This chapter reviews the circuit-breaker designs which are type tested to IEC 62271-200 and IEC 62271-100 for use on distribution voltages up to 52 kV. The design and service experience of different types of commercially available circuit-breakers are considered. The chapter also discusses some special switching duties and focuses on aspects which are necessary for the selection of circuit-breakers for various duties: for example for switching capacitor banks, capacitive and inductive currents, generators, reactors and synchronised switching of transformers with reactors on the secondary side.

Chapter Contents:

• 10.1 Introduction
• 10.2 Circuit-breaker
• 10.3 Vacuum circuit-breaker
• 10.4 SF6 gas circuit-breakers
• 10.5 Puffer circuit-breaker
• 10.6 Rotating-arc circuit-breaker
• 10.7 Auto-expansion circuit-breaker
• 10.8 Operating mechanism
• 10.9 Choice of correct circuit-breaker for special switching duties
• 10.10 Capacitive and inductive current switching
• 10.11 Circuit-breakers for generator circuit switching
• 10.11.1 DC offset
• 10.11.2 Current chopping and reignition
• 10.12 Synchronised switching
• 10.13 Conclusions and some future developments
• CIGRE perception of future developments: prepared and compiled by H.M. Ryan
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography
• Appendices
• A: Relevant strategic IEC Standard reports
• B: The impact of new functionalities on substation design (relating to CIGRE published work) - abridged and compiled by H.M. Ryan

Inspec keywords: gas insulated switchgear; SF6 insulation; IEC standards; vacuum circuit breakers

Other keywords: reactor; voltage distribution level; IEC 62271-100 standard; synchronised switching; SF₆ circuit-breaker; inductive current; vacuum circuit-breaker; switching capacitor bank; IEC 62271-200 standard; transformer; capacitive current; generator

Subjects: Switchgear