SF6 Circuit

Breaker
(Sulphur
Hexafluoride)
 Introduction

• SF6 is a colorless non-toxic gas, with good

thermal conductivity and density approximately
five times that of air (6.14 kg/m3.).
• It does not react with materials commonly used
in high voltage circuit breakers.
• Applications for SF6 include gas insulated
transmission lines and gas insulated power
distribution substations.
• The SF6 gas is identified as a greenhouse gas,
safety regulation are being introduced in many
countries in order to prevent its release into
atmosphere.
 Properties of SF6
• SF6 gas has high dielectric strength
• It has high Rate of Rise of dielectric strength after arc
extinction.
• SF6 is non toxic gas.
• SF6 is an inert gas. So in normal operating condition the
metallic parts in contact with the gas are not corroded.
• SF6 has high thermal conductivity which means the heat
dissipation capacity is more.
• The gas is quite stable. After the extinction of the arc
the SF6 gas is reformed from the decomposition.
• SF6 is non-flammable
 Arc extinction in SF6 circuit breaker
• In SF6 circuit breaker the gas is
made to flow from high
pressure zone to low pressure
zone through a nozzle.
• Through nozzle the gas flows
axially over the arc length.
• The gas takes away the heat
from the arc periphery.
• The arc diameter reduces and
becomes almost zero at
current zero and the arc is
extinguished.
• The contact space is filled with
fresh SF6 gas and its dielectric
strength is rapidly regained.
 Arc extinction
• When the contacts separate, an arc is established.
• During the opening operation the gas contained inside a part of the
breaker is compressed by a moving cylinder
• This forces the SF6 gas to flow through the interrupting nozzle axially
along the arc.
• The heat is removed from the arc. Consequently, the arc diameter reduces
during the decreasing mode of the current wave. The diameter becomes
small during current zero. Turbulent flow is introduced around current
zero for extinguishing the arc.
• If the short circuit current is high, the arc extinction may not occur at the
first zero crossing, but the gas pressure will increase sufficiently to blow
the arc out.
• The basic requirement in arc extinction is not primarily the dielectric
strength, but high rate of recovery of dielectric strength.
• SF6 gas regains its dielectric strength rapidly after the final current zero.
• The electron is absorbed by the neutral gas molecule.
• The contact space is filled with fresh SF6 gas and its dielectric strength is
rapidly regained.
 Construction of SF6 circuit breaker
It consists of fixed and moving contacts enclosed in a chamber called arc
interruption chamber containing SF6 gas. This chamber is connected to the
SF6 gas reservoir. When the contacts of breaker are opened, the valve
mechanism permits a high-pressure SF6 gas from the reservoir to flow towards
the arc interruption chamber. The fixed contact is a hollow cylindrical current
carrying contact fitted with an arcing horn.
The moving contact is also a hollow
cylinder with rectangular holes in the
sides to permit the SF6 gas to let out
through these holes after flowing along
and across the arc. The tips of fixed
contact, moving contact and arcing
horn are coated with copper-tungsten
arc-resistant material. Since SF6 gas is
costly, it is reconditioned and
reclaimed by a suitable auxiliary system
after each operation of the breaker.
 Construction
SF6 Circuit Breaker has fixed contact as well as moving contact. Theses fixed
and moving contacts are known as MAIN CONTACT. There exists one
another contact which is known as ARCING CONTACT. Arcing Contact is part
of fixed contact.

While opening, first main

contact will open and then
arcing contact will open. The
sequence will be reversed
during closing operation.
Apart from Fixed contact and
moving contacts, SF6 Circuit
Breaker has following main
components:
Interrupter
Insulating Nozzle
SF6 Gas Chamber
 Working Principle of SF6 Circuit Breaker
• The contacts of SF6 Circuit Breaker
are surrounded in an environment
of SF6 gas at some pressure.
Actually, the dielectric strength of
SF6 gas is directly proportional to
its pressure. In 220 kV, 400 kV and
765 kV applications, the gas
pressure is maintained at 6.5 bar.
• Let observe the mechanism step by
step during opening of the
contacts.
Step-1:
Main Contact Open:
• Main contact will open first.
• Though main contacts are open,
arcing contacts are still close.
• As main contacts open, the piston
in the cylinder moves causes the
SF6 gas to compress due to
reduction of volume Vp.
 Working Principle of SF6 Circuit Breaker
Step-2: Arcing Contacts Open
• As soon as arcing contacts
separates from contact 1,
an arc is formed.
• Due to this arcing, heat is
produced. This heat of arc
further increases the pressure
of SF6 in the chamber Vt.
• The pressure of arc
extinguisher i.e. SF6 is
increased by the heat of arc.
This is the reason; such
breaker is called self
compensating type. Here, the
capacity of breaker to
interrupt the fault is
proportional to fault current.
 Working Principle of SF6 Circuit Breaker
Step-3: Arcing Contact separates
from Nozzle
• When arcing contact separates
from the insulating Nozzle, the
pressurized SF6 gas in volume Vt
is released in the arc. This causes
the arc to extinguish at the
moment the current passes
though the natural zero. Thus, the
pressurized SF6 gas extinguishes
the arc and hence circuit is
interrupted.
• In case of small current like in
unloaded transformer or reactor,
the thermal energy of arc is not
enough to pressurize the SF6 gas.
In such case the pressure
developed in the SF6 gas chamber
Vp in Step-1 extinguishes the arc.
 Gas System
A compressor sends the gas back after each break to the high pressure
reservoir. The principal components of the SF6 CB system are:
(a) filter for removing impurities by
the contact of the gas with the arcs,
(b) the compressor for circulation of
the gas, (c) filter for removal of traces
of oil in the gas,(d) a relief valve for
holding the valve of the high pressure
within correct limits, (e) safety control
devices for maintaining the operating
pressure, for considering the
mechanism inoperative when the
pressure is low, where the
temperatures are likely to fall below
5°C. Resistance heaters are provided
in the auxiliary reservoir to maintain
the gas temperature above the
liquefaction point.
 Puffer type SF6 circuit breaker
The breaker has a cylinder and piston arrangement. Here the piston is fixed
but the cylinder is movable. The cylinder is tied to the moving contact so that
for opening the breaker the cylinder along with the moving contact moves
away from the fixed contact But due to the presence of fixed piston the SF6 gas
inside the cylinder is compressed.
The compressed SF6 gas flows
through the nozzle and over
the electric arc in axial
direction. The arc radius
reduces gradually and the arc
is finally extinguished at
current zero. The dielectric
strength of the medium
between the separated
contacts increases rapidly and
restored quickly as
fresh SF6 gas fills the space.
 Types of SF6 Circuit Breaker
Single Break SF6 Circuit Breaker
• In Single Break Circuit Breaker, only one moving and fixed contacts are
present. This means that, there will only be one interrupter unit in
such breaker. Single break SF6 circuit breaker is used for 220 kV
applications.
Double Break SF6 Circuit Breaker
• In such type of breaker, there are two set of moving and fixed contacts
connected in series. Therefore, to enclose two set of contacts, there
must be two interrupter unit in series. This type of breaker is used in
400 kV applications. In double break circuit breaker, grading
capacitors are used to equalize the voltage distribution across each
contact. Thus for 400 kV application, the voltage across each contact
will be 200 kV. Therefore it is logical to use SF6 gas at a pressure same
as used in 200 kV application.
Multi Break SF6 Circuit Breaker
• In multi break circuit break, more than two set of fixed and moving
contacts are used. Such type of breaker is used in 765 kV applications.
 Advantages

• Excellent insulating and arc extinguishing

property
• The gas is non inflammable; no risk of fire
• Electrical clearances are smaller because of high
dielectric strength
• Comparatively cheaper in cost, simple in
construction
• Performance is not affected by atmospheric
condition
• Noiseless operation compared to air blast circuit
breakers
 Advantages
• Contact erosion is less; no frequent contact
replacement
• No reduction in dielectric strength; no carbon
formation during arcing
• Minimum maintenance
• No contamination by moisture, dust etc; sealed
construction
• Same gas is circulated in the circuit; no frequent
refilling of gas
• No overvoltage problem; arc is extinguished without
current chopping
• Superior heat transferability so current carrying
capacity of conductor is high
 Disadvantages

• Sealing problem; leakage may take place

• The SF6 gas is identified as a greenhouse gas,
safety regulation are being introduced in many
countries in order to prevent its release into
atmosphere.
• Puffer type design of SF6 CB needs a high
mechanical energy which is almost five times
greater than that of oil circuit breaker.
• Special facilities are required for
transportation of gas
 APPLICATION

SF6 circuit breakers are preferred for rated

voltages of 3.3 kV to 760 kV.

– Indoor application: 3.3 kV to 36 kV

– Outdoor application: 36 kV to 760 kV
– SF6 GIS: 3.3 kV to 760 kV
SF6 GIS