LUANSHYA TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS COLLEGE MANAGEMENT BOARD

DIPLOMA IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION (DEE 231)

INSTRUCTION: Study the lesson notes carefully. You will be required to answer an assignment
from the lesson.

1.2.5 CIRCUIT BREAKER

A circuit breaker is a mechanical switching device capable of making, carrying and breaking
current under normal circuit conditions and also making current, carrying it for a specified time
and breaking it under abnormal circuit conditions.

A circuit breaker is not intended for frequent operation. Unlike the fuse, the circuit breaker
enables supply to be restored quickly.

The figure below shows the fault clearing process involving a circuit breaker;

BUSBAR

C.B Trip coil

Relay contactor

C.T Relay coil

When a fault occurs, current is increased due to reduced fault impedance. The CT energizes the
relay coil and the relay contacts are closed. The trip coil separates the circuit breaker contacts
and therefore opens the circuit.
1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS

A.c circuit breakers may be classified on the basis of the following;

i. Based on rated voltage;

Low voltage circuit breakers have the rated voltage below 1000 V.
High voltage circuit breakers have their rated voltage above 1000 V.
ii. Based on medium of arc extinction;
These include;
 Air break circuit breakers (Miniature circuit breakers)
 Oil circuit breakers (Bulk oil or minimum oil)
 Air-blast circuit breakers
 Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breakers
 Vacuum circuit breakers

1.4 ARC EXTINCTION PROCESS

There are two modes of arc extinction techniques in circuit breakers and these are;

i. High resistance interruption

ii. Low resistance or zero point interruption

1.4.1 HIGH RESISTANCE INTERRUPTION

In high resistance interruption, the resistance of the arc is increased by lengthening and cooling
the arc so that the voltage is not able to maintain the arc.

High resistance interruption is employed in air-break circuit breakers and d.c circuit breakers.

1.4.2 LOW RESISTANCE (ZERO POINT) INTERRUPTION

In this method, the arc is extinguished at natural current zero of the a.c waveform, and is
prevented from restriking by rapid build-up of dielectric strength of the contact space.

Low resistance interruption method of arc extinction is employed in almost all a.c circuit
breakers.

1.5 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

1.5.1 RESTRIKING VOLTAGE (TRANSIENT RECOVERY VOLTAGE)

This is the transient voltage of a higher natural frequency appearing across the contacts of a
circuit breaker after current zero. Restriking voltage tends to re-strike the arc.
Frequency of restriking voltage (TRV) is given by;

1
ftrv =
2 π √ (LC)

1.5.2 RECOVERY VOLTAGE

This is the power frequency system voltage on which the restriking voltage is superimposed
before it dies down.

The frequency of recovery voltage is 50 Hz.

Basically, the voltage appearing across the terminals of the circuit breaker after current zero is
composed of the restriking voltage and the recovery voltage.

1.5.3 RATE OF RISE OF RESTRIKING VOLTAGE (RRRV)

This is the rate of increase of restriking voltage expressed in volts per microsecond.

If e is the restriking voltage in volts;

de
RRRV = volts/µs
dt

Where e is in volts and t in microseconds

In terms of peak restriking voltage (peak TRV);

em
RRRV = volts/µs
tm

Where

em = Peak restriking voltage

tm = time between voltage zero and peak restriking voltage in µs

If Em is the peak recovery voltage, then amplitude factor is given by;

em
Amplitude factor =
Em
1.6 EQUATION OF RESTRIKING VOLTAGE

The equation of the restriking voltage is given by;

t
e = Em [1 – cos ]
√ ( LC)

Where

e = Restriking voltage in volts

Em = Peak value of recovery voltage, phase to neutral, in volts

L = Inductance in Henry

C = Capacitance in Farad

t = Time in seconds

Therefore

de
RRRV =
dt

de Em t
= sin
dt √ (LC) √ (LC)

RRRV is maximum when its derivative is zero

d2e
=0
dt 2

Em t
cos =0
LC √ ( LC)

Thus

t π
=
√ (LC) 2

π
t= √(LC)
2

de π
Therefore, maximum RRRV is the value of at t = √(LC)
dt 2
 Em
∴ RRRVmax =
√ (LC)

de
Further, peak restriking voltage occurs when e is maximum i.e. when =0
dt

t
=π
√ ( LC)

Thus

t = π √(LC)

Hence, peak restriking voltage is given by;

e = Em(1 – cos π) = 2Em

EXAMPLE

A 50 Hz, 3-phase alternator with grounded neutral has inductance of 1.6 mH per phase and is
connected to the busbar through a circuit breaker. The capacitance to earth between the
alternator and the CB is 0.003μF per phase. The circuit breaker opens when r.m.s value of
current is 7500 A. Determine;

i. Maximum rate of rise of restriking voltage

ii. Time for maximum rate of rise of restriking voltage
iii. Frequency of oscillations

SOLUTION

i. Erms = IXL
= 7500 X 2πfL = 7500 X 2π X 50 X 1.6mH = 3769.91 V
Em = √2 x 3769.91 = 5331 V
Em 5331
RRRV = = = 2434 V/μs
√ (LC) √ (1.6 mH X 0.003 μF)
d2e
ii. Maximum rate of rise of restriking voltage occurs when =0
dt 2
 Thus
π
t= √(LC)
2
π
t = X 2.19 X 10-6 = 3.44 µs
2
iii. Frequency of oscillations is given by;
1 1
= = 72643.96 Hz
2 π √ (LC) 2 π √ (1.6 mH X 0.003 μF)

EXERCISE

A three phase alternator has the line voltage of 11 KV. The generator is connected to a circuit
breaker. The inductive reactance up to the circuit breaker is 5 Ω per phase. The distribution
capacitance up to the circuit breaker between phases and neutral is 0.01 μF. Determine;

i. Peak restriking voltage across the CB

ii. Frequency of transient recovery voltage
iii. Average rate of restriking voltage up to peak restriking voltage
iv. Maximum RRRV

Neglect first pole to clear factor.

1.7 CIRCUIT BREAKER RATINGS

A circuit breaker has the following ratings;

i. Breaking capacity
ii. Making capacity
iii. Short-time capacity

1.7.1 BREAKING CAPACITY

Breaking capacity is the r.m.s current that a circuit breaker is capable of breaking
(interrupting) at a given recovery voltage and under specified conditions such as power
factor and rate of rise of restriking voltage

Recovery voltage is a power frequency system voltage on which the restriking voltage is
superimposed upon opening the contacts of the circuit breaker. The frequency of the
recovery voltage is 50 Hz.
 Restriking voltage (or TRV) is a transient voltage of higher natural frequency appearing
across the contacts of the CB after current zero.

Rate of rise of restriking voltage (RRRV) is the rate of increase of restriking voltage
expressed in volts per microsecond.

The breaking capacity is always stated as the r.m.s value of fault current at the instance of
contact separation.

It is common practice to express the breaking capacity in MVA by taking into account the
rated breaking current and rated service voltage. Thus, if I is the rated breaking current in
amperes and V is the rated service line voltage in volts, then for a three phase circuit;

Breaking capacity = √3 x V x I x 10-6 MVA

In Britain, it is usual practice to take breaking current equal to the symmetrical breaking
current. However, in America, breaking current is taken to be equal to the asymmetrical
breaking current. Therefore, the American rating given to a circuit breaker is higher than the
British rating.

Breaking capacity may be defined as the rated symmetrical breaking current at a rated
voltage.

1.7.2 MAKING CAPACITY

There is always a possibility of closing or making the circuit under short circuit conditions.
The capacity of a breaker to make current depends upon its ability to withstand and close
successfully against the effects of electromagnetic forces.

Making capacity of a circuit breaker is the peak value of current during the first cycle of
current wave after the closure of the circuit breaker.

Making current is equal to the maximum value of asymmetrical current. To find this value,
multiply symmetrical breaking current by √2 to convert from r.m.s to peak, and then
multiply by 1.8 to include the ‘doubting effect’ of maximum asymmetry.

The total multiplication factor becomes;

√2 x 1.8 = 2.55

Therefore

Making current = 2.55 x symmetrical breaking capacity

1.7.3 SHORT-TIME RATING

Short-time rating of a circuit breaker is the period for which the circuit breaker is able to carry
fault current while remaining closed.

Sometimes, a fault on the system is of temporary nature and will persist only for one or two
seconds after which it is automatically cleared. In the interest of continuity of supply, the
breaker should not trip in such situations. This means that the circuit breaker should be able to
carry high current safely for some specified period while remaining closed.

The short-time rating of a circuit breaker depends upon its ability to withstand the
electromagnetic force effects and the temperature rise.

1.7.4 NORMAL CURRENT RATING

Normal current rating is the r.m.s value of current which the circuit breaker is capable of
carrying continuously at its rated frequency under specified conditions.

EXAMPLE

A circuit breaker is rated as 1500 A, 1000 MVA, 33 KV, 3-second, 3-phase oil circuit breaker.
Find;

i. Rated normal current

ii. Breaking capacity
iii. Rated symmetrical breaking current
iv. Rated making current
v. Short-time rating
vi. Rated service voltage

SOLUTION

i. Rated normal current = 1500 A

ii. Breaking capacity = 1000 MVA
1000 X 1000000
iii. Rated symmetrical breaking current = = 17496 A (r.m.s)
√3 X 33 X 1000
iv. Rated making current = 2.55 x 17496 = 44614 A (Peak)
v. Short-time rating = 17496 A for 3 seconds
vi. Rated service voltage = 33 KV (r.m.s)