Technical Report No.1376

No. 1376

Switching phenomena and requirements for high voltage circuit breakers on power systems

Investigating R&D Committee on Switching phenomena and requirements for high voltage circuit breakers on power systems

Keyword :

Circuit breaker, breaker terminal fault, line fault, transformer limited fault, synthetic testing

The situation regarding power systems has been changing. Switching requirements for transmission and distribution equipment have been re-examined and the standards for circuit breaker and switchgear have been revised based on these changes. In order to re-examine the requirements and revise the standards, a deep understanding of switching phenomena and requirements present necessary.
For example, CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems) Study Committee A3 (high voltage equipment) has carried our systematic research on switching requirements on the systems in each country and has issued technical brochures which are used as the basis for the revisions of the standards for circuit breakers and switchgear. The investigating R&D committees of IEEJ (The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan) have clarified the switching requirements for circuit breakers by publishing technical reports regarding "the relation between switching phenomena and requirements which was the basis of the requirements specification for the circuit breaker for special use" and "the background of the latest revision of the domestic standard (JEC-2300(2010))".
In order to improve our understanding of the contents of past researches, each kind of switching phenomena was explained in detail as simple electric circuit phenomena in this technical report. Furthermore, the influence of interruption mediums on switching requirements, and high power test methods, which are equivalent to real system phenomena, and problems for future power systems were also investigated and summarized.
We hope this technical report can help young engineers and beginners in this technical field to deeply understand switching phenomena and requirements.