1.

Vacuum Circuit Breaker Working

and Applications
A circuit breaker is a device that, interrupts an electric circuit to prevent
unwarranted current, caused by a short circuit, typically resulting from an
overload. Its basic functionality is to interrupt current flow after a fault is
detected. To know more about Circuit breakers read this article Types of Circuit
Breaker and Its Importance. A vacuum circuit breaker is a kind of circuit breaker
where the arc quenching takes place in vacuum medium. The operation of
switching on and closing of current carrying contacts and interrelated arc
interruption takes place in a vacuum chamber in the breaker which is called
vacuum interrupter.

Construction of Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The vacuum circuit breaker comprises a steel arc chamber in the center-
symmetrically arranged ceramic insulators. The pressure inside the vacuum
interrupter is maintained below 10^-4 torr.The material used for current carrying
contacts plays an important role in the performance of the vacuum circuit breaker.
The alloys like, Copper-bismuth or copper-chrome are the ideal material to make
VCB contact

From the figure shown above, the Vacuum circuit breaker consists of a fixed
contact, a moving contact and a vacuum interrupter. The moving contact is
connected to the control mechanism by stainless steel bellow. The arc shields are
supported o the insulating housing such that they cover on these shields and is
prevented from condensing on the insulating enclosure. The possibility of a leak
is eliminated due to permanent sealing of vacuum chamber for that a glass vessel
or ceramic vessel is used as the outer insulating body.

Advantages of VCB
 The vacuum circuit breaker has a long life.
 Unlike Oil Circuit Breaker (OCB) or air blast Circuit Breaker (ABCB),
the explosion of VCB is avoided. This enhances the safety of the
operating personnel.
 No fire hazard
 The vacuum CB is fast in operation so ideal for fault clearing. VCB is
suitable for repeated operation.
 Vacuum circuit breakers are almost maintenance free.
 No exhaust of gas to the atmosphere and Noiseless operation.
Disadvantages of VCB
 The main disadvantage of VCB is that it is uneconomical at voltages
exceeding 38 kVolts.
 The cost of the breaker becomes excessive at higher voltages. This
is due to the fact that at high voltages (above 38 kV) more than two
numbers of the circuit breaker are required to be connected in
series.
 Moreover, the VCBs production is uneconomical if produced in
small quantities.
Applications of Vacuum Circuit Breaker
The vacuum circuit breaker is today recognized as most reliable current
interruption technology for medium voltage switchgear. It requires minimum
maintenance compared to other circuit breaker technologies.

The technology is mainly suitable for mainly medium voltage application. For
higher voltage vacuum technology has been developed, but it is not commercially
feasible. Vacuum circuit breakers are used in metal clad Switchgear and also in
porcelain housed circuit breakers.

2.AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER

Working of Air Circuit Breaker and Its
Applications
Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) is an electrical device used to provide Overcurrent and
short-circuit protection for electric circuits over 800 Amps to 10K Amps. These
are usually used in low voltage applications below 450V. We can find these
systems in Distribution Panels (below 450V). Here in this article, we will discuss
the working of Air Circuit Breaker. Air circuit breaker is circuit operation breaker
that operates in the air as an arc extinguishing medium, at a given atmospheric
pressure. There are several types of Air circuit breakers and switching gears
available in the market today that is durable, high-performing, easy to install and
maintain. The air circuit breakers have completely replaced oil circuit breakers.
Air Circuit Breaker Working

Air circuit breakers operate with their contacts in free air. Their method of arc
quenching control is entirely different from that of oil circuit-breakers. They are
always used for a low-voltage interruption and now tends to replace high-voltage
oil breakers. The below-shown figure illustrates the principle of air breaker circuit
operation.

Air Circuit breakers generally have two pairs of contacts. The main pair of
contacts (1) carries the current at normal load and these contacts are made of
copper metal. The second pair is the arcing contact (2) and is made of carbon.
When the circuit breaker is being opened, the main contacts open first. When the
main contacts opened the arcing contacts are still in touch with each other. As the
current gets a parallel low resistive path through the arcing contact. During the
opening of main contacts, there will not be any arcing in the main contact. The
arcing is only initiated when finally the arcing contacts are separated. The each
of the arc contacts is fitted with an arc runner which helps. The arc discharge to
move upward due to both thermal and electromagnetic effects as shown in the
figure. As the arc is driven upward it enters in the arc chute, consisting of
splatters.

Applications of Air Circuit Breakers

 They are mainly used for protection of plants, where there are
possibilities of fire or explosion hazards.
  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
Drawback of Air-Break Circuit Breaker
 A drawback of arc chute principle is its inefficiency at low currents
where the electromagnetic fields are weak.
 The chute itself is not necessarily less efficient in its lengthening and
de-ionizing action than at high currents, but the arc movement into
the chute tends to become slower, and high-speed interruption is
not necessarily obtained.

3.Oil Circuit Breaker

Oil circuit breaker is such type of circuit breaker which used oil
as a dielectric or insulating medium for arc extinction. In oil
circuit breaker the contacts of the breaker are made to
separate within an insulating oil. When the fault occurs in the
system the contacts of the circuit breaker are open under the
insulating oil, and an arc is developed between them and the
heat of the arc is evaporated in the surrounding oil. The oil
circuit breaker is divided into two categories

Construction of Oil Circuit Breaker

Oil circuit breaker is very easy in construction. It consists of
current carrying contacts enclosed in a strong, weather-tight
earth metal tank and the tank is filled with transformer oil. The
oil is both acts as an arc extinguishing medium and as an
insulator between the live part and earth.At the top of the oil,
air is filled in the tank which acts as a cushion to control the
displaced oil on the formation of gas around the arc and also to
absorb the mechanical shock of the upward movement of oil.
The breaker tank is securely bolted for carrying out the
vibration caused on interrupting very high current. Oil circuit
breaker consists gas outlet which is fitted in the tank cover for
the removal of the gases.
 Advantages of Oil as an Arc Quenching

1. The oil has a high dielectric strength and provides insulation

between the contact after the arc has been extinguished.
2. The oil used in circuit breaker provides a small clearance
between the conductors and the earth components.
3. The hydrogen gas is formed in the tank which has a high
diffusion rate and good cooling properties.

Disadvantages of Oil as an Arc Quenching

1. The oil used in oil circuit breaker is inflammable and hence,

cause a fire hazard.
2. There is a risk of formation of explosive mixture with air.
3. Due to decomposition of oil in the arc, the carbon particles
is generated which polluted the oil and hence the
dielectric strength of the oil decreases.