VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER

VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Circuit breakers are devices which can automatically break a circuit under fault conditions and it can make the circuit manually after the fault. Circuit breakers are classified into different types. One of the main circuit breaker among them is Vacuum circuit breaker. Here vacuum is used to extinct the arc. Arc extinction is the main process of a circuit breaker

Before that, it is needy to explain how an arc is produced. Circuit breaker has two contacts- Fixed and movable, otherwise called as electrodes. Normally the contacts remain closed but if any fault occurs these contacts open automatically and of course can be opened manually.

We know that circuit breakers work under the instructions from relay. When the trip coils from relay energize, circuit breaker identifies fault occurred and hence the contacts are pulled apart. A high intensity current flows through the contacts of the circuit breaker before they are opened by the system. At the same instant contacts begin to separate and causes heavy heat and temperature in between the contacts. This is termed as an arc. This heat is highly dangerous and can cause heavy damage to the whole system. So it has to be extinguished in no time.

Vacuum is having superior qualities over other arc quenching medium. It has high insulating strength. When the contacts are opened in vacuum, the arc is produced in between them. It got extinguishes quickly since the metallic vapours and ions produced during the arc rapidly condense on the surface of the circuit breaker contacts, resulting in quick recovery of dielectric strength.

The contacts of Vacuum circuit breaker and arc shied is mounted inside a vacuum chamber. The chamber is connected to the control mechanism by means of stainless steel bellows. A glass vessel is used as the outer insulating body. This is all about its construction.

Vacuum circuit breaker is really the most reliable one with low cost, no fire hazards, no gas generation, low arc energy, little maintenance and low inertia.