Sf6 circuit breaker energy storage mechanism cannot store energy

What mechanism do modern SF6 circuit breakers use?

Modern SF6 circuit breakers use a puffer mechanism where the arc energy generates pressure in the arcing chamber to quench the arc efficiently.

Are SF6 and vacuum circuit breakers the same?

While SF6 and vacuum circuit-breakers use the same operating mechanisms and can be considered identical in that regard, they differ in their interrupters. The SF6 circuit-breaker has more moving parts than the vacuum unit.

Are SF6 circuit breakers safe to use?

While SF6 circuit breakers are effective in protecting electrical systems, they pose environmental concerns. SF6 gas is a greenhouse gas, and safety regulations are necessary to limit its release into the atmosphere. Modern SF6 circuit breakers use a puffer mechanism to efficiently quench arcs.

What is the service interval for an SF6 circuit breaker?

For the SF6 designs the value varies between 5,000 and 20,000, whereby the lower value applies to the puffer circuit-breaker for whose operation, the mechanism must deliver much more energy. For the vacuum-circuit breaker the service interval lies between 10,000 and 20,000 operations.

Why is the arc energy low in SF6 circuit breakers?

In SF6 circuit breakers, the arc energy is low due to the high conductivity of the arc in the SF6 gas, resulting in an arc voltage between 150 and 200V. This low voltage across the metal vapour arc leads to very low energy, causing minimal contact erosion.

What voltage ranges does an SF6 circuit breaker cover?

These circuit breakers are available for the voltage ranges from 33KV to 800 KV and even more. Due to these unique properties of this gas, SF6 circuit breaker is used in a complete range of medium voltage and high voltage electrical power system.