Testing-Circuit Breakers
Testing-Circuit Breakers
Testing-Circuit Breakers
Circuit Breaker
Make or break the electrical circuit either manually or remote under normal load conditions Break the circuit automatically under fault conditions
Where it is used?
Industries Substations Generating stations
THERMAL TYPE
MAGNETIC TYPE
Arc phenomenon
Arc depends upon following factors Degree of ionization Cross section area of the arc Length of the arc
Arc phenomenon
Arc can be extinguished by Arc splitters Increasing the length of the arc Using arc extinguishing substances between the electrodes
ARC INTERRUPTION
MCB ELCB
H V Circuit breaker
Current sensor Mechanism to trip or make the contacts fixed and moving contacts Adjustments to set fault current Trip circuit
Specifications
Voltage(kV) Rated current(A) Short circuit current(KA) Fault clearance time (ms)
Why testing?
To evaluate Constructional characteristics Operational characteristic Electrical characteristic of the circuit
Operational characteristics of CB
To evaluate Arcing voltage Current chopping characteristics Rate of decrease of conductance
Physical characteristics
Speed of contact travel Number of breaks Size of the arcing chamber Medium in which arc is extinguished
What to be tested?
Making or breaking capacity Fault clearance time as per the specifications
Types of tests
Dielectric tests-Over voltage withstand test Temperature rise test Mechanical test Short circuit test
Master circuit breaker can be tripped if the test device fails to operate properly
Synthetic testing
Synthetic Testing of Circuit Breakers:
It is not economical to have a single source to provide the required short circuit and the rated voltage The effect of a short circuit and recovery voltage as a combination of the effects of two sources One of sources supplies the a.c. current and the other the high voltage a.c. current source supplies the heavy current at a low voltage Recovery voltage is simulated by a source of comparatively high voltage of small current capacity
Vc- Low voltage, high current generator Lc- Current controlling inductance 1 - Master breaker 3 - Main switch T CB under test 4 - Auxiliary breaker 6- Trigger gap Cv - Capacitor charged
Surge Diverter
Voltage surge A sudden rise in voltage for a very short duration on the power system is known as voltage surge.
Twenty applications of the impulse current at the selected points on the voltage wave are made in four groups. The arrester is said to have passed the test, if:
the average power frequency spark-over voltage before and after the test does not differ by more than 10% the residual voltage at the rated current does not vary by more than 10% the follow-on power frequency current is interrupted each time no significant change, signs of flashover, or puncture occurs to the pro-rated unit
Other Tests
Mechanical tests like porosity test, temperature cycle tests, and others Pressure relief test The voltage withstand test on the insulator housing of the diverter The switching surge flashover test The pollution tests
When the radio noise meter measurements are stated, following information have to mention
The specifications of the meter used The frequency range of measurements The band pass characteristics The open circuit and the detector characteristics have to be mentioned