2004 IEEE InternationalConference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRF'T2004) April 2004 Hong Kong
Synchronous Controlled Switching
by Vacuum Circuit Breaker (VCB)
with Electromagnetic Operation Mechanism
K. Horinouchi, M. Tsukima, N. Tohya, T. Inoue and H. Sasao, non Members
Abstract- Synchronously controlled switching to suppress
transient overvoltage and overcurrent resulting from when
the circuit breakers on medium voltage systems are closed is
described. Firstly, by simulation it is found that if the closing
time is synchronously controlled SO that the contacts of the
circuit breaker close completely at the instant when the
voltage across contacts of the breaker at each of the three
individual phases are zero, the resulting overvoltage and
overcurrent is significantly suppressed when compared to
conventional three phase simultaneous closing. Next, an
algorithm for determining the closing timing based on a
forecasted voltage zero waveform, obtained from voltage
sampling data, is presented. Finally, a synchronous closing
operation experiment utilizing a controller to implement the
algorithm and a VCB with an electromagnetic operation
mechanism is presented. The VCB was successfully closed at
the zero point within a timing error o f 200 microseconds.
Index Terms-Synchronous Control, Electromagnetic
Operation Mechanism, Power system transients, Vacuum
Circuit Breaker
I. INTRODUCTION
w ITH recent advancements in electronics and IT
technology, electronic equipment is increasingly
being used to control electric power equipment in
power distribution systems and substations. Additionally,
the trend of using intelligent systems, which mutually
exchange control and state information on the control
equipment equipped with communication equipment, is
also becoming more common[l]. The control and
communication equipment are being increasingly installed
right beside electric power equipment (such as
switchgear) than before. However, since these equipment
may have comparatively weak immunity to noises and
surges, measures are needed to be taken to ensure steady
errorless systems. In such situations, technology that can
suppress any transient overvoltages and overcurrents
caused by the switching of switchgear, can provide highly
reliable and stable electrical power systems. This type of
technology can not only mitigate the insulation
performance deterioration of electrical equipment, extend
the service life but also can suppress noises and surges,
decreasing the chances of errors on the control and
communication equipment.
K. Horinouchi, M. Tsukima. N. Tohya. T,h u e and H. Sasao arc
with Mitsubishi Elccnie Coponion, JAPAN.
0-7803-8237-4/04/$17.00020041EEE
529
Synchronous controlled switching is one of
technologies that can suppress the transient overvoltages
and overcurrents caused by the switching of the
switchgear. Recently special attention has been paid to
synchronous controlled switching[2]-[4]. The use of
synchronously controlled gas circuit breakers in the very
high voltage class systems is an example of this. The
authors have been developing a synchronous controlled
circuit breaker for the purpose of application to medium
voltage (MV) power distribution systems and substations.
A synchronous control algorithm and a vacuum circuit
breaker with an electromagnetic operation mechanism are
being developed.
In this paper, synchronous controlled switching
technology that suppresses the transient overvoltages and
overcurrents caused by the closing of the circuit breakers
is presented. Firstly, a study of transients caused by the
closing of a capacitor hank was simulated by computer.
Within this study, the effect of synchronous control and
delays in the closing time of the circuit breaker on
transients was examined. Next, the synchronous control
algorithm and an experiment with synchronously
controlled switching using a controller with this algorithm
and a vacuum circuit breaker with an electromagnetic
operation mechanism is presented.
11. SIMULATION STUDY ON THE CLOSING OF A
CAPACITOR BANK
This section examines the computer simulated transient
overvoltages and overcurrents caused by the closing of a
medium voltage distribution capacitor bank.
Fig. 1 shows the simulation model of the MV power
distribution system used in the computer simulation. The
base frequency used was 50% In this model, two higher
system voltage lines are individually connected to
individual 22kV 30MVA Y-A main transformers with
impedances of 15%. The stray capacitance at the lower
voltage side of the main transformers is assumed to be
6X00pF per phase. Small earthing Y-Y transformers are
connected to the branch line of the 22kV side of the main
transformers with their middle point of the 3 phase
voltages grounded by 12R grounding resistors.
The main transformers of the two systems are
connected to each respective husbar through cables.
Calculations are carried out based on the assumption that
the two individual busbars tied together. There are 3XpF
per phase capacitor banks connected to each individual
busbar with one side of the capacitor hanks terminated by
2004 EEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong
a Y connection with their middle point not grounded
(Refer to Fig.2). The capacitor banks can be connected or
removed from the busbar by the closing and opening of a
capacitor switch. For the simulation, the capacitor bank
labeled C2 in Fig. 1 is already connected (SW2 closed) to
the busbar. The capacitor switch SWI is then closed to
connect the capacitor bank C l to the busbar.
F=50Hz
Y Y
I Main bansfarmer 1 Main transformer 2
Sub tranrfamcr
c1 I- CZ
I
-
3811 FlPhase
Fig. 1. Simulation model o f a MV pawer distribution system
To busbar
R Y B T i m (ms)
Capacitor Switch
(Circuit Breaker)
U when VB=VcBis when VB=VRso the B phase is closed at
Fig. 2. Capacitor bank and capacitor switch
Two case studies were performed on the circuit
conditions in Figl. with the following variations:
Case 1: The three poles of CB are closed
simultaneously
Case 2: Each pole of CB is individually closed by
synchronously controlled switching.
For Case I , a conventional three phase circuit breaker,
with all three poles closing simultaneously when the
voltage of one pole of the three poles (in this case Pole B)
of the capacitor switch on the busbar reached the peak
voltage, was simulated. For Case 2, a synchronously
controlled circuit breaker with each pole closing
individually when the voltage difference across the
contacts of the busbar side of the capacitor switch and the
capacitor bank was zero was simulated. That is, when
VR=VCR,Vy=VCy and V B = V where ~ ~ VR, Vy, VB are the
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voltages on the busbar side of the capacitor switch and
VcR, Vcy, and VcB are the capacitor side voltages. (Refer
to Fig. 2) Theoretically, for this case, the inrush current
would be small because there is no rapid voltage
fluctuation generated between the terminals of the
capacitors.
If the time when the voltage difference on each phase
becomes zero is considered based on the phase voltage
then the timing is as follows[3]:
The 1st phase closing: 0 degrees electric phase angle
The 2nd phase closing: 30 degrees electric phase angle
The 3rd phase closina: 120 deerees electric phase angle
Fig. 3 shows the busbar side phase voltages VR, VU, VB,
and time of closing of the capacitor switch. Since the
capacitor side voltage of R phase is the first OV if the first
phase closing is determined to be R phase, it is clear that
the time which VR=O is the time when the voltage
difference across contacts becomes zero. Then this time
is defined as the 0 electric phase angle.
Pole R Pole B Pole Y
Closed Closed Closed
Fig. 3. Closing timing an synchronous controlled switching
The closing of phase B is not when VB=O, as although,
the lower voltage side of the capacitor bank is terminated
by a Y connection because the middle point is not
grounded, both Vcu and VcB are the same as VcR ,that is,
VR after the R phase was closed. Therefore, the time
at 30 degrees electric phase angle. Similarly, after R
phase and B phase are closed, the remaining third phase,
Y, is closed when VU becomes to equal VCY at 120
degrees electrical phase angle. Accordingly each phase
only has to be closed at the timing specified in 0.
The results of Case 1 and Case 2 simulations are shown
in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 . In each figure, (a) shows the busbar
side phase voltages VR, Vu, VB of the capacitor switch,
(b) shows the line current of each phase and (c) shows
capacitor side phase voltages Vcn, VcU, VcB of the
capacitor switch. The current that flows in the capacitor
banks is shown figure (b). Relatively large transient
overvoltage and overcurrent (with a peak value of 5kA) is
found in Case I (Fig. 4(b)). This is a result of transitional
high frequency vibrations caused by the resonance of
leakage inductance of the transformer, stray capacitance
of ground, capacitor C l , and capacitor C2.
2004 IEEE Intemational Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 Hong Kong

b k V
20 -L "
- m
(c)
B2
0
-20
:-
t , 1 20 30 40 50
20
%me (ms)
40 sa
Time (ms)
Fig. 4. Simulation rcsult of the case that 3 poles of CB closcd
simultaneously (conventional CB) Fig. 6 . Simulation result of the case that Closing timing has Im delay
(synchronous contmlled CB)
I

Ill.SYNCHRONOUS CONTROLLED SWITCHING

I ALGORITHM
30 40 50
ln research as described in Section 1, the synchronous
controlled switching algorithm is constructed with the aim
of achieving suppression of transient overvoltages and
overcurrents when switching capacitors, reactors and
transformers. In parallel, a vacuum circuit breaker, which
is compatible to the synchronous controller, is developed.
This section describes the synchronous controlled
(C switching algorithm.
From the closing timing 0 of each phase in the
20 30 40 50
previous section, the time between the first phase closing
Time (ms) and the second phase closing, and between the second and
Fig. 5. Simulation result of the case that 3 polcs of CB closed the third phases closing, is fixed because the system
individually frequency is fixed at 50Hz (one cycle is 20msec).
(synchronous controlled CB) Therefore the time between the 1st phase and 2nd phase
closing is 1.67msec, and 5 msec for the between the 2nd
However, a significantly smaller transient overvoltage and 3rd phases closing. Since they are fixed, it follows
and overcurrent resulted from the closing by the that only delays are required to close 2nd and 3rd phases
controlled switching for Case 2 (Fig. 5 ) . The peak value (the timing requires no calculations) provided that the
of the inrush current was suppressed to less than 0.5 kA timing of the 1st phase is calculated. Accordingly, this
according to Fig. 5(h). The high frequency transient section describes the algorithm that determines the closing
overvoltage and overcurrent is decreased by the use of timing of the 1st phase. The 1st phase closing is
three individual phase synchronously controlled switching. controlled so that the breaker is closed at precisely the
Case 2 (Fig. 5), has the circuit breaker closing at the time when the phase voltage is zero as described in the
time when the voltage difference across contacts just previous section.
becomes zero. However, it is thought that some transient The construction of the synchronous controller is
voltages and currents are generated when the closing shown in Fig. 7. The voltage of each phase and the state
timing shifts caused by the mechanical error margin etc. of the breaker are sent to the controller. The analog
of the breaker. To study the effect of delays, a simulation voltage signal is sampled by an analog to digital converter
(Case 3) with the same conditions as Case 2 however with (A/D), which converts the signal to digital values, and
the closing time of each phase delayed by lmsec was then sends it to the CPU. In the CPU the time of zero
executed with the results shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6(b) it voltage is forecasted from the voltage value obtained, and
can be seen that a peak inrush current of -1.7 kA is a closing signal is sent to the breaker if the controller has
generated. It is then concluded that only a breaker with a received a external closing command from the protection
very low mechanical error margin can be used as a relay system etc.
synchronously controlled breaker.

53 1
2004 IEEE International Conference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRF'TZOM) April 2004 Hong Kong
CPU.Ce"ValPmCBIIing unn
AID : Analag/Digilal convener
110 : lnp"VO"1p"I Interface
Fig. 7. Consrmction of synchronous controller
The voltage zero is forecasted by the CPU as
mentioned above, however it is not appropriate at the
sampled time because the circuit breaker has a closing
time delay - there is some time required between receiving
the closing signal and the time the breaker' s contacts are
completely closed. Therefore it is necessaly to include
this breaker closing time (delay) when calculating the
voltage zero point as shown in Fig. 8. The CPU
determines the zero on the forecasted voltage waveform
and sends the closing signal to the breaker when it
receives an external closing command.
Tamel lor CB Closing Completion (Voltage Zero polnI1
Voltage Zero Point on Estimated'Waveform
=Signal Dispatch Tiining
Fig. 8. Voltage zero point estimation
Fig.9 shows the algorithm for zero point determination.
First, the voltage is sampled and saved in the memory.
Next, the amplitude A, phase cp and DC shift B are
calculated from the maximum and minimum times and
values obtained from data of the previous cycle sampled.
If the frequency f is fixed at 50Hz, the voltage can be
forecasted as V=Asin(Zaff+cp) +B at the closing time T.
A closing signal is sent to the breaker if this voltage V
becomes V=O if an extemal closing command has been
issued. If no external closing signal has been received, the
controller retums to the beginning of the voltage sampling
and continuously loops. This algorithm allows the closing
signal to be sent so that the breaker contacts are closed
precisely at the instant V=O.
Since the algorithm used is simplified, the accuracy may
be improved by using a more advanced processing
technique that includes the complex and higher harmonic
wave elements from the voltage waveform. However, the
532
high-calculation speed and sampling rate required will
demand a very expensive CPU.
Fig. 9. Zcra point detcminatian alganthm for synchronouscontrol
IV. SYNCHRONOUSLY CONTROLLED SWITCHING
EXPERIMENT USING A VACUUM CIRCUIT
BREAKER WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC OPERATION
MECHANISM
The synchronous controlled switching experiment of a
circuit breaker, with individual closing, was performed
using a controller with the algorithm described in the
previous section. A commonly available digital signal
processor (DSP) with a I50MHz operation clock was
used as the CPU of the synchronous controller
implementing the algorithm. The frequency of the
voltage sampling was 8 ldiz and the quantization bit of
the AD converter was 12 bits. The AD converter had a
conversion delay time of 2.125 msec, which was also
included in the determination of the forecasted voltage
waveform.
A vacuum circuit breaker with electromagnetic
operation mechanism manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation was used. This breaker was found to be the
most suitable for the required application as the breaker
has sufficiently low mechanical error margins. It is
considered that gas circuit breakers' (GCBs) opening and
closing time error margins are high because GCBs contain
many mechanical parts that drive heavy structures
(namely the puffer) to compress and inhale the insulating
gas during opening and closing. As vacuum circuit
breakers (VCBs) do not have to drive heavy structures as
they utilize light contacts in vacuum, a more stable and
steady operation is guaranteed.
Fig. 10 shows the construction of the circuit breaker
with electromagnetic operation mechanism used in the
experiment. It is a direct driven type (without the link
mechanism between the contact and actuator) and is
driven by the electromagnetic force of the coil. Without
the requirement of linkages of the mechanism required by
conventional spring operated VCBs, the electromagnetic
mechanism does not have the error in operation time
associated with the linkages. Additionally, the number of
parts required for the electromagnetic operation
mechanism is much less than spring operating
mechanisms, the probability of failures is greatly reduced
2004 IEEE InternationalConference on Electric Utility Deregulation, Restmcturing and Power Technologies (DRF'T2004) April 2004 Hong Kong

and changes to the operating characteristics due to ageing synchronously controlled switching was a success. The

.;2bTF7-q
are very small throughout its service life. For the reasons coil current and the travel curve kept on changing after
mentioned above the mechanical error margin of vacuum the contact was closed due to contact suring compression.
circuit breakers with electromagnetic mechanisms is Voltage waveform applied : ~

considerably smaller than that of conventional breakers. bvfmctionaeneator ' . ' . .

Cd
dP...
c"llmt mrsavnnp 60Hz
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,.. .. . . .

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............. . . . : . . / j ~

oirning
command .*>CCh , . .
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. . ; \
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Tam1 curve
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Closing command Closing time 26.Zms
("mYaJ *W"Cnmg)

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Fig. IO. Stmctre ofvacuum circuit breaker

with electromagnetic operation mechanism

Fig. 11 shows the circuit chart of the closing operation

experiment. The AC signal voltage of 60Hz from the
function generator was applied across the contacts of the
breaker and it was applied to the controller's voltage input
terminal. Therefore, the effect of the pre-arc generated
immediately before contact making, when an actual
voltage (of 22kV for instance) is applied, was not
considered.

Fig. I I . Experiment circuit

The closing time of the breaker in this experiment, that

is, the time from receiving the closing signal to the
closing of contacts completely, was measured and was
found to be 26.2msec. The external closing command
was simulated with a manual switch during the actual
experiment. As a result, the instant that the extemal
closing command was generated was not decided
beforehand and was arbitrary. The main purpose of this
experiment was to examine whether the synchronous
controller received the closing command generated at an
arbitrary time, forecasted the target voltage zero, and sent with clectroma~eticoperation mechanism
the closing signal to the breaker, so that the breaker could
complete the close of the contacts precisely at the targeted V. CONCLUSION
voltage zero point. The synchronously controlled switching to suppress
An example oscillograph of the result of the experiment transient overvoltages and overcurrents when a circuit
is shown in Fig. 12. The measured items included were breaker is closed on medium voltage power distribution
the voltage across contacts, the coil current, the travel systems and substations was presented. Firstly, a
curve, the closing command and the closing signal to the computer simulation of the occurrence of overvoltage and
breaker. Fig. 12 shows the point where the coil current the overcurrent caused by the closing of capacitor banks
began to tlow, when the controller issued the signal (after on a power distribution system was completed. If closing
it received an external closing command) and when the time was synchronously controlled so that the contacts
closing operation began. Since the breaker just completed close completely at the instant the voltage across contacts
the closing operation at the voltage zero after 26.2111s the of the breaker of each three phase was zero, it was shown

533
2004 IEEE Intemational Conference o n Electric Utility Deregulation, Restructuring and Power Technologies (DRPT2004) April 2004 H o n g K o n g
to be able to suppress the overvoltage and the overcurrent
considerably when compared with c o n v e n t i o n a l three
phase simultaneous closing. As a result of the studying
the effect of delays of closing time when using
synchronous switching, it is clear that a breaker with high
mechanical accuracy is required.
Secondly, the algorithm to control and forecast the zero
voltage point timing at which the breaker needs to
complete its closing was presented. This algorithm issues
t h e closing signal when the voltage value after the closing
time of the breaker forecasted (based on the previous
cycle sample data) becomes zero.
Lastly, a synchronous closing operation experiment
was performed using a vacuum circuit breaker with an
e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c operation mechanism and a controller,
which implemented the previously mentioned algorithm.
Vacuum circuit breakers with electromagnetic operation
mechanism provide a more steady operation with higher
accuracy than conventional breakers.
In this experiment, although correction of the closing
speed by changing the voltage change of the power
.. . to the coil of the actuator, the effect on closing
supply
time by mechanical factors including the contact wear of
the breaker and environmental changes like temperature,
were not considered, it is necessary to consider an
algorithm which will include these corrections in the
future. In addition, it is necessary to experiment with an
actual system voltage applied, and to examine the
influence of the pre-arc generated immediately before
contact making. Studies are planned to investigate
whether a single chip microcomputer is sufficient to use
as the controller, based on the assumption they are
cheaper, although the operation speed would be lower
than the DSP used in this experiment.
VI. REFERENCES
[I] G. Shett. F. Englcr, F. Jaussi. K. Pettenson., and A. Kaczkowski,
“The Intelligent CIS, A fundamental change in the combination of
primary and secondary equipment,” CIGRE 1996, Paper 24-104.
[2] I. Dalziel, P Foreman, T. Invin, C. J. Jones, S. Nunc, and A.
Robsan, “Application of controlled switching in high voltage
systems,” C E R E 1996, Paper 13-305.
[3] CIGRE WG 13.07, “Controlled Switching of HVAC circuit
Brcakm,” ELECTRA, No. 183, pp. 43-73(19991).
[4] H. 110. “Controlled Switching Technologies, State-of-the-Ari”,
IEEE /PES Transmission and Distribution Conhrence and
Exhibition 2002, Confcrence Proceedings Val.2, pp. 1455-1460,
Oct. 2002.
VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Kstsuhiko Horinouehi was bam in Hyogo,
Japan, on May I, 1963. He received the B E .
M.E. and Ph.D. degrces in electrical
communication engineering from Osaka
University in 1987. 1989 and 1992,
respectively. In 1992, hc joined Milsubishi
Electric Corporation. Hc has been engaged in
the m a r c h of arcs, circuit breakcn, and surgc
wave propagation and supression. He received
the Paper Award in 1992 from the IEEJ. Dr.
Horinouchi is a membcr of thc Institute of
Electrical Engineers of Japan.
Mitsuru Tsuklma was was born in Kyoto,
Japan, on June 2nd. 1970. He received the
, M.E. degree in applied physics engineering
-’ ’ . from Osaka Univcnity, Osaka Japan in 1996.
1_ ,., Hc joined Milsubishi Electric Corporation in
the same year and now works in the R&D
group on circuit breakers.
-.
:.,.,!
-
I Nobumoto Tohva was born in Hiroshima.
Japan, on December 18, 1974. He rcceivcd lhe
M.E. dcgree in mechanical engineering from
Ehime University, Ehime Japan in 1999. He
joined Milsubishi Elccmc Corporation in thc
same year. He has been cngagcd in dcvcloping
and designing circuit-breaken and
switchgear.
. .. __
’ Takakazu lnoue was born m Kyoto, Java”
! on Nov. 16, 1951.He received B.Eng. degree
..
...:“ from Kyoto Institllt~of Technology in 1975.
He joined Milsubishi Electric Corporation in
..
the same year. He has been engaged in
1 dcvcloping and designing circuit-breakers and
switchgear.
i
Hiroyulti Sasao was born in Kyoto, in
1 Jaoan. an Seotember 21. 1945. He rcceivcd
M.S.
I B.S.,
1970
’ and
’
ahd Ph.D. degrees in electrical
engineering from Kyoto University, in 1968,
1990. ~ ~ S D C E ~ ~ Y C I Y .
I He has been engaged in the rcsearch on arc
and plasma physics and in the dcvclopmeot
Society ofJapan and thc InstiNtc of Electrical Engineers of Japan.
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