Circuit Breakers: Standards, Specs & Protection Essentials in Power Systems

Power Projects Author

Learn how circuit breakers isolate faults, withstand thermal/mechanical stress, and meet IEC/IEEE standards for reliable protection.

ABOUT CIRCUIT BREAKERS

The main aim of a circuit breaker is to isolate the healthy part of the network from the faulty part when a fault current is detected. When a short circuit current flows through a circuit breaker, there would be thermal and mechanical stress in current-carrying parts of the circuit breaker. Within speculated time, the circuit breaker should isolate the faulty part of the network from the healthy part of the network. So during the clearing of fault, the circuit breaker is subjected to handling high thermal and mechanical stress as well as a high magnitude of short circuit current.

STANDARDS USED FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS

IEC 62271-100 = for high voltage switch gear and control gear
IEC 60947-2 = for low voltage switchgear and control gear
IEC 60898-1 = circuit breakers for over-current protection (for household & other similar appliances)
IEC/IEEE 62271-37-013 = for generator circuit breakers
ANSI/IEEE C37.04 = IEEE standard is common for all the above
mentioned (except for generator circuit breaker).

CIRCUIT BREAKER SPECIFICATIONS

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Categories: : Circuit Breaker