SF6 Circuit Breaker- Working Principle, Construction, Advantages

SF6 circuit breaker uses sulfur hexafluoride gas as an arc quenching medium. SF6 gas is used because it has high dielectric strength which acts as a good arc-quenching medium. SF6 is an electro-negative gas and has a high capacity to absorb free electrons.

SF6 circuit breakers’ contact is opened in the high-pressure flow of SF6 gas and the arc is stuck between the breaker’s contact. The free electrons in the arc are suddenly absorbed by gas to form negative immobile ions and the arc gets quenched rapidly.

SF6 circuit breaker is manufactured for voltage ratings from 6.6Kv to 760Kv also is an inert, non-toxic, non-flammable gas. SF6 has a dielectric strength of 2.35 times that of air at atmospheric pressure.

Construction Of SF6 Circuit Breaker

SF6 circuit breaker is filled with SF6 gas at pressure 5Kaf/cm^2. The sulfur hexafluoride breaker consists of two parts, mainly the interrupter unit and the gas unit.

The below diagram shows the construction of a puffer-type SF6 circuit breaker.

The moving cylinders are attached to the movable conductor against the fixed piston. As shown in the diagram of the Sulphur hexafluoride breaker with a fully closed position of the interrupter there is the relative movement between the fixed piston and movable cylinder.

Due to this gas is compressed between this contact. This compressed gas in the cavity is released through the nozzle during the arc extinguishing.

Working Principle Of SF6 Circuit Breaker

Normally breaker contact is closed position when a fault occurs in the power system. The contacts get separated and the arc is stuck between the fixed contact and movable contact during contact separation, compressed SF6 gas in the cavity is released over the arc and it reduces arc diameter by axial conversion and radial dissipation.

At current zero arc diameter becomes too small and the arc gets extinguished.

Properties of SF6 Gas

Physical properties

SF6 gas is colorless, odorless
It is a non-toxic and non-flammable gas
Nonhazardous
SF6 gas is heavy having density 5 times that of air at a 20-degree temperature
Has excellent heat transfer property

Chemical properties of SF6 Gas

SF6 gas is chemically stable at standard atmospheric pressure and temperature
Chemically inert gas
Non corrosive at ambiant tempreture
Electro negative gas
It recombines in a short time after arc extinguish

Dielectric Properties

The dielectric strength of SF6 gas is 2.35 times that of air at atmospheric pressure.
At higher pressure dielectric strength of the gas increases.

Advantages Of SF6 circuit breaker

The advantages of the SF6 circuit breaker is as follows

The size of the Sulphur hexafluoride breaker is smaller than a conventional circuit breaker of the same rating.
SF6 gas is non-inflammable and chemically stable hence no danger of fire.
The required gas is small due to the same gas is recirculated in the circuit.
Does not make a sound during operation as an air blast circuit breaker due to its closed gas circuit.
Closed construction avoids contamination of moisture, dust, etc.
Required less maintenance.
It has the ability to interrupt low and high currents.
No contact replacement is required due to small contact corrosion

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of SF6 circuit breaker

The sealing problem arises due to the type of construction
If the joint does not make perfect gas may leak.
SF6 breaker is costly due to the high cost of SF6 gas
Arced SF6 gas is poisonous and should not be inhaled.

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