Modeling of the Interaction between the Switching Arc and Hydraulic Driving Mechanism in Gas-blast Circuit Breakers

The presence of an arc in a circuit breaker interrupter creates an opposing force to the driving mechanism by changing of the pressure field. This opposing force alters the dynamics of the driving mechanism, the travel characteristics of the moving contact and therefore the switching process. The severity of the influence depends on the structure of the interrupter, the travel profile and also the current waveform, especially the magnitude of the fault current. A 252 kV puffer circuit breaker was used in the present work to study the key factors that contribute to the uncertainty of the predicted contact travel based on coupled simulation.

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Solid-State DC Circuit Breakers and their Comparison in Modular Multilevel Converter Based-HVDC Transmission System

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10101204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1204

Author(s):

Gul Ahmad Ludin ◽

Mohammad Amin Amin ◽

Hidehito Matayoshi ◽

Shriram S. Rangarajan ◽

Ashraf M. Hemeida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solid State ◽

High Voltage ◽

Direct Current ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Transmission System ◽

Simulation Software ◽

Fault Current ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

Hvdc Transmission ◽

Dc Circuit Breakers

This paper proposes a new and surge-less solid-state direct current (DC) circuit breaker in a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system to clear the short-circuit fault. The main purpose is the fast interruption and surge-voltage and over-current suppression capability analysis of the breaker during the fault. The breaker is equipped with series insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switches to mitigate the stress of high voltage on the switches. Instead of conventional metal oxide varistor (MOV), the resistance–capacitance freewheeling diodes branch is used to bypass the high fault current and repress the over-voltage across the circuit breaker. The topology and different operation modes of the proposed breaker are discussed. In addition, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed circuit breaker, it is compared with two other types of surge-less solid-state DC circuit breakers in terms of surge-voltage and over-current suppression. For this purpose, MATLAB Simulink simulation software is used. The system is designed for the transmission of 20 MW power over a 120 km distance where the voltage of the transmission line is 220 kV. The results show that the fault current is interrupted in a very short time and the surge-voltage and over-current across the proposed breaker are considerably reduced compared to other topologies.

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Fault Diagnosis Algorithm and Protection of Electric Power Systems in an Alternative Distribution System

Journal La Multiapp ◽

10.37899/journallamultiapp.v1i3.192 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 8-16

Author(s):

Oshin Ola Austin ◽

Oluwasanmi Alonge ◽

Ajayi Joseph Adeniyi

Keyword(s):

Power Systems ◽

Distribution System ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Research Work ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Phase System ◽

Fault Current ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

Protective Devices

In any power systems, protective devices will detect fault conditions and operate circuit breakers in order to disconnect the load from the fault current and limit loss of service due to failure. This fault may involve one or more phases and the ground, or may occur between two or more phases in a three-phase systems. In ground, fault’ or ‘earth fault, current flows into the earth. In a poly-phase system, a fault may affect each of the three phases equally which is a symmetrical fault. If only some phases are affected, the resulting ‘asymmetrical fault’ becomes more complicated to analyze due to the simplifying assumption of equal current magnitude in all the phases being no longer applicable. Therefore, the prospective short circuit current of the fault can be calculated for power systems analysis procedures. This will assist in the choice of protective devices like circuit breakers, current transformers and relays. This research work evaluated and analyzed the occurrence of faults in a distribution system. Fault currents were obtained and the maximum tripping time required for the protective devices to operate were determined. Hence, it was possible to select appropriate relay and circuit breaker for effective operation of a distribution

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A Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker with Fault-Current-Limiting Capability for VSC-HVDC Transmission System

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12122388 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 2388 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Muhammad Ahmad ◽

Zhixin Wang

Keyword(s):

Energy Absorption ◽

Direct Current ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Voltage Source ◽

Voltage Source Converter ◽

Fault Current ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

Current Limiting ◽

Hybrid Circuit

The direct current circuit breakers are considered a promising option to protect the transmission line against commonly appearing line-to-ground fault. However, the challenges of losses in the nonoperational stage, escalation of response against fault current, and large fault current handling capability remain the debatable issues for direct current circuit breakers. This paper introduces a novel topology of the hybrid circuit breaker with fault-current-limiting characteristics, which contains three branches: the main branch, fault-current-limiting branch, and energy absorption branch. The main branch includes a mechanical switch, breaker impedance, and bidirectional power electronics switches. In the fault-current-limiting branch, a fault-current-limiting circuit is introduced which contains n numbers of bidirectional switches and current-limiting inductors, which are connected in series to make the design modular in nature. During the normal working stage, the current flows through the main branch of the breaker. Once a fault in the system is confirmed, the fault current is transferred to the fault-current-limiting branch. At this stage, the intensity of the fault current is reduced significantly using the fault-current-limiting circuit, and finally, the residual current is shifted to the energy absorption branch. The working principle, design considerations, and parametric analysis concerning the design of hybrid circuit breakers are incorporated in this paper. The performance of the proposed breaker is evaluated using a three-terminal voltage-source converter-based high-voltage direct current transmission network; for this purpose, a PSCAD/EMTDC simulation tool is used. The performance of the proposed breaker is also compared with other topologies. The comparative analysis shows that the proposed breaker is a good alternative considering high fault current interruption requirements, response time against fault current, and power losses.

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Innovative X-ray control technology of high-voltage circuit breaker technical condition

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202021601054 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 216 ◽

pp. 01054

Author(s):

Leonid Darian ◽

Pavel Golubev ◽

Roman Obraztsov

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Technical Condition ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

X Ray ◽

High Voltage Circuit Breaker ◽

Reliability Indicators ◽

Moving Contact ◽

Contact Control ◽

Analytical System

The paper presents the results of practical application of an instrumentation and analytical system (IAS) for X-ray control of minimum oil and SF6 circuit breakers. The capabilities of IAS are described and the technology for its implementation is given. It is shown that the proposed technology makes it possible to control the contact group (moving and fixed contacts) and elements of the moving contact control system of circuit breakers without bus bar dismantling, oil drain and disassembly of the circuit breaker poles. The paper also presents the assessment of the reliability indicators of high-voltage circuit breakers, which confirms the prospects for introducing the developed X-ray inspection technology.

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Technical Assessment of Hybrid HVDC Circuit Breaker Components under M-HVDC Faults

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14238148 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (23) ◽

pp. 8148

Author(s):

Saqib Khalid ◽

Ali Raza ◽

Umar Alqasemi ◽

Nebras Sobahi ◽

Muhammad Zain Yousaf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stresses ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Fault Isolation ◽

Fault Current ◽

Operational Parameters ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

Current Interruption ◽

Operational Conditions ◽

Dc Fault ◽

Protection Strategies

One of the technical challenges that needs to be addressed for the future of the multi-terminal high voltage direct current (M-HVDC) grid is DC fault isolation. In this regard, HVDC circuit breakers (DCCBs), particularly hybrid circuit breakers (H-DCCBs), are paramount. The H-DCCB, proposed by the ABB, has the potential to ensure a reliable and safer grid operation, mainly due to its millisecond-level current interruption capability and lower on-state losses as compared to electromechanical and solid-state based DCCBs. This paper aims to study and evaluate the operational parameters, e.g., electrical, and thermal stresses on the IGBT valves and energy absorbed by the surge arrestors within H-DCCB during different DC fault scenarios. A comprehensive set of modeling requirements matching with operational conditions are developed. A meshed four-terminal HVDC test bench consisting of twelve H-DCCBs is designed in PSCAD/EMTDC to study the impacts of the M-HVDC grid on the operational parameters of H-DCCB. Thus, the system under study is tested for different current interruption scenarios under a (i) low impedance fault current and (ii) high impedance fault current. Both grid-level and self-level protection strategies are implemented for each type of DC fault.

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Important Factors for Consideration during the Specification of SF6 Circuit Breakers for High Voltage Generators

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13143608 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 3608

Author(s):

Avni Alidemaj ◽

Qendrim Nika

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Direct Current ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Energy System ◽

Fault Current ◽

Current Component ◽

Circuit Breakers ◽

High Voltage Circuit Breaker ◽

Short Time ◽

A Current

This paper describes and analyzes the phenomena that occur in the case of a current interruption due to faults in the high voltage circuit breaker. That happens during connection of a generator to the network without meeting the synchronization conditions. This paper also describes and analyzes the important factors that have to be considered during the specification of SF6 circuit breakers for high voltage generators. A high direct current component in the fault current poses a major problem during such interruptions. To investigate this problem and propose possible solutions, simulations were performed on a power network model completed with the network’s data, using software such as EMTP-ATP, PSS-E and MATLAB. Various modes of operation were simulated, which are important for analyzing the strain on circuit breakers near the generator. Based on the performed simulations, it can be concluded that circuit breakers with rapid reactions in interrupting the fault current in an energy system are not always a favorable solution due to the high value of the direct current component in the fault current, which prevents the current from passing through zero within a short time.

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Research on Voltage and Current Monitoring System for Circuit Breaker

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.392.389 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 392 ◽

pp. 389-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Peng Peng Liu ◽

Fang Yao ◽

Zhi Gang Li ◽

Yan Yan Luo

Keyword(s):

Data Acquisition ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Control Program ◽

Automatic Monitoring ◽

Test System ◽

Switching Process ◽

Dynamic Monitoring ◽

Current Waveform ◽

Contact Voltage

This article develops the automatic test system of voltage and current dynamic waveform for circuit breaker. The system has the automatic monitoring, the storage and the display function of contact voltage and current waveform of circuit breaker in switching process. And then, it also designs the hardware and software of voltage and current dynamic monitoring system for miniature circuit breaker: the hardware circuit of this test system mainly consists of the detection circuit and the data acquisition circuit of current and voltage. And the software system, which mainly consists of control program, data acquisition program and data processing program, is programmed under the condition of LabVIEW. At last, it carries on the real-time monitor to the voltage and current waveform at the both ends of the circuit breaker, especially for the waveform during the switching process, which contributes to study the arc energy and contact wear of circuit breaker.

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Author response for "High‐voltage DC circuit breaker with gradual fault‐current limitation mechanism for VSC‐HVDC applications"

10.1002/2050-7038.12468/v2/response1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Ahmad ◽

Zhixin Wang ◽

Yong Zhang

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Author Response ◽

Fault Current ◽

Current Limitation

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Application of an Improved Mayr-Type Arc Model in Pyro-Breakers Utilized in Superconducting Fusion Facilities

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14144383 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (14) ◽

pp. 4383

Author(s):

Jun He ◽

Ke Wang ◽

Jiangang Li

Keyword(s):

Power Systems ◽

Computer Aided Design ◽

Circuit Breaker ◽

Black Box ◽

Driving Mechanism ◽

Change Rate ◽

Arc Model ◽

Arc Behavior ◽

Current Change ◽

Aided Design

Pyro-breaker, a fast-responding, highly reliable and explosive-driven circuit breaker, is utilized in several Quench Protection Systems (QPS). The commutation process and its parameters are the main technical considerations in the process of designing a new pyro-breaker. The commutation parameters, such as the commutation time and the current change rate, are not only determined by the electrical parameters of the commutation circuit but also the arc behavior during the operation. The arc behavior is greatly affected by the structure and the driving mechanism of the Commutation Section (CS) in the pyro-breaker. The arc model was developed decades ago and the black-box arc model is considered a valid method to study arc behavior. In this paper, the Schavemaker black-box arc model, an improved Mayr-type arc model, is applied to study the commutation process of a newly designed pyro-breaker. Unlike normal circuit breakers, the arc discussed in this paper is discharged in deionized water. A parameter selection method is proposed. The practicability of the method is verified by numerical calculation in Power Systems Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) and experimentally.

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