NRC Medium Voltage Circuit
Breaker Training
CHAPTER 2
CIRCUIT BREAKER COMPONENTS
and
OPERATION
Learning Objectives
• Describe different breaker closing methods.
• Be able to recognize and describe the function of breaker
mechanical components.
• Know the difference between the line and load side primary
conductors.
• Understand how the breakers are inserted into the switchboard
switchboard.
• Understand the difference between Primary and Secondary current
carrying components.
• Understand the difference between main and arcing contacts.
• Understand the function of a puffer.
• Understand the operating sequence of an operating mechanism.
Circuit Breaker Operation
• Breakers can be operated two ways
• Manual Operation
• Electric Operation
Manual Operation
• Manual breakers are
closed by operating a
handle on the front of
the breaker, which will
prime a closing spring,
which closes the
breaker contacts or may
move the contacts to a
closed position via an
operating linkage.
Medium voltage breaker
manual operation
• Manual operation is primarily for
maintenance and is performed by
compressing the closing spring with a
manual closing spring charging device,
closing and tripping mechanisms are
normally dual operating and manual
closing and tripping operation is
performed from the breaker front plate.
Electrical operation - Solenoid
The coil pulls a solenoid slug, which actuated the
closing mechanism. Solenoid closing operation was
replaced by stored energy breakers.
Electrical operation
Stored energy closing
MAIN CURRENT CARRYING
COMPONENTS
The phase or pole design in all breakers
will consist of some or all of the following
components.
• Pi
Primary disconnects.
di t
• Primary conductors (Bushing)
• Moving contact arm
• Contacts
• Puffer device
Primary Disconnects.
• Left is common
floating -
female style
disconnect
• Right is GE
male style
disconnect
Primary bushing and puffer
device
• This is the rear of an
ABB 5 HK breaker.
There are 6 primary
bushings with primary
disconnects attached
• White round discs in
between the primary
bushings are puffer
pistons
Moving contact arm and
contacts
We will be using the Magne-Blast and DHP Contact structure to demo
the contact assemblies
• The moving contact arm is silver plated copper
andd connects
t tto th
the primary
i b
bushing
hi att a pivot
i t
point on the load side primary conductor.
• Arcing and main contacts are connected to the
stationary side bushing and the moving contact
arm
Vacuum Breaker Contacts
• There are only main
contacts within a vacuum
bottle. The commonly
used materials for
vacuum breakers are
either copper-bismuth or
copper-chrome alloys.
The shape is also
important and two basic
shapes are used cupped
axial magnetic design
and a slotted design.
Closing Shaft and Link
We will be using the class breakers to show closing shaft designs
• The closing shaft is the device that connects the
operating mechanism to the insulated links that
operate the
h moving
i contacts. The Th closing
l i shaft
h f
has different names depending on the breaker
manufacturer:
• Crank shaft
• Jack shaft
• Pole operating shaft
• Main Shaft
Operating Mechanism
We will be using the Magne-Blast and DHP operating mechanisms to
demo the following breaker components
• Closing arms/lever or closing cranks: The arms
attached to the closing shaft
shaft.
• Trip Latch: The latch, which rests on the trip latch
roller when the breaker is closed. Trips the breaker
when closed.
• Trip Latch Roller: Roller that rests on the trip latch.
Operating Mechanism-continued
• Closing Roller: The roller on the mechanism
linkage. The closing roller rides on the closing
cam during the close operation.
• Closing Cam: The closing cam is a drop cam
shape design and pushes the breaker linkage to
the close position.
• Prop Larch (DHP = Tripping cam): Latch used
to hold the mechanism in the closed position
after closing to allow the mechanism to
recharge.
Breaker Operating Sequence
a
A charging motor or
manual charge handle
operates the charging
crank and pushes a
ratchet wheel to
compress the closing
spring. When the
breaker reaches the
charged position and the
closing latch is holding
the closing spring in a
fully compressed position
Item 2 and 5
Breaker Operating Sequence
b
• The trip latch will now
be in a position to
hold the mechanism
in a closed position
when the close
operation is initiated
Item 10 and 18
Breaker Operating Sequence
c
• When the close latch is
moved the closing spring
will drive a closing cam
and engages the closing
mechanism linkage, the
mechanism linkage is
attached to the operating
shaft, which in turn is
attached to the moving
contacts, and the breaker
will close. (Figure 2-7c)
Breaker Operating Sequence
d
• For the breaker to remain in the
closed position the linkage has to
be held in a closed position by the
trip latch.
• To allow the breaker to recharge
and remain closed the breaker will
use a prop latch (DHP = Tripping
Cam) in conjunction with the trip
latch to hold the mechanism in a
closed position. This will allow the
mechanism to recharge. See
Figure
• To trip the breaker the trip latch is
moved allowing the mechanism
toggles to collapse.
Springs
• Closing Springs: provide the energy to close the
contacts
• Opening Springs: open the breaker during a trip
operation
• Other breaker Springs:
• Trip Latch Spring: Resets and holds trip latch in
position.
• Close Latch Spring: Resets and holds close latch in
position.
• Prop Latch Spring: Pulls the prop on to latch
RACKING MECHANISM
• This is a ABB HK
racking mechanism
• During work shop the
DHP RRacking
ki
(Levering Device)
mechanism will be
shown
