This PPT explains about the circuit breaker, and its types. Then about the need and purpose of the circuit breaker. And finally the testing and types of testing of circuit breakers.
2. CONTENTS
Circuit Breaker
Types of circuit breaker
Tests of circuit breaker
Dielectric and impulse tests
Thermal tests
Mechanical tests
Short circuit tests
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3. CIRCUIT BREAKER
An electromechanical switch that breaks the circuit under fault
condition.
Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a
circuit breaker can be reset to resume normal operation.
To detect a fault condition, and immediately discontinue the
electrical flow.
3
5. NEED FOR TESTING
During short circuit fault or any other types of
electrical fault these equipment suffer a high stress of
fault current which may damage the equipment and
networks.
For saving these equipments and the power networks,
circuit breakers are used, thereby disconnecting the
circuit.
Hence, the testing of the circuit breakers are essential.
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7. DIELECTRIC AND
IMPULSE TESTS
Dielectric tests:
Consists of over voltage withstand tests of power frequency,
lightning and switching impulse voltages
Tested for internal & external insulation with CB in both the open
& closed position.
Voltage in Open position >15% of that of closed position.
During test, CB is mounted on insulators above ground to avoid
ground flash over.
Impulse tests:
The test is done with switching over voltage.
To asses their performance under over voltages due to switching
operation.
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8. THERMAL TEST
To check the thermal behaviour of the breakers
Rated current through all three phases of the switchgear is
passed continuously for a period long enough to achieve steady
state conditions
Temperature rise must not exceed 40属C when the rated normal
current is less than 800 amps and 50属C if it is 800 amps and
above
Contact resistances between the isolating contacts and
between the moving and fixed contacts is important. These
points are generally the main sources of excessive heat
generation.
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9. MECHANICAL TESTS
To ensure the open and closing with out mechanical
failure.
It requires 500(some times 20,000) operations without
failure and with no adjustment of the mechanism.
A resulting change in the material or dimensions of a
particular component may considerably improve the life
and efficiency of the mechanism.
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10. SHORT CIRCUIT TESTS
To check the ability to safely interrupt the fault
currents.
To determine the breaking capacities at different load
currents
Methods of conducting short circuit tests,
Direct tests
Using the power utility system as the source.
Using a short circuit generator as the source.
Synthetic Tests
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11. DIRECT TESTS
USING THE POWER UTILITY SYSTEM AS THE
SOURCE
To check the ability to break in normal load conditions or
short circuit conditions in the network itself.
Done during limited energy consumption.
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12. PROS AND CONS OF DIRECT TEST
USING POWER UTILITY SYSTEMS
Advantages:
1. Tested under actual conditions in a network
2. Special cases (like very short line faults etc.,) can be tested
3. Thermal & dynamic effects of short circuit currents and
applications of safety devices can be studied
Disadvantages:
1. Can be tested only in rated voltage and capacity of the network
2. Test is only at light load conditions
3. Inconvenience and expensive installation of control and
measuring equipment is required in the field.
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13. SHORT CIRCUIT TEST IN
LABORATORIES
To test the CBs at different voltages & different SC currents.
The setup consists of,
A SC generator
Master CB
Resistors
Reactors and
Measuring devices
The make switch initiates the circuit short circuit & master breaker
isolates the test device from the source at the end of predetermined
time.
If the test device failed to operate, master CB can be tripped.
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Back up
breaker
Short Circuit
Testing Gen
Reactor
Test device
CT
Making
Switch
Circuit
Capacitance
G
14. SYNTYHETIC TESTS
Heavy current at low voltage is applied
Recovery voltage is simulated by high voltage, small current source
Procedure:
When auxiliary breaker 3 and test circuit breaker T are closed,
making switch 4 and master breaker 1 is closed. Hence, Current
flows through test CB.
At time t0, the test CB begins to operate.
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1 2 3 4 5 6
Vc Cc C0 Cv
IvIc
T
15. SYNTHETIC TEST (Contd.,)
At time t1, just before zero of the gen current, the trigger gap 6 closes
and high frequency current from capacitance Cv flows through the arc
of the gap
At time t2, gen current is zero. Master CB 1 is opened
The current from Cv will flow through test CB and full voltage will be
available
At the instant of breaking, the source is disconnected as the high
voltage is supplied by auxiliary CB 4.
15
1 2 3 4 5 6
Vc Cc C0 Cv
IvIc
T