High Voltage Circuit Breaker – Air, Oil, SF6 & Vacuum Types

A High Voltage Circuit Breaker (HVCB) is a crucial component in power transmission and distribution networks. Its primary role is to protect electrical equipment by interrupting fault currents within the system. Beyond safeguarding equipment, HVCBs are vital for maintaining the integrity of the power grid. They isolate faults effectively, ensuring that adjacent systems remain unaffected … Read more

Details Current Ratings of a Circuit Breaker

In addition to the normal current rating of a circuit breaker (which is the current it can handle continuously during regular operation), there are two important categories of short-circuit current ratings that define how the circuit breaker performs during fault conditions: Rated Short Circuit Breaking Current The short-circuit breaking current of a circuit breaker consists … Read more

RIP Bushing Construction and Design – A Complete Guide

RIP bushing is a kind of condenser bushing or capacitor-graded bushing. The full form of RIP bushing is Resin Impregnated Paper Bushing. The working principle of an RIP bushing is similar to that of an OIP bushing, and construction-wise, they are almost similar. The only difference is that in an OIP bushing, we use oil … Read more

What is a Transformer Breather? A Complete Guide

What is a Transformer Breather? A transformer breather (silica gel breather) is a simple device that keeps moisture out of the transformer. We fit it to the pipe coming out from the transformer conservator tank. When the transformer heats up, the oil expands. When it cools down, the oil contracts. This creates a breathing action. … Read more

Dead Tank Current Transformer | Dead Tank CT

In this article, we are going to discuss the dead tank current transformer, commonly referred to as a dead tank CT. Dead tank current transformers are not popular for very high-voltage systems like 220 kV and above. Utilities often use dead tank CTs in 33 kV systems. They prefer this design at 33 kV because … Read more

Live Tank Current Transformer (Live Tank CT)

A live tank current transformer (Live Tank CT) is a high-voltage current transformer. Here we place the entire current transformer at the top of the device. If we imagine a current transformer, the primary of the current transformer is nothing but the line conductor. Because of that, we connect the primary in series with the … Read more

Rated Short Circuit Making Current and Breaking Current 

Definition of Making Current The rated short circuit making current of a circuit breaker is the maximum peak current that the circuit breaker can close without any damage. It is the maximum peak current that a circuit breaker can make safely.  Definition of Breaking Current The rated short circuit breaking current, on the other hand, … Read more

Zero Current Crossing Method in A Circuit Breaker

This zero current crossing method is only applicable to alternating current circuit breaker. We all know that an alternating current naturally passes through zero at regular intervals (every half-cycle of the AC waveform). This method safely interrupts the alternating current at the natural zero-crossing of its waveform. Working Principle of a CB based on Zero … Read more

Small Inductive Current Interruption by Circuit Breakers

Normal Short Circuit Rating of Circuit Breaker Engineers design high voltage circuit breakers to handle very high short-circuit currents. Manufacturers build these breakers to interrupt extremely high fault levels effectively. They typically rate circuit breakers for short-circuit breaking capacities such as 25kA, 31.5kA, 40kA, or even 50kA and more. Such ratings define their ability to … Read more

What is an HTLS Conductor? – Introduction to HTLS

Power Transmission Challenges The main drawback of conventional ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced) conductors is their limited thermal capacity. These conductors are typically designed to operate at a maximum temperature of 75°C. Although some modern variants can withstand up to 85°C, exceeding these temperature limits by increasing current leads to higher thermal expansion, which in … Read more

GAP-Type HTLS Conductors

A Gap-type HTLS conductor is a special type HTLS conductor. It exhibits a separate high strength low elongation steel core surrounded by layers of thermal resistant aluminum alloy strands. The typicality of a gap type HTLS conductor is, it maintains a deliberate annular gap between the core and the first layer of aluminum alloy strands. … Read more

INVAR Core HTLS Conductors: Structure and Applications

The electricity demand increasing tremendously from last few decades. The increasing demand of lands and few government policies are the constraints in expanding transmission infrastructure. Hence there is no way other than increasing the ampacity of the existing transmission networks. This increases the need for High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors. Among the various HTLS conductors, INVAR … Read more

Local Breaker Backup (LBB) Protection – Explained

What is LBB Protection? Local Breaker Backup (LBB) Protection is a special protection scheme. This protection isolates a fault from the electrical power system when a circuit breaker fails to do so. When a fault occurs at a particular point in a power system, the primary protection relay associated with that part of the system detects … Read more

Instrument Safety Factor (ISF) in Current Transformers

An ammeter is connected in the secondary circuit of a current transformer. The ammeter measures the current through the primary of the current transformer. Impact of Fault Current on Secondary Current Now, suppose a fault occurs in the system. Consequently, a large fault current starts flowing through the primary of the current transformer. If the fault current … Read more

Current Transformer: Working Principle, Theory, and Purpose

The current transformer is a kind of transformer that steps down currents. From the name “current transformer,” we can understand that it deals with current. The available instruments for measuring and protection purposes in the market are of a few amperes range. The ammeters, energy meters, wattmeters, and various protection relays are rated for only … Read more

Arc Voltage, Recovery Voltage, Restriking Voltage, RRRV

We will discuss here in details the concept of Arc Voltage, Recovery Voltage, Restriking Voltage, RRRV Basic Concept of Arc Voltage, Recovery Voltage, Restriking Voltage, RRRV When contacts of a circuit breaker open under current carrying condition, electric arcs form in the gap between the contacts. This is due to ionization of the surrounding medium. … Read more

Shunt Trip Mechanism Vs Series Trip Mechanism

Circuit breakers are essential protective devices of electrical power systems. A circuit breaker safeguards electrical circuits from abnormal conditions such as overloads and faults. Among different tripping arrangements, the shunt trip mechanism is the most popular method for ensuring safe and reliable operation in high-voltage systems. In this article, we will explain the theoretical working … Read more

Normal Current Rating of Electrical Equipment

What is Normal Current Rating? This is the current represented in its RMS value. Electrical equipment can carry this current continuously without being overheated and without losing its desired performance. According to IC 62271, the definition of normal current rating of electrical equipment is the rated normal rms current that the electrical equipment can carry … Read more

Rated Transient Recovery Voltage of a Circuit Breaker

A high voltage circuit breaker plays a crucial role in power systems by protecting electrical equipment from damage due to electrical faults in the system. One of the key challenges in circuit breaker design is dealing with the transient recovery voltage (TRV), a phenomenon that occurs immediately after current interruption. When a fault current gets … Read more

First Pole to Clear Factor of Circuit Breaker

Discover the First Pole to Clear Factor. How does the highest restriking voltage in the first-clearing pole, divided by phase-to-ground recovery voltage, impact circuit breaker performance?123 characters (approx) In an AC system, the phase difference between the currents of each phase is \(120^\circ\). This means the current of one phase is \(120^\circ\) apart from the … Read more