Aim : To study tge working and construction of SF6 Circuit Breaker.

Theory :
SF6 Circuit Breaker :
Sulfur hexafluoride circuit breakers protect electrical power stations and distribution systems by
interrupting electric currents, when tripped by a protective relay. Instead of oil, air, or a vacuum, a
sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker uses sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas to cool and quench the arc on
opening a circuit.
SF6 Gas properties :

• High electro-negativity
• High Dielectric Strength
• Good Arc quenching
• Density at 20°C is 6.14 kg/m ^3
• Color of gas is colourless
• Molecular weight 146.06
Construction :

➢
chamber.
A sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breaker consists of fixed and moving contacts enclosed in a

➢ The chamber is called the arc interruption chamber which contains SF6 gas.
➢ A valve mechanism is there to permits the gas to the arc interruption chamber.
➢ When the contacts of breaker are opened, the high-pressure sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas from
reservoir to flow towards arc interruption chamber.

Working :
The working of SF6 circuit breaker is a little bit different in modern time. The innovation of
puffer type design makes the operation of SF6 CB much easier. In buffer type design, the arc
energy is utilized to develop pressure in the arcing chamber for arc quenching. Here the
breaker is filled with SF6 gas at rated pressure. There are two fixed contacts fitted with a
specific contact gap. A sliding cylinder bridges these to fixed contacts. The cylinder can axially
slide upward and downward along the contacts. There is one stationary piston inside the
cylinder which is fixed with other stationary parts of the SF6 circuit breaker, in such a way that
it cannot change its position during the movement of the cylinder. As the piston is fixed and the
cylinder is movable or sliding, the internal volume of the cylinder changes when the cylinder
slides.
During the opening of the breaker the cylinder moves downwards against the position of the
fixed piston hence the volume inside the cylinder is reduced which produces compressed SF6
gas inside the cylinder.The cylinder has numbers of side vents which were blocked by upper
fixed contact body during closed position.
As the cylinder move further downwards, these vent openings cross the upper fixed contact,
and become unblocked and then compressed SF6 gas inside the cylinder will come out through
this vents in high speed towards the arc and passes through the axial hole of the both fixed
contacts. The arc is quenched during this flow of SF6 gas.

Advantages:
1.Simple construction and less cost
2. Same gas is recirculated in the SF6 CB

3. Maintenance free CB

4. Ability to interrupt low and high current fault.

5. Excellent Arc extinction.

Disadvantages :

1. Imperfect joints leading to leakage of the SF6 gas. Continuous monitoring devices are required

2. SF6 gas is suffocating to some extent. In case of leakage in the breaker tank SF6 gas being heavier than the air settles in the
surroundings and may lead to suffocation of the operating personnel. However it is not poisonous

3. Arced SF6 gas is poisonous and should not be inhaled

4. The internal parts need thorough cleaning during periodic maintenance under clean and dry environment. Dust of Teflon and
sulphides should be removed

5. Special facilities are required for transportation of gas, transfer of gas an maintenance of quality of the gas. The deterioration of
quality of gas affects the performance and hence reliability of the SF6 circuit breaker.Imperfect joints leading to leakage of the SF6
gas. Continuous monitoring devices are required

6. SF6 gas is suffocating to some extent. In case of leakage in the breaker tank SF6 gas being heavier than the air settles in the
surroundings and may lead to suffocation of the operating personnel. However it is not poisonous

7. Arced SF6 gas is poisonous and should not be inhaled

8. The internal parts need thorough cleaning during periodic maintenance under clean and dry environment. Dust of Teflon and
sulphides should be removed.
Ratings of SF6 Circuit Breaker : Sulphur hexafluoride is generally used in present high-voltage circuit breakers at rated voltage
greater than 52kv.

Conclusion : Thus, we have studied the construction and working of SF6 Circuit Breaker.