EPEG 415: SWITCHGEAR AND

PROTECTION
CHAPTER 2: ELECTRIC SWITCHGEAR
Samundra Gurung, PhD
Assistant Professor

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Kathmandu University
 Introduction
✓Inverse time characteristics

▪ Desirable characteristics:
• Low melting point
• High conductivity
• Free from deteroiation due to oxidation i.e silver
• Low cost

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 ▪ Topics

✓Fuse

▪ Circuit breakers

✓(Low voltage): MCB, MCCB, ELCB

✓High voltage circuit breakers

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 Fuse Types

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 Few general definitions about fuse

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 Liquid quenched fuse
• Filled with carbon tetrachloride

• Widest range of application to HV systems.

• From 100 A rated current on systems of up to 132 kV and

may have breaking capacities of the order of 6100 A.

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 Kit-kat fuse

• Fusing factor= Minimum fusing current

Rated current

• Fusing factor =1.75

• Fusing element = Copper
• Low current and uncertain breaking capacity

Ref. [1]

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 High Rupturing Capacity (HRC)
Cartridge Fuse
• Filling powder: Chalk, plaster of paris, quartz
• Fault-> Silver melts->Chemical reaction betn Ag
And filling material-> High resistance arc quenching

Ref. [2]

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 Expulsion Fuse
• Fault->Elements melt->Arcing-> Resultant gas pressure -> Arc to
be blown out

• Boric acid-> Interior lines-> Produce gas

• Violent and outdoor

• High voltage upto 33kV

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 Ref. [3]

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 Dropout Fuse
• 11-33kV

Ref. [4]

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 Liquid quenched fuse
• Filled with carbon tetrachloride

• Widest range of application to HV systems.

• From 100 A rated current on systems of up to 132 kV and

may have breaking capacities of the order of 6100 A.

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 Ref. [5]

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 Selection of Fuse links
1. Nature of load

• Normal current

• Starting current, duration

• Permissible overload

2. Fault current

3. Grading or discrimination

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 Other Fuse applications
Discrimination between fuses

A ratio of 1.5 between the ratings of

major and minor fuses is likely
to give satisfactory discrimination
upto short-circuit currents of 40kA

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 Other Fuse applications
Fuse for motor protection

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 Other Fuse applications
Fuse for distribution line protection

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 https://www.indiamart.com/prashimtechengineering/pole-mounted-transformer.html

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 Other Fuse applications
Fuse for feeder protection

-> Objective: Disconnect under fault with

minimum interruptions

Ref. [6]

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 Readings

No. Book Details

1 Oza et al. Power System Protection and Chapter 15 (Page 425-434)
Switchgear

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 Text Books

• Bhuvanesh Oza et al., 2011. Power system protection and

switchgear. Tata McGraw-Hill Education.
• Paithankar, Y.G. and Bhide, S.R., 2010. Fundamentals of power
system protection. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
 References

1. https://www.tradeindia.com/products/western-kit-kat-fuse-
6581741.html
2. https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/l-t-hrc-fuse-
3543213988.html
3. https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/support/powered
ge/volume-14/vol14-tab02.pdf
4. https://edisontechcenter.org/LightningSuppression.html
5. https://favreadblogs.blogspot.com/2018/11/switchgear-what-
is-liquid-type-fuse.html
6. Turan Gonen, “Electric distribution Systems”
LOW VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
 Miniature circuit breaker (MCB)
• Miniature circuit breakers are the latest development in circuit-breaker
technology, particularly for low currents, 440 V applications.

• The MCBs can replace fuses in many applications like house-wiring, and
commercial and industrial applications.

• When a fuse blows, it has to be replaced; while in case of an MCB one has just to
switch it ON when it becomes off due to fault current or overload. Also, for fuses
there are chances of a person replacing higher capacity of a fuse wire which will
endanger the equipment which the fuse is protecting. In case of MCBs, such a
difficulty is absent because an MCB is a sealed unit and there is nothing to be
replaced when it switches off on fault.

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 • An MCB has comparatively better defined characteristics in comparison with a
fuse. MCBs can be well coordinated with fuses, induction motors and
characteristics of overcurrent relays for protection of a feeder.

• Working of MCB
• There are three mechanisms provided in a single miniature circuit breaker
to make it switched off. If we carefully observe the picture beside, we will
find there is mainly one bimetallic strip, one trip coil and one-hand
operated on-off lever.

• The electric current-carrying path of a miniature circuit breaker shown in

the picture is as follows. First left-hand side power terminal – then
bimetallic strip – then-current coil or trip coil – then moving contact – then
fixed contact and – lastly right had side power terminal. All are arranged
in series.

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 • If the circuit is overloaded for a long time, the bimetallic strip
becomes overheated and deformed. This deformation of bimetallic
strip causes, displacement of latch point. The moving contact of the
MCB is so arranged by means of spring pressure, with this latch
point, that a little displacement of latch causes, release of spring and
makes the moving contact to move for opening the MCB.

• The current coil or trip coil is placed in such a manner, that during
short circuit fault the MMF of that coil causes its plunger to hit the
same latch point and make the latch to be displaced. Hence the MCB
will open in the same manner.

• Again when the operating lever of the miniature circuit breaker is

operated by hand, that means when we make the MCB at off
position manually, the same latch point is displaced as a result
moving contact separated from fixed contact in the same manner.

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 • Regardless of the operating mechanism – e.g. due to the
deformation of the bimetallic strip, or due to the increased MMF
of the trip coil, or due to manual operation – the same latch
point is displaced and same deformed spring is released. This is
ultimately responsible for the movement of the moving contact.
When the moving contact separated from fixed contact, there
may be a high chance of arc.

• This arc then goes up through the arc runner and enters into arc
splitters and is finally quenched. When we switch on an MCB,
we actually reset the displaced operating latch to its previous on
position and make the MCB ready for another switch off or trip
operation.

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 https://www.electrical4u.com/miniature-circuit-breaker-or-
mcb/

6A rated current, 10kA shortcircuit current MCB

https://www.daraz.com.np/products/havells-pvc-plastic-61632-
a-mcb-sp-c-curve-white-i104918663.html
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 https://www.realpars.com/blog/circuit-breaker

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 Earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB)
• Current operated Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCBs) or Residual
Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs) are primarily intend to give
protection by automatic disconnection of supply against the risk of
dangerous and possibly lethal electric shocks.

• The ELCBs interrupt the circuit within a fraction of a heartbeat

providing protection against dangerous contact voltages. They also
produce a high degree of protection against earth faults and shocks.

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 ▪ Principle of operation
• ELCB consists of a three-winding transformer, which has two
primary windings and one secondary winding. It is called the
Core Balance Current Transformer (CBCT).
• Phase and neutral wires act as the two primary windings. A
wire-wound coil is the secondary winding.

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 • At the balanced condition, the current through the secondary
winding is zero. For example, if the phase wire carries 5A means
same 5 A current will be returned to the neutral wire also.
• The sum of the current is zero. It is the normal state, in which the
current ELCB doesn’t get operated. Now consider a human touching
a phase wire, it causes current to pass from phase to earth.
• Now phase carries 5A (normal load) plus 30 mA of fault current. But
our neutral wire carries a 5A current.
• There is a difference of 30mA of current. It is sensed by the CBCT
(Core Balanced Current Transformer and send to the relay operating
coils.
• When a fault occurs, a small amount of current will flow to the
ground also. This makes an unbalance between phase and neutral
currents and creates an unbalanced magnetic field.
• This induces a current across the secondary winding, which is
connected to the sensing circuit. This will detect fault currents and
send a signal to the tripping system and trips the contact.

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 • When the line and neutral currents are balanced, as in a healthy
circuit, they produce equal and opposite magnetic fluxes in the
transformer core with the result that there is no current
generated in the sensing coil. (For this reason, the transformer is
also known as a ‘core balance transformer‘).
• When the line and neutral currents are not balanced they create
an out-of-balance flux. This will induce a current in the
secondary winding which is used to operate the tripping
mechanism. It is important to note that both the line and neutral
conductors pass through the toroid.

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 https://studyelectrical.com/2015/05/residual-current-circuit-
breakers-elcb-rccb-rcbo-working-principle.html

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 Moulded case circuit breakers (MCCB)
• It is an advanced version of MCB (Miniature circuit breaker). It
is available from 32 Amps to 1600 Amps with the voltage range
of 230V to 1.1kV.
• The main advantage of MCCB is that we can tailor it as per our
requirement by installing with new future such as remote
closing, UV trip etc. It is the best replacement for an air circuit
breaker in terms of cost as well as better function.
• Also, you can adjust the current setting as well as the time
setting in the moulded case circuit breaker.

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 https://seamless-automation.com/shop/mccb/easypact-
cvs/160a-3p-mccb-cvs/

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 https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/lv-circuit-breaker-proper-proper-application

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HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
 SF6 circuit breaker

https://studyelectrical.com/2014/07/sulphur-hexaflouride-sf6-circuit-breaker-construct
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2021/08/sf6-sulphur-hexaflouride-circuit-breaker.html working-advantages.html

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 Vacuum circuit breaker

• Vacuum: (10^-7 to 10^-5 torr)

• No noise
• Environmental friendly
(SF6 is greenhouse gas)
• Single interrupter is limited to about
52kV

https://circuitglobe.com/wp-
content/uploads/2016/06/vacuum-circuit-breaker-
compressor.jpg
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 https://studyelectrical.com/2014/11/vacuum-circuit-breaker-
vcb-working-construction.html

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 Circuit breaker selection
• If X/R is unknown (most of the case), the calculated
fault current should not be greater than 80% of the breaker interrupting capability.

Table 1. CB data sheet

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 Circuit breaker selection
• Consider an example

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 Circuit breaker selection
the calculated
fault current should not be greater than 80% of the breaker
interrupting capability.

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 Table 1. CB data sheet

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Circuit breaker selection
❑Consider an example
• It is required to choose a circuit breaker for a hydropower station. Say that the
symmetrical fault current (SFC) is 17kA, normal load current is 1kA and
operating voltage is 64kV. The X/R ratio at the bus is unknown. Select a circuit
breaker for it.
 • Step1: See the datasheet. The nearest circuit breaker we can see close to operating voltage is 69kV.
Check the load current capability of this breaker (1200A in this case). Select this circuit breaker

• Step 2: We need to know determine the symmetrical fault current capability (SFCC) of this breaker
at 64kV.

• Step 3: Note Vmax for this breaker i.e 72.5kV

• Now Vmin=Vmax/K=72.5/1.21 (Datasheet) = 60kV. K->Asymmetricity factor

• The SFCC between Vmin and Vmax can be calculated by simply

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 • SFCC= 19*72.5/V= 1378/V

• At operating voltage below Vmin, SFCC= K*I=19*1.21=23kA

• To find SFCC for 64 kV (SFCC64)= 1378/64 = 21.5kA

• Now, the maximum SFC (given) is 17kA

• Step4: For final Circuit breaker selection, SFC should be less than 80% of
capability of SFCC64

• 80% of SFCC64 = 0.8 * 21.5kA= 17.2kA

• 17.2kA> SFC, So we can choose this breaker

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 Example from Power system and analysis by Glover and Sharma

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 INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMER

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 Introduction
• Current transformers and potential transformers are used for
proportionately reducing currents and voltages respectively to
values suitable to be fed to protective relays.

• Typical CT secondary rating: 1A or 5A ac

• Typical PT secondary rating: 110V ac

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 Indoor type
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 Outdoor type
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 Ref: https://electricalacademia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/substation.jpg

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 https://www.indiamart.com/narayan-powertevadodara/other-products.html

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 ▪ Few terminologies in CT

1. Burden

• The burden of measuring instruments such as ammeter, current coils

of wattmeter, energymeter, p.f. meter, etc., is approximately 5 VA
each for a 5 A secondary rating of the CT.

• The burden of protective relays is always specifi ed by the relay

manufacturer.

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 • The burden of a control cable (2.5 mm2) is around 20 VA for a 5
A secondary rating and about 1 VA for 1 A secondary rating, for
a 100 metre length.

2. Ratio or Current error

3. Phase angle error

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 ▪ CT functions:
1. Metering

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 2. Protection class CT: Class C,T,X

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 Accuracy Limiting Factor (ALF)

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 • CT specification:
Rated burden Protection class

15 VA, 5P20 ALF

Composite
error

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 • Differences between metering and protection CT

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZtH0IzdwSQ&ab_channe
=RELAYPROTECTIONELECTRICAL

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 ▪ Potential transformer

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 https://www.electricalclassroom.com/potential-transformer-voltage-pt/

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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8enQ35cY3M

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 ▪ CAPACITOR VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER (CVT)

• At 132 kV and beyond, CVTs may be more economical than

electromagnetic PTs.

• Moreover the HV capacitor of a CVT can also serve as coupling

capacitor of a carrier equipment. the exact ratio required.

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 https://studyelectrical.com/2014/03/capacitor-voltage-
transformer.html

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 • Non conventional Instrument Transformers

Conventional Non-Conventional

Bigger, Heavy Smaller, Light weight

High power-> Larger size Independent of power

requirement

Non-linear behavior No non-linearity

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Ref [4]
 Hall effect kind
Rogowski Coils

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 Readings

No. Book Details

1 Oza et al. Power System Protection and Chapter 13
Switchgear

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 Readings

No. Book Details

1 Paithankar, Power System Protection Chapter 12

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