DC breaker which are hybrid DC breaker and solid-state DC breaker. Normally, the systems or the circuits disrupted or damaged by the fault. To implement the protection system in the system or circuit, the type of faults and cause of faults should be known to overcome the fault. To provide the suitable voltage for the consumer, the substation is needed to control the voltage transmitted at high voltage from the generating station. Protection system is also required in a substation. © 2017 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved.

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Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Vol. 8, No. 1, October 2017, pp. 213 ~ 220

DOI: 10.11591/ijeecs.v8.i1.pp213-220  213

Received June 21, 2017; Revised August 17, 2017; Accepted September 3, 2017

Types of Circuit Breaker and its Application in

Substation Protection

Hui Hwang Goh*1, Sy yi Sim2, Nur Iskandar bin Hamzah3, Sulaiman bin Mazlan4,

Chin Wan Ling5, Qing Shi Chua6, Kai Chen Goh7

1,3,4,5,6Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

2Department of Electrical Engineering Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology,

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

7Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti

Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author, e-mail: hhgoh@uthm.edu.my

Abstract

Power system consists of the generation, transmission, distribution, and substation. All the power

system component requires suitable protection devices as the protection system to protect the system

during fault occur. In this paper, the circuit breaker has been selected as one of the protection devices in

several applications. The types of circuit breaker that has been reviewed in this paper are oil circuit

breaker (OCB), air circuit breaker (ACB), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breaker, vacuum circuit

breaker, and DC breaker which are hybrid DC breaker and solid-state DC breaker. Normally, the systems

or the circuits disrupted or damaged by the fault. To implement the protection system in the system or

circuit, the type of faults and cause of faults should be known to overcome the fault. To provide the suitable

voltage for the consumer, the substation is needed to control the voltage transmitted at high voltage from

the generating station. Protection system is also required in a substation.

Keywords: Circuit breaker; oil circuit breaker; air circuit breaker; sulphur hexafluoride circuit breaker;

vacuum circuit breaker; hybrid DC breaker; solid-state DC breaker

1. Introduction

Generating and supplying the power electric to the user is the aim of the electrical

power system. To construct and manage to send the energy to the utilization point, it must be

had reliability and economy. The reliability and the security of supply would be questioned if the

bad disturbance happened in a modern society in a long run if the bad disturbance always

happened. Since the power system the involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and

residential, so it needs protection to avoid damage to electrical appliances and lose one's life.

In electrical engineering, the power system is one of the exclusive fields which deal with

shortest and the fastest time to trip and isolate the faulty area in the power system so that the

fault does not affect the system directly. As a result, the system remains their stability and

reliability. The essential elements of protection is a sensor to identify the fault condition and a

device to initiate tripping signal to the Circuit breaker [1]. The protection system must fulfill the

requirements of rapidly and automatically disconnect the faulty section of the power network,

and minimize disconnection or interruption of power supply to the consumer. Ability to trip if the

fault occurred in power system should be had in power system protection which is circuit

breaker. The ability of tripping for circuit breakers are reliability, selectivity, sensitivity, speed

and stability.

2. Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker also known as the automatically operated electrical switch that

functions when a fault detected by interrupting the current flow. There are various sizes of circuit

breaker which are from small devices up to large switchgear that used to protect low current

circuit until high voltage circuit. Four types of circuit breaker will discuss in this paper which as

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214

mention in the introduction; oil, air, SF6, and vacuum circuit breaker [2]. The basic operation of

the circuit breaker as shown in Figure 1.

1. A circuit breaker has two contacts which are a fixed contact and a moving contact.

2. In the normal conditions, these two contacts stay in the closed position which is these two

contact is touched each other.

3. When a circuit breaker is required to isolate the faulty parts in the system, the moving

contact moves to disturb the normal condition circuit.

4. During the two contacts separate, the current flow will be interrupted. As a result, an arcing

formation formed between the contacts.

5. The closed chamber is to place the contacts and in that closed chamber is contained the

insulating medium which is gas or liquid. This insulating medium is to quench the arc.

Figure 1. Basic circuit breaker operation

2.1. Oil Circuit Breaker

This type of circuit breaker is one of the oldest types of circuit breaker among the other.

The construction and architecture of the oil circuit were very simple and it consists of the

combination of water and oil that filled the two wooden barrels. The two vertical blades that

consist in the contacts are connected at the top and arranged. To close the circuit, the vertical

blades contact would drop into the stationary contact. From the simple beginning construction,

the oil circuit breaker was improved and refined without change the basic characteristic

simplicity of construction and the main capability for large current interruption [3]. The oil circuit

breaker widely used in power system. The oil circuit breaker has two types which are bulk oil

circuit breaker and low oil circuit breaker. Bulk oil circuit breaker consumes a large amount of oil

in its tank. On the other hand, low oil circuit breaker only uses less oil compared to the bulk oil

circuit breaker [4]. The concept operation of the oil circuit breaker is simple compared to the

other circuit breaker. Figure 2 shows the basic concept of the oil circuit breaker. The oil circuit

breaker also very cheap and very reliable in operation. This oil circuit breaker does not require

any special devices that are applied for controlling the arc that caused by moving contact. An

arc is formed between the separated contacts when the current carried by the contacts in the oil

are separated. The concept is, during the normal operating conditions, the current was flowing

when the contact of the oil circuit breaker closed. Besides, when the fault occurs in the system,

an arc is struck between the contacts because the contacts of the breaker are moving apart

from each other. A large amount of heat liberated in the circuit breaker caused by the arc

formed during the fault occurs. This arc also causes the very high temperature that vaporized.

Arcing will be extinguished when the distance between two contacts achieve its maximum

distance. The elimination of arcing is depended on the voltage recovery and the current of the

arc itself [5].

Figure 2. Basic concept of the oil circuit breaker

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2.2. Air Circuit Breaker

Air Circuit Breaker also known as ACB is the type of circuit breaker that works at the

high atmospheric pressure of the air. ACB is developed after the oil circuit breaker and replaced

the oil circuit breaker completely for medium voltage level. In France and Italy, ACB can be

chosen and more preferred until the rating of ACB up to 15kV. To avoid the risk of fire by oil, the

ACB is a good choice. In America, the ACB is used widely up until the rating ACB 15kV, then

the development of vacuum and SF6 circuit breaker take place [6].

The Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) working principles is different from the other type of circuit

breakers. The main objective of the circuit breaker is to create a situation where the contact gap

will withstand the system recovery voltage to prevent the reestablishment of arcing after the

current is zero. This ACB also does the same aim but in a different method. ACB creates an arc

voltage more than the supply voltage to interrupting arc. The minimum voltage required to

maintaining the arc is known as the arc voltage. This ACB using three different ways to increase

the arc voltage. The first ways are by cooling the arc plasma. When the plasma temperature

decrease, the mobility particle of plasma also decrease and required more voltage gradient to

maintain the arc. Second is to increase the length of the arc path, increasing of path resistance

and the arc voltage is no avoidable. Third, to increase the arc voltage, the arc is splitting up into

the number of series arcs.

2.2.1. Cross-blast Circuit Breaker

In this breaker, the blast flows directly at the accurate angle to the arc. The concept of

this cross blast is consist of the fixed contact and moving contact. When the moving contact

starts to move opposite to the fixed contact, the operating will produce arching between the

contacts. The blast will flow between the contact and eliminate or quenching the arc that

produces.

2.2.2. Axial Blast Circuit Breaker

The axial blast circuit breaker also has the combination of operation of the fixed contact

and moving contact. The movement of the moving contact is supported by the spring closing

which functioned to attract back the moving contact to its original position. This structure of the

axial blast circuit breaker consists of an arching chamber, air valve, air reservoir tank, and

series insulator. Figure 3 shows the conceptual diagram of the axial blast circuit breaker.

Figure 3. Conceptual diagram of the axial blast circuit breaker

During normal operating condition, the two contacts which are fixed and moving contact

are in closed position. In this condition, the arching chamber is connected with the air reservoir

tank through air valve because the air valve is closed during the normal operating condition.

During the fault condition, the tripping pulse is produced and cause the air valve to open. When

the air valve is opened, the air is pushing away the moving contact opposite the spring

pressure. The moving contact extracted the distance from the fixed contact and struck an arc.

While this operation occurs, the ionized gases had been taking away by the high pressure of air

blast. As a result, the arc was extinguished [7-10].

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2.2.3. SF6 Circuit Breaker

This type of circuit breaker using gas that known as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). This

type of circuit is high voltage circuit breaker due to the excellent to quench the arc and isolation

properties. So that, it is widely used as a protection in high voltage [11]. This gas was selected

because of the characteristics of this gas that has high electro-negativity. The type of SF6 circuit

breaker that is widely used in power industry is the puffer types of SF6 circuit breaker. Figure 4

shows the puffer type of SF6 circuit breaker working principle.

Figure 4. Puffer type of SF6 circuit breaker working principle

From the Figure 4 above, this SF6 circuit breaker consists of two types of contact which

are fixed contact and moving contact. In this configuration, the position of the cylinder is unfixed

or movable but the piston in the fixed position. The cylinder is combined with the moving contact

as it can moving with that contact. When the moving contact starts to moves, the SF6 gas starts

compressed due to the fixed position of the piston. Arc will be produced. The electronegativity of

the SF6 is high and as a result, it can absorb the free electron. Absorption happened when the

molecule of SF6 collides with the free electron and form the negative ion [12-15].

2.2.4. Vacuum Circuit Breaker

This vacuum circuit breaker is also known as the VCB is one of the circuit breakers that

categories in the medium voltage level. The operation of this circuit breaker has a different

principle from other circuit breakers. The arc quenching takes place in a vacuum. The opening

and closing the contact and related arc interference take place in a vacuum chamber known as

a vacuum interrupter [16]. The main goal of all CB is to quench the arc produced when the

contacts separated. In VCB, the dielectric strength of vacuum is much higher than the SF6.

Since the dielectric strength is high then the arc can be quenched within the small gap. When

the two contacts are separated, it is not separate instantly. It happened in a microsecond and so

the surface of the contacts become the hot spot. In high temperature, the metal vaporized and

create the conducting path for the arc. Since the ionization does not occur in a vacuum, then the

arc will be eliminated. After the current becomes to zero, this VCB will generate high dielectric

strength to avoid the reestablishment of arc [17]. The previous research of this circuit breaker

was conducted by using software and build the breakers modelling to observe all parameters

that involve in this VCB. Below is some of the result of the observation of the behaviour of the

VCB. Form Figure 5, the first output waveform of the transient voltage has measured. This

measurement of the simulation VCB is being used to determine the parameters of the breaker in

terms of dielectric withstand. The second waveform in Figure 5 shows the simulation result for

the voltage obtained at the developed breaker within the transformer system. The comparison

has been made in term of phase, it is because the current chopping is analysed within the

phase. Unfortunately, the voltage restrike observation for the other phase is not matched for the

comparison since virtual current chopping interrupts the initial current. That current chopping is

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217

affected by the capacitive coupling. In the simulation, this capacitive coupling between the

phases higher compared to the other simulation result. These phenomena occur due to the

standard transformer model was added with stray capacitances in the transformer simplification

model [18].

Figure 5. Transient voltage during opening

Other research, they approached to minimize overvoltage and inrush currents at VCB

switching, the technology of controlled switching is of great importance. The main idea of

controlled switching is closing or opening an electrical network at optimal instants. Besides that,

they also develop the simulation model of a circuit breaker where the principles of controlled

switching can be realized and the main parameters of real vacuum circuit breakers can be

considered [19].

3. Circuit Breaker for DC Grid

Positive technology improvement of power electronic devices is also the main factor in

the transition to a new electrical power source within the application of the DC grid. To maintain

the safe grid operation, DC breaking concept are required within the operation system. There

are several types of the DC breaker concept that available and usually used in DC grid [20]. The

DC breaker that discussed in this subtopic is Hybrid and Solid-state DC breaker.

3.1. Hybrid DC breaker

The hybrid DC breaker system consists of the combination main breaker with the

bypass system. The bypass for this hybrid DC breaker consists of the series connection of ultra-

fast disconnector and load commutation switch. In this DC breaker, the important semiconductor

part is separated into a few sections for full voltage and current breaking capability that consist

of individual arrester bank. Besides, the disconnecting CB will interrupt residual current at the

same time will also be islanded the fault condition within the DC grid after the fault clearance

[21]. This function is to cover the arrester banks within main semiconductor breaker to overheat.

During it a routine condition of the hybrid DC breaker, the current only flow passing the

bypass that consists of the series connection of load commutation switch and fast disconnector.

When the DC fault occurs, the fast disconnector immediately opens and the load commutation

switch also will fast- functioned to direct the current flows towards the main breaker. The main

DC breaker will play it important function to block the current from flowing when the mechanical

switch in the fast disconnector opens [21-24].

3.2. Solid State DC Breaker

This solid state CB usually used in dc application system of high voltage supply. The

advantages of this DC breaker are it has a fast response of switching speed, efficient current

interruption, and it capable of withstanding in high voltage condition [25]. The other advantages

compared to the other circuit breaker is it has lack of mechanical component. Due to this less

mechanical component, this solid-state topology becomes more responsive and effective which

performs to a less turn off time. Besides, the maximum voltage across the inductor can form the

maximum overvoltage that can permit the demagnetization process to be efficiently response.

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The basic configuration of this solid-state circuit breaker consist of thyristor instead of integrated

gate commuted thyristor for semiconductor devices [26].

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) has been widely used in industry. Due to the fast

development and innovation of the technology, the UPS capacity increases dramatically. The

previous power electronic researcher had to do some innovation to enhance consistent

reliability and capability of UPS system. This Super UPS had been introduced to overcome the

problem. This super UPS has two independent energy source that activates the system.

Furthermore, power electronic converter was also used to increase the reliability of the UPS

system [26]. Due to the short circuit current growth in the super UPS, the fast response DC

breaker like the solid-state DC breaker is required [27].

4. Protection System Evaluation Process

In Malaysia, 11kV are supplied for the consumer installation. TENAGA NASIONAL

BERHAD (TNB) is the main electricity supplier in Malaysia. To propose the new protection

system for the consumer or utilities should the line up with some procedures that has been fixed

by the TNB. The protective device and the protection system plays its quality as main

consideration to fully functioned in the protection system in term of it reliability. The supplier

should provide the appropriate and match protection scheme. The processes of evaluation are

shown in Figure 6.

The proposal of protection scheme for the installation

schematic for the incoming points should be submitted.

Re view to the consum er about the scheme of the

installation protecti on and supply schem e design.

The requirem ent of changes to match the schemes of

planned supply must be info rmed to the consumer.

The specification of the device and the resu lts of the

test should be submitted.

The internal installation Protection Coordination

Studies and the proposal of setting should be

submitted.

All the integration of the Protection Coordination

Studies and the confirmation of the setting are done by

the TNB.

Befo re the commissi oning, the witnesses are need ed

for the testing and v erification at site.

Figure 6. Flowchart of protection system evaluation process

4. Conclusion

Several types of circuit breaker had been reviewed as the selected protection device.

Form the reviewed that has been done through this paper, the observation result of the circuit

breaker application, there are several conclusion that can be made. First, each circuit breaker

has its categories within the low, medium, and high voltage that are widely used in power

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Types of Circuit Breaker and its Application in Substation Protection (Hui Hwang Goh)

219

system protection. Second, each type of transmission fault have their effective circuit breaker to

eliminate the fault with its configuration depends on the fault characteristic. Third, the fault does

not have it fixed parameter and fixed causes. The natural phenomenon is not the only fault

factor, but it has several another factor that can causes fault such as human mistakes,

instrument error, and installation and setting error. Last, substation is needed to control the

voltage transmitted at high voltage from the generating station. Protection system is also

required in a substation.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (MOHE),

and the Office for Research, Innovation, Commercialization, Consultancy Management

(ORICC), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) for financially supporting this research

under the FRGS grant No. 1529 and IGSP U667.

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Power system especially the distribution system which is the closest to the consumer is very fundamental and important to a nation’s economy development and that was the reason this study titled “Evaluation of reliability of power system distribution components, a case study of Sagamu Substation, Ogun State” was carried out in response to the yawning of the consumer for reliable and stable power supply. It is indispensable to find means of shaping which component failure contributes most to the unavailability, outage or interruption of the distribution system, and how this unavailability essentially affects the customers. A year power outages data that caused as a result of failure on each of these components such as Switch gears, Supply lines (11Kv),Busbar, circuit breakers, Fuses, Switches, Outgoings feeders, Over current relays, Earth fault relays, Surge arresters, transformers e.t.c. were collected from Ibadan Electricity Distribution company (IBDEC), Sagamu Substation Zone, Ogun State and were typified in Table 1-11.The failure rate (f/yr) (λ) of transformer, switch gear, supply line (incoming),bus bars, circuit breakers, fuses, switches, outgoing feeder, over current relay, earth fault relay and surge arrester were evaluated as follows 0.0059, 0.0044, 0.0011, 0.6667, 0.0007, 0.0082, 0.0000, 0.0039, 0.0003, 0.0001 and 0.0000 respectively and others such as average outages time (hours) ,outages time hours and other basic reliability indices were calculated and illustrated in Table 12. Some of these failures were also represented in bar chart. This method relates reliability theory with the experience gained from statistics and practical knowledge of components failures and maintenance. The findings from this work revealed that fuses had the highest failure followed by transformers and the least was surge arresters and it was also discovered that the outages time was reduced during the December period. This approach can be applied to rural and urban distribution systems. This submission made reliability theory a powerful tool to assist distribution Engineers in solving difficult and complicated problems.

IoT Smart Distribution Box (SDB) for Homestay Energy Management System by Using Arduino and ESP32

Chapter

Oct 2024

ANALYSIS OF ELECTRIC STATIONS Energy Systems

Book

Full-text available

Mar 2023

Mohamed Hamed

The current book linked the basics and essential requirements for the design of electric stations. The book consists of fifteen chapters (each chapter is an independent flag) in 180 pages including the reference list. Firstly, chapter 1 discusses the objective function through discrimination inside besides the circuits relative to protection and operation. The measuring transformers, as a vigorous element, are inserted. The loading style is tailored starting at the bus bar (BB) and ending to the sectionalized double BB system through the single line diagram (SLD) using the circuit breakers (CB). The bus coupler (BC) and bus tie (BT) are based for the performance effectively. The types of stations are specified. The renewable stations are introduced for far areas as well as for coupling with the united network. The basic earthing systems are analyzed according to the international specifications. Chapter 2 studies the performance of BB systems classification (single, double, triple, group) or (radial, ring, multi-connected, sectionalized, synchronizing). The isolating link (IL) is tailored according to the motion direction within the layout. Chapter 3 concentrates on the inductive and capacitive effects and importance relative to control systems, loss, and compensation. The roll of reactive power in a station has been explained for the reactor’s insertion either as a SC limiter or as overvoltage protection for long lines (Ferranti Effect) when station contents have been specified in detail. Chapter 4 proposed the switching elements (CB, switches, IL) by type and the projection in layout (elevation and plane) in addition to voltage limiter device (arrestors and anti-surge). Chapter 5 deals with connectors (internal, external). Chapter 6 is directed to the measurements (measuring concept, detection systems, vitality). Chapter 7 indicates the auxiliaries (service wiring, operation, stores, non-energized places). Chapter 8 explains the single line diagram. Chapter 9 clarifies the layout rules and cells. Chapter 10 gives the different components such as CB in detail. Chapter 11 indicates the mathematical dimensions for BB and cells. Chapter 12 is related to the insulation coordination through statistical transients. Chapter 13 studies the layout potentials across the station including the earthing grid of the station and different levels of HV in the station. Chapter 14 calculates the cost evaluation and energy pricing (tariff) in addition to the cost correlation. Finally, chapter 15 develops the natural energy classification (daily, seasonal) as a vital source for energy. Some examples are given and solved as a guide for readers in some chapters.

Early fault identification for operating circuit breaker based on classifier model system

Article

Full-text available

May 2022

One of the most important switchgear in a substation is the circuit breaker (CB); it is used either in the transmission or distribution sections. Currently, the maintenance of a CB is done by capturing the trip time using a handheld device; the trip time is the time from trip initiation to the moment of current flow cessation in the load side of the CB. For the maintenance staff of the Iraqi National Power Board (INPB), their decision is mainly aimed to pinpoint the specific problem of the CB, the breaker parameters, such as latch, buffer, mcon, acon, and end which can be analysed using data mining methods such as K-means clustering and Sammon mapping (KCSM). The advantages of this approach include early identification of faults and saving more cost and time of repairing and replacing damaged CBs as the number of damaged CBs can be decreased. The problem with this method is the prolonged time of testing the conventional trip as it requires removing the CBs from service and planned outage. Furthermore, the CB may not capture the crucial information that causes slow tripping. Hence, the main objectives of this work are to analyse CB trip coil current data and study the effect and relationship between two different analytical approaches to analyse the data. The result of this technique showed excellent identification of the switch faults.

Design of Remote Warning System for Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) Power Shortage via Internet of Things (IOT)

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2021

Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) is an electro-magnetic device designed to cut off the circuit when an overcurrent occurs. This MCB system is essential in many fields that involved with electric and commonly found in industry, it will protect the electric component in the circuit from short circuit. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is a new profound technology which will lead to a better and easy lifestyle world. One of the benefits of IoT system is the worker can monitor their work from home. With this new and promising technology, most of the work can be done at home by using mobile phone or a computer. As the title of the project presented, the project developed a microcontroller to monitor the MCB using the technology of the Blynk as the IoT platform. The system will send a message to the user to inform about the trips through a mobile phone by the Blynk application. At the same time, the alternating current (AC) of the MCB is record and graph at the mobile application.

Modeling of static var compensator-high voltage direct current to provide power and improve voltage profile

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2021

Transmission lines react to an unexpected increase in power, and if these power changes are not controlled, some lines will become overloaded on certain routes. Flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) devices can change the voltage range and phase angle and thus control the power flow. This paper presents suitable mathematical modeling of FACTS devices including static var compensator (SVC) as a parallel compensator and high voltage direct current (HVDC) bonding. A comprehensive modeling of SVC and HVDC bonding in the form of simultaneous applications for power flow is also performed, and the effects of compensations are compared. The comprehensive model obtained was implemented on the 5-bus test system in MATLAB software using the Newton-Raphson method, revealed that generators have to produce more power. Also, the addition of these devices stabilizes the voltage and controls active and reactive power in the network.

Circuit-breakers for medium-voltage DC grids

Conference Paper

Sep 2016

Controlled vacuum 6 (10) kV circuit breaker model

Conference Paper

Jun 2016

At the present time, a level of switching overvoltages can be reduced without using special limiting devices, namely by implementing the technology of controlled switching into a circuit breaker. To investigate switching transients, the paper presents the simulation model for a controlled (synchronous) vacuum circuit breaker. The model involves features and parameters of vacuum circuit breakers that were also investigated in the paper.

Design of high voltage vacuum circuit breaker's on-line monitoring and fault diagnosis system

Conference Paper

Oct 2016

A continuous real-time data acquisition and communication equipment based on Advanced RISC Machine and Field Programmable Gate Array is designed and developed, on the basis of which an on-line monitoring and fault diagnosis system for high voltage circuit breaker is realized. Mechanical, electrical and environmental parameters of the switching process can be gathered by this system. The function modules such as history data record and query, fault diagnosis, Ethernet communication and human-computer interface are contained as well. Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition based feature extraction method, Kernel Fuzzy C-means and Support Vector Machine combined fault diagnosis method are proposed and applied respectively. Performance of the system and precision of the algorithm have been proven in field tests.

The design of a 245kV vacuum circuit breaker

Conference Paper

Sep 2016

This paper covers work carried out on the electrical design for a 245kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker, specifically the design of the Vacuum Interrupters. The design is based on a “T” style transmission breaker, with two Vacuum Interrupters in series. The VCB uses a single permanent magnetic actuator with a toggle mechanism to provide the opening and closing forces required and the synchronization of the two Vacuum Interrupters. Vacuum Interrupters are not presently used at these high voltages, but the continuing search for a replacement for the present SF6 based technology for environmental reasons leads us to consider the use of Vacuum Interrupters at ever increasing system voltages. At present single interrupter VCB are in service up to 145kV, and have been for many years. This logically leads to the simple concept of a two break VCB for 245kV Multiple break circuit breakers using both SF 6 and Vacuum technology have been used for many years, and are well proven in service. Rather than taking existing 145kV Vacuum Interrupters and designing a VCB around them, we have taken the approach of designing special interrupters which are intended to work in pairs. Using Vacuum Interrupters in pairs gives significant advantages over single Vacuum Interrupters for these high voltages and this allows us to optimize the vacuum interrupter design for this application. The paper discusses the problems of achieving these high ratings and the methods of optimizing the performance, size, and cost to achieve these requirements. As part of the design process we have modelled the single Vacuum Interrupters and the pair of Vacuum Interrupters using 2D and 3D electrostatic finite element modelling to optimize the voltage design of the Vacuum Interrupters as well as modelling the arc control using 3D electromagnetic finite element modelling to give the required interruption performance. The electrostatic design of the Vacuum Interrupters is discussed in this paper, as well as the design of the VCB. The electromagnetic modelling will be discussed in a future paper.

Electric Arc in Low-Voltage Circuit Breakers: Experiments and Simulation

Article

Dec 2016

The aim of this paper is to present a further approach for analyzing the air electric arc in low-voltage circuit breakers (LVCBs). In order to achieve that, a new simulation model and experimental tests have been carried out. The simulation model has been designed using ANSYS CFX, a finite-volume method commercial software. This model has been defined as a 3-D geometry, with a high density structured hexahedral mesh, P1 radiation model and hot air characteristics for thermal plasma properties and transport coefficients. The model is applied to simulate the behavior of an LVCB for 50, 100, and 200 A with different numbers of splitter plates in the arc chamber and different locations for the arc ignition. As result, arc elongation and arc voltage increase have been observed when increasing the splitter plates number. Also faster arcs for higher ignition zones and greater expansion and diffusion for higher input currents have been obtained. These simulation results have been verified and validated. The verification process has been accomplished calculating the numerical errors, by means of the grid convergence index and Courant-Friedrichs-Lewis number. Thus, the most accurate mesh densities, time steps, and radiation models have been selected. Finally, the validation process has been achieved performing real experimental tests in the laboratory, proving that the results of the simulation model are close to real scenarios.

High voltage circuit breakers: Design and applications

Article

Jan 2002
VACUUM

R.D. Garzon

Interruption simulation at different arcing times for a puffer type 252kV SF6 circuit breaker

Conference Paper

Oct 2015

In this paper, an interruption simulation model for 252kV SF6 Circuit Breaker is built according to MHD theory. Through the calculation, the distributions of the arc column temperature and flow field during the interruption process are acquired considering two different arcing times. The gas pressure, temperature and voltage of the arc plasma in different arcing times are presented. Two analysis points at the pressure cylinder and the nozzle throat are observed. Relationships between dynamic arc plasma characteristics and different arcing times are analyzed. The simulation results show that the arc burning 14ms is easier to extinguish.

An Alternative Method to Build DC Switchyard with Hybrid DC Breaker for DC Grids

Article

Jan 2016

In this paper, a new dc switchyard structure for a multiterminal dc (MTDC) grid is proposed. Fast fault current breaking capability, which is essential for a dc grid, can be achieved with available HVDC breaker solutions (e.g., ABB's hybrid HVDC breaker). However, the hybrid HVDC breaker concept also opens up possibilities for unconventional (relative to ac) switchyard solutions which may be more cost effective. The main aim of this paper is to expound how the proposed dc switchyard can be built with hybrid HVDC breakers in a configuration where the number of components is much less compared to a conventional switchyard structure. After that, the switchyard operation, fault current handling flexibility, and actions against component failure are described conceptually. Finally, the performance of the proposed switchyard is validated and compared with that of a conventional double breaker double busbar switchyard structure for selected cases through time-domain simulations

Solid-State Circuit Breaker Snubber Design for Transient Overvoltage Suppression at Bus Fault Interruption in Low-Voltage DC Microgrid

Article

Jan 2016

Under a short-circuit fault in low-voltage dc microgrid, solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) assumes the responsibility of the quick and effective isolation of the faulted area, while its own safety and reliability depends on the overvoltage suppression ability of its snubber. For SSCB snubber design, however, traditional method suited for converter switch snubber cannot be directly applied, because SSCB snubber stresses more on its overvoltage suppression and fault current withstanding instead of snubber loss reduction. Therefore, this paper strives to build a snubber design method specialized for SSCB overvoltage suppression at bus fault interruption. A comprehensive and target-focused set of measurements is proposed and applied to the comparison of three RCD snubber candidates: charge-discharge type, discharge-suppressing type I, and discharge-suppressing type II. The set of measurements includes six indicators with peak SSCB voltage and peak bus current as the main indexes. After parameters are determined, the indicators of the three snubbers are compared, through which discharge-suppressing type I is selected as the most appropriate SSCB snubber. Experiments of the three snubbers have also been conducted in a ?200-V/dc system to verify the correctness of comparison results and the validity of discharge-suppressing type I for SSCB overvoltage suppression at dc-bus fault.

Power System Risk Assessment in Cyber Attacks Considering the Role of Protection Systems

Article

Jan 2016

This paper presents a risk assessment method for evaluating the cyber security of power systems considering the role of protection systems. This paper considers the impact of bus and transmission line protection systems located in substations on the cyber-physical performance of power systems. The proposed method simulates the physical response of power systems to malicious attacks on protection system settings and parameters. The relationship among settings of protection devices, protection logics, and circuit breaker logics is analyzed. The expected load curtailment (ELC) index is used in this paper to quantify potential system losses due to cyber attacks. The Monte Carlo simulation is applied to calculate ELC for assessing attackers' capabilities as bus arrangements are altered. The effectiveness of the proposed risk assessment method is demonstrated using a 9-bus system and the IEEE 68-bus system.