Sulphur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker:

In Sulphur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker (SF₆) gas is used as the arc quenching medium. The SF₆ is an electro-negative gas and has a strong tendency to absorb free electrons. The contacts of the breaker are opened in a high pressure flow of SF₆ gas and an arc is struck between them. The conducting free electrons in the arc are rapidly captured by the gas to form relatively immobile negative ions. This loss of conducting electrons in the arc quickly builds up enough insulation strength to extinguish the arc. The SF₆ circuit breakers have been found to be Very effective for high power and high voltage service.

Construction:

Fig. 19.11 shows the parts of a typical 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 SF₆ gas reservior. 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 arc 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 suitable auxiliary sytem after each operation of the breaker.

Working:

In the closed position of the breaker, the contacts remain surrounded by SF₆ gas at a pressure of about 2.8 kg/cm². When the breaker operates, the moving contact is pulled apart and an arc is struck between the contacts. The movement of the moving contact is synchronized with the opening of a valve which permits SF₆ gas at 14kg/cm2 pressure from the reservoir to the arc interruption chamber. The high pressure flow of Sulphur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker rapidly absorbs the free electrons in the arc path to form immobile negative ions which are ineffective as charge carriers. The result is that the medium between the contacts quickly builds up high dielectric strength and causes the extinction of the arc. After the breaker operation (i.e., after arc extinction), the valve is closed by the action of a set of springs.

Advantages:

Due to the superior arc quenching properties of SF₆ gas, the SF₆ circuit breakers have many advantages over oil or air circuit breakers. Some of them are listed below :

• Due to the superior arc quenching property of SF₆, such circuit breakers have very short arcing time.
• Since the dielectric strength of SF₆ gas is 2 to 3 times that of air, such breakers can interrupt much larger currents.
• The SF₆ circuit breaker gives noiselss operation due to its closed gas circuit and no exhaust to atmosphere unlike the air blast circuit breaker.
• The closed gas enclosure keeps the interior dry so that there is no moisture problem.
• There is no risk of fire in such breakers because SF₆ gas is non-inflammable.
• There are no carbon deposits so that tracking and insulation problems are eliminated.
• The SF₆ breakers have low maintenance cost, light foundation requirements and minimum auxiliary equipment.
• Since SF₆ breakers are totally enclosed and sealed from atmosphere, they are particularly suitable where explosion hazard exists g., coal mines.

Disadvantages:

• Sulphur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker are costly due to the high cost of SF₆.
• Since Sulphur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker gas has to be reconditioned after every operation of the breaker, additional equip­ment is required for this purpose.

Applications:

A typical Sulphur Hexafluoride Circuit Breaker of interrupter units each capable of dealing with currents upto 60 kA and voltages in the range of 50-80 kV.  A number of units are connected in series according to the system voltage. SF₆ circuit breakers have been developed for voltages 115 kV to 230 kV, power ratings 10 MVA to 20 MVA and interrupting time less than 3 cycles.