Powell Technical Brief #2 - Revised Close and Latch Capability of High Voltage Power Circuit Breakers

December 29, 2006 In 2000, ANSI Standard C37.06, which identifies the typical recommended rating for circuit breakers above 1000VAC, changed from the 1987 standard. This Technical Brief describes the importance of understanding the change to close and latch capability as it relates to the circuit breaker and switchgear manufactured by Powell Industries. The close and latch capability of a circuit breaker is the ability of the breaker to be closed onto a faulted system and stay closed to allow the fault to be cleared down stream. The close and latch rating allows the faulted portion of the electrical system to be isolated, de-energizing the smallest portion of the electrical system as dictated by system selectivity. For the circuit breaker to pass the close and latch type test, the breaker must be designed to overcome the mechanical forces acting on the breaker mechanism, primary disconnect and racking the system when the first major loop of current passes through the equipment. The breaker closing mechanism must be strong enough to stay latched once given the command to close and the tripping opening mechanism must be of sufficient force to break any welding that may have formed in the moving contacts due to the energy of the fault. Prior to 1987, close and latch capability was given in an asymmetrical rms value defined as the symmetrical interrupting rating multiplied by 1.6. It referred to the current at the first major loop of current passes through the circuit breaker in the cycle after closing. In 1987, the standard was changed to an expression of crest value defined by multiplying the maximum symmetrical interrupting current by 2.7. (See the figure below.) Figure - Latch and Close Rating in Crest and Asymmetrical rms for a Circuit Breaker rated for 50kA Symmetrical Interrupting at Contact Part

135kA crest Latch & Close 80kA rms Asym Latch & Close

Load Current

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In 2000, the latch and close rating was changed again as a compromise with the IEC standard which had been based on a 2.5 multiplier for many years. The IEC standard body agreed to increase the test value for IEC breakers to coincide with the 2.6 multiplier for 60Hz equipment. Powell Industries opted to disregard the 2000 change to the standard and continues to manufacture equipment consistent with the higher test values given by the 2.7 multiplier. Powell feels the stricter standards are more consistent with the high x/r ratios in which its customers apply Powell equipment. Given the changes to C37.06 over the years and considering the variety of standards quoted in specifications, it is important to use the correct test values for the circuit breakers being applied. Table 1 below correlates the various values. Note the Powell standard values equal to the 1987 Edition.

Table - Closing and Latching Capacity Test Values

Rated Maximum Voltage (kV)
4.76 4.76 4.76 4.76 15.0 15.0 18 (500 MVA) 28 (750 MVA) 37 58 18 28 62 25 97 31.5 15.0 15.0 15.0
*

MVA Class 1979 Standard

Short Circuit at Max Volts (kA) 29 (250 MVA) 41 (350 MVA) Latch & Close (Asym rms) (kA) 58 78

MVA Class 1987 Standard

Short Circuit at Max Volts (kA) 29 41 Latch & Close (Crest) (kA) 97 132

K=1 2000 Standard

Short Circuit at Max Volts (kA) 31.5 40 50 63 Latch & Close (Crest) (kA) 82 104 130 164

K=1 Powell Standard

Short Circuit at Max Volts (kA) 36 50 63 Latch & Close (Crest) (kA) 97 135 170

65 82

25 36 36

65 97 97 135 170

37 (1000 MVA)

77

37

130

40 60 63

104 130 164 50 63

K=1 mean interrupting current is not a function of the operating voltage

Please contact us at 713-944-6900 or info@powellind.com if you have questions or need assistance with information contained in this Technical Brief.

Jim Bowen Technical Director Powell Technical Brief #2 was originally authored by Baldwin Bridges and issued on May 18, 1990. It has been revised and updated by Jim Bowen and reissued.
Publication No. 03084 05/2008 Rev 0

Powell Electrical Systems, Inc. PO Box 12818 Houston, TX 77217

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