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Substation 2

An SF6 circuit breaker uses pressurized sulfur hexafluoride gas as an insulator and arc quencher to protect electrical equipment from damage caused by short circuits and overload conditions. It has advantages of excellent arc quenching ability, compact size and reduced environmental impact compared to air, but also has disadvantages of higher cost, potential contribution to climate change if SF6 leaks, and requiring specialized equipment for maintenance.

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Bhaskar Das
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49 views2 pages

Substation 2

An SF6 circuit breaker uses pressurized sulfur hexafluoride gas as an insulator and arc quencher to protect electrical equipment from damage caused by short circuits and overload conditions. It has advantages of excellent arc quenching ability, compact size and reduced environmental impact compared to air, but also has disadvantages of higher cost, potential contribution to climate change if SF6 leaks, and requiring specialized equipment for maintenance.

Uploaded by

Bhaskar Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

3.3.2.

1 SF6 Circuit Breaker

An SF6 circuit breaker, also known as a sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker, is a type of high-voltage
electrical switchgear device used in electrical power systems. They protect electrical equipment from
damage caused by short circuits and overload conditions.

Figure 11: SF6 Circuit Breaker

Unlike older circuit breakers that use air or oil to extinguish the arc when interrupting a current, an SF6
circuit breaker uses pressurized sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas as an insulator and arc quencher. SF6 gas
is very good at absorbing free electrons, which are necessary for electricity to flow. When the contacts
of the breaker open, an arc form between them. The SF6 gas rapidly captures the free electrons in the
arc, quenching it and stopping the flow of current.

Advantages

• Excellent arc quenching: SF6 gas is a very effective insulator and arc quencher, allowing SF6
breakers to interrupt high currents quickly and safely.
• Compact size: Because SF6 gas allows for a smaller clearance between conductors compared to
air, SF6 breakers can be more compact than air-insulated breakers for the same voltage rating.
This is a major advantage in space-constrained environments.
• Reduced environmental impact: Compared to air-insulated breakers, which are susceptible to
flashovers caused by pollution, moisture, and salt spray, SF6 breakers are sealed and less likely
to experience these issues.

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Disadvantages

• High Cost: SF6 breakers are typically more expensive to manufacture and install than air-insu-
lated breakers.
• SF6 Gas and the Environment: SF6 is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential
thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. Leakage from SF6 breakers can contribute to
climate change. Regulations are in place to limit the release and require recycling of SF6 gas at
the end of a breaker's life cycle.
• Maintenance: While generally requiring less maintenance than air-insulated breakers due to be-
ing sealed, any maintenance on an SF6 breaker requires specialized equipment and trained per-
sonnel to handle the SF6 gas.

[Link] Oil Circuit Breaker

An oil circuit breaker (OCB) is a classic type of circuit breaker that uses insulating oil to interrupt current
flow during electrical faults or overloads. While largely replaced by newer technologies due to environ-
mental concerns, OCBs are still found in some older electrical grids.

Figure 12: Oil Circuit Breaker

During normal operation, the contacts inside the OCB are closed, allowing electricity to flow through
the circuit. The insulating oil surrounds these contacts and acts as an insulator, preventing any

22

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