Anti Pumping Relay and its Operating

Principle
It is a device in the circuit breaker that prevents multiple closures of the breakers.
Multiple breaker closures can damage the closing mechanism of the breaker. The antipump function is a very important feature of control circuits. Without the anti-pump
function, if the user connected a maintained contact in the close circuit, and the circuit
breaker were closed into a fault current, the protective relays would cause an
immediate trip action, but the maintained contact in the close circuit would initiate
closing (again) into the fault. This process is called pumping, and would lead to ultimate
catastrophic failure of some element in the system, perhaps the conductors leading to
the fault, perhaps the circuit breaker, or elsewhere in the system. Therefore, anti-pump
control is one of the fundamental requirements for every medium-voltage circuit
breaker. Anti-pumping relay is used to prevent multiple breaker closures. The effect of
continuous closing of circuit breaker is called breaker hunting effect. Anti-pumping relay
insures that the breaker closes only once and removes the hunting effect of the breaker.
It is also called trip free mechanism of the circuit breaker. Sometimes anti-pumping
relay is built-in in the circuit breaker and sometimes it works as auxiliary relay with
circuit breaker.
Note that the anti-pump function is reset if the control power supply is removed for
some reason. When this happens, the anti-pump relay contact in the close circuit closes
to complete the close circuit. Then, if a maintained contact in the users control circuit is
closed, and the control power is restored, the circuit breaker will close. However, after
this initial close operation, the anti-pump relay will be sealed in, and further closing
operations will be prevented until the maintained contact is opened or the control power
supply is interrupted.
Multiple closure of circuit breaker can cause damage to breaker and it can be avoided
by using 52 relay (circuit breaker anti-pumping relay). The main function of this relay is
to cut off the supply to 52C (circuit breaker closing coil) coil in case of TNC (trip neutral
close push button) switch spring failure and prevent multiple closure of circuit breaker
(hunting effect of CB).
Trip coil along with anti-pumping relay
Closing coil circuit with 52 present is as shown in above figure below. Path 1 in the figure
shows how 52C (CB closing coil) will be energized when we press TNC switch. If switch
comes to its original state once we release it then 52 will not come in picture. If switch

does not comes to its original state then 52 will be energized as shown in path 2. Then
52-NC (normally closed) contact present in path 1 will be got opened up and prevents
extension of supply. The auxiliary contacts and anti-pumping relay contacts are shown
in the figure with blue arrow.

We have the concept that initially for the energization of 52 80% to 90% of 110V is
required. But once after energization 60-70% of 110V is sufficient to maintain its
energization state. This logic is achieved by introducing a resistance in 52 energization
maintenance path.

Trip-free mechanism or anti-pumping control is an important safety feature, as it assures

that the decision to open a circuit breaker dominates over the command to close.