SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers are compared based on their operating energy requirements, arc energy levels, contact erosion, switching behavior, operational life, maintenance needs, and suitability for different applications. SF6 breakers have higher operating energy needs but lower arc energy, resulting in less contact erosion. Vacuum breakers have lower operating energy but can interrupt a wider range of faults. Both breaker types are well-suited for switching various loads with some operational differences noted. Overall both SF6 and vacuum breakers are found to be reliable interrupting technologies for medium voltage systems.
SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers are compared based on their operating energy requirements, arc energy levels, contact erosion, switching behavior, operational life, maintenance needs, and suitability for different applications. SF6 breakers have higher operating energy needs but lower arc energy, resulting in less contact erosion. Vacuum breakers have lower operating energy but can interrupt a wider range of faults. Both breaker types are well-suited for switching various loads with some operational differences noted. Overall both SF6 and vacuum breakers are found to be reliable interrupting technologies for medium voltage systems.
SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers are compared based on their operating energy requirements, arc energy levels, contact erosion, switching behavior, operational life, maintenance needs, and suitability for different applications. SF6 breakers have higher operating energy needs but lower arc energy, resulting in less contact erosion. Vacuum breakers have lower operating energy but can interrupt a wider range of faults. Both breaker types are well-suited for switching various loads with some operational differences noted. Overall both SF6 and vacuum breakers are found to be reliable interrupting technologies for medium voltage systems.
SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers are compared based on their operating energy requirements, arc energy levels, contact erosion, switching behavior, operational life, maintenance needs, and suitability for different applications. SF6 breakers have higher operating energy needs but lower arc energy, resulting in less contact erosion. Vacuum breakers have lower operating energy but can interrupt a wider range of faults. Both breaker types are well-suited for switching various loads with some operational differences noted. Overall both SF6 and vacuum breakers are found to be reliable interrupting technologies for medium voltage systems.
COMPARISON BETWEEN VACUUM AND SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR MEDIUM
VOLTAGE APPLICATION An attempt is made to make a comparison between the SF6 type and vacuum type circuit breakers with a view to find out as to which of the two types is superior to the other. 1. Characteristics of the SF6 and vacuum current interrupting technologies. SF6 Circuit Breakers Criteria
Puffer Circuit Breaker Operating energy Operating Energy requirements requirements are high, because the mechanism must supply the energy needed to compress the gas.
Arc Energy
Contact Erosion
Vacuum Circuit Breakers Contact materialChrome-Copper Operating energy requirements are low, because the mechanism must move only relatively small masses at moderate speed, over very short distances.
Self-pressuring circuit-breaker Operating Energy requirements are low, because the mechanism must move only relatively small masses at moderate speed, over short distances. The mechanism does not have to provide the energy to create the gas flow Because of the high conductivity of the arc Because of the very in the SF6 gas, the arc energy is low. (arc low voltage across voltage is between 150 and 200V.) the metal vapour arc, energy is very low. (Arc voltage is between 50 and 100V.) Due to the low energy the contact erosion Due to the very low is small. arc energy, the rapid movement of the arc root over the contact and to the fact that most of the metal vapour re-condenses on the contact, contact erosion is extremely small.
Arc extinguishing The gaseous medium SF6 possesses
media excellent dielectric and arc quenching properties. After arc extinction, the dissociated gas molecules recombine almost completely to reform SF6. This means that practically no loss/consumption of the quenching medium occurs. The gas pressure can be very simply and permanently supervised. This function is not needed where the interrupters are sealed for life. Switching behavior The pressure buildin relation to current up and therefore the chopping flow of gas is independent of the value of the current. Large or small currents are cooled with the same intensity. Only small values of high frequency, transient currents, if any, will be interrupted. The de-ionization of the contact gap proceeds very rapidly, due to the electro-negative characteristic of the SF6 gas and the arc products. No. of short-circuit 10---50 operation No. full load 5000---10000 operation No. of mechanical 5000---20000 operation
The pressure buildup and therefore the
flow of gas is dependent upon the value of the current to be interrupted. Large currents are cooled intensely, small currents gently. High frequency transient currents will not, in general, be interrupted. The deionization of the contact gap proceeds very rapidly due to the electro-negative characteristic of the SF6 gas and the products. 10---50
No additional extinguishing medium is required. A vacuum at a pressure of 10-7 bar or less is an almost ideal extinguishing medium. The interrupters are sealed for life so that supervision of the vacuum is not required. No flow of an extinguishing medium needed to extinguish the vacuum arc. An extremely rapid deionization of the contact gap, ensures the interruption of all currents whether large or small. High frequency transient currents can be interrupted. The value of the chopped current is determined by the type of contact material used. The presence of chrome in the contact alloy with vacuum also. 30---100
5000---10000
10000---20000
5000---20000
10000---30000
2. Comparison of the sf6 and vacuum technologies in relation to operational aspects.
Criteria Summated current cumulative Breaking current capacity of interrupter Mechanical operating life No operation before maintenance Time interval between servicing Mechanism Outlay for maintenance Reliability Dielectric withstand strength of the contact gap
SF6 Breaker 10-50 times rated short circuit current 5000-10000 times
VCB 30-100 times rated short circuit current 10000-20000 times
5000-20000 C-O operations
5-10 years
10000-30000 C-O operations 10000-30000 C-O operations 5-10 years
Labour cost High, Material
cost Low High High
Labour cost Low, Material
cost High High Very high
5000-20000 C-O operations
3. Comparison of the sf6 and vacuum switching technologies in relation to switching
applications Criteria Switching of Short circuit current with High DC component Switching of Short circuit current with High RRV
SF6 Breaker Well suited
VCB Well suited Very well suited
Switching of transformers Switching of reactors
Well suited under certain
conditions (RRV>1-2 kV per Milli seconds Well suited. Well suited
Switching of capacitors
Well suited. Re-strike free
Well suited. Re-strike free
Switching of capacitors back to back
Suited. In some cases
current limiting reactors required to limit inrush current Suitable for limited operation
Suited. In some cases
current limiting reactors required to limit inrush current Well suited. Steps to be taken to limit over voltage.
Switching of arc furnace
Well suited Well suited. Steps to be taken when current <600A. to avoid over voltage due to current chopping
