SUBSTATION DRAWINGS AND CONTROL COURSE

Reading Internal Circuit Breaker Control

Schematics

INTRODUCTION
There are two categories of high voltage circuit breakers being installed today; the
vacuum circuit breakers (VCB) and the SF6 circuit breakers. The VCB have a
dominant position in medium voltage (MV) applications below 38kV, while the
SF6 circuit breakers are dominant in high voltage (HV) applications at 60kV and
above.

The ability to read and interpret a circuit breaker (CB) control schematic is
essential when performing circuit breaker testing, trouble shooting and
maintenance.

When the basic skills for interpreting a CB control print of a particular make /
model has been gained, those skills can be applied for interpreting the next CB
control schematic; this is possible due to the similarities between one CB control
schematic to the other CB control schematic.

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Elements of a Medium Voltage VCB Control circuit

A complete breaker control circuit comprises of three independent circuits: the motor
circuit, the close circuit and the trip circuit.

Figure 21: PowlVac-ND breaker control schematic.

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Motor Circuit (refer to figure 21)

The basic motor circuit components comprise of a charging motor (M), a closing
spring and a spring-charged limit switch LS.

Closing Spring Charging Motor M

The closing spring charging motor M is used to compress the large

closing spring for the stored-energy mechanism..

The spring charging motor rotates a ratchet-geared drive assembly that

compresses the closing spring in one direction. The ratchet unit prevents
back release of the spring during the charging sequence. Once the
closing spring has been fully charged, the stored energy can then be
release on command for the closing sequence.

Some large breakers like the ABB HPL 300KV, 4000A SF6 circuit
breaker requires two spring charging motors working in unison to
compress the closing spring.

Spring-charged Limit Switch LS

The spring-charged limit switch LS controls the energization and de-

energization of the closing spring charging motor M.

The spring-charged limit switch LS contact in the spring charging motor

M circuit is a normally closed “b” contact. When the closing spring is
discharged, the LS contact will apply power to the motor M. On the
initial application of power to the motor circuit, the motor be energized
to compress the closing spring against the Close latch device. The close
latch is able to hold the closing spring in the fully charged state. When
the closing spring has been fully charged, the LS contact will open to de-
energize the motor M.

Every circuit breaker closing operation will result in the discharge of the
stored energy of the closing spring, which in turn resets the spring charge
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limits switch LS “b” contact and repeating the closing spring charging
operation by motor M.

The closing spring is designed to drive the closing mechanism and the
operating rods to accelerate the CB main “moving” contacts with the
required velocity, compressing the tripping springs and the contact
loading springs during the closing stroke. When the CB main contacts
have closed, they are held in the closed position by a Trip Latch
mechanism.

Motor Relay 52MR (refer to figure 22)

The SQUARE-D type VAD-3 vacuum circuit breaker uses a motor relay
contact 52MR to energize the spring charging motor 52/M.

When the closing spring is dis-charged, the closing spring limit switch contact
52/LS will be closed which will energize relay 52MR. The 52MR contact in
motor 52/M circuit will close, energizing motor 52/M.

When the closing spring has been fully charged, the spring limit switch
contact 52/LS will open in the 52MR circuit deenergizing relay 52MR which
in turn will open its 52MR contact in the 52/M circuit, stopping the charging
motor.

The use of a contactor in the spring charging motor circuit varies between
manufacturers. Additional motor circuit features can include an excess run
timer and/or overload protection.

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Figure 22: Square-D Type VAD-3 breaker control schematic

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Closing Circuit (refer to figure 21)

The CB closing circuit consists of a closing coil CC, an anti-pump relay contact Y,
a latch-check switch LCS, a spring-charged limit switch LS and a CB auxiliary
contact 52/b.

Closing Coil CC

The purpose of the closing coil CC is to operate the close latch mechanism.
To energize the closing coil CC, the following conditions must be satisfied:

1. The CB control switch CS/C is operated CLOSE and

2. The auxiliary contact 52/b is closed (or CB is already Open) and
3. The spring charge limit switch contact LS is closed (or closing spring
is fully charged) and
4. The latch check switch LCS is ( or closing mechanism is reset) and
5. The anti-pump relay contact 52Y is closed (or relay 52Y is not
energized)

Close Latch:

The close latch is a mechanism which prevents the release of the closing
spring’s energy during the charging cycle and holds the closing spring in the
fully charge condition after the charging cycle. The close latch can be
disengaged to release compressed closing spring by energizing the Close coil
CC or by manually depressing the mechanical CLOSE button on the circuit
breaker.

Anti-pump relay Y

The anti-pump relay Y allows one closing operation when the breaker control
switch CS/C is operated CLOSE. The anti-pump relay 52Y prevents reclosing
of the breaker for the following tripping conditions following the initial Close
operation:
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1. Protective relay tripping for closing unto a faulted condition or

2. Tripping for mechanical failure of the Trip Latch mechanism.

Pumping of the CB is an undesired closing-tripping-reclosing cycle. Without

the anti-pump relay Y, reclosing will occur for the above two conditions if the
initial closing command is still present and the motor M has re-charged the
closing spring.

Anti-pump 52Y circuit operations:

a. When the CB closes unto a fault during a maintained CS/C CLOSE

command, the protective relay contact PR will operate and initiate
tripping by energizing the Trip coil TC.
b. After the release of the closing spring for the initial Close operation,
the spring charge limit switch LS contact will close in the anti-pump
relay Y circuit.
c. The anti pump relay Y is then energized and in turn closes its contact
Y to the CS/C CLOSE command in parallel with the spring charge limit
switch LS contact
d. After the motor M has completed the spring charging cycle, the spring
charge limit switch contact LS will open while the anti-pump relay Y be
energized through its seal-in contact Y.

Since only 5 of the 4 conditions are satisfied in the closing coil CC

circuit, the breaker is prevented from pumping or reclosing when the a
maintained CS/C CLOSE command is present.

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Spring charge limit switch LS

The spring charge limit switch LS performs 4 functions:

1. It controls the starting and stopping of the closing spring charging

motor M, and
2. Energizes the anti-pump relay Y to the CLOSE command after
releasing charged closing spring, and
3. Interlocks the closing coil CC from re-energizing from the CLOSE
command, and
4. Provides a status when the closing spring is not fully charged.

Latch check switch LCS

The latch check switch LCS is an interlock in closing coil CC circuit. The
closing coil can only be energized when the latch-check switch is closed.

The latch check switch LCS monitors the reset position of the closing
mechanism for a close operation. The closing mechanism must return to the
reset position after every closing operation. If the closing mechanism is not in
the reset, the closing coil CC circuit will be interlocked by the LCS.

Auxiliary Contact 52/b

The auxiliary contact 52/b allows energization of the closing coil CC only
when the CB is in the Open condition.

If the release of a fully charged closing spring occurs when the CB is already
in a Closed condition, the closing mechanism will over accelerate, slamming
the already closed moving main contacts against the stationary contacts.
Repeated operations under the stated condition (without the required load to
overcome) can produce undue stress to the closing mechanism, the vacuum
contacts and it supporting structures.

The auxiliary contact 52/b function as the coil clearing contact for the closing
coil CC.
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Tripping Circuit (refer to figure 21)

The CB tripping circuit consists of a trip coil TC and auxiliary contacts 52/a.

Trip Coil TC

The purpose of the trip coil CC is to operate the trip latch mechanism. To
energize the trip coil TC, the following conditions must be satisfied:

1. The CB control switch CS/T is operated TRIP, and

2. The auxiliary contact 52/a is closed (or CB is already Closed).

Trip Latch:

The Trip Latch mechanism holds the CB main contacts in the Close position,
against the compressed tripping springs and the compressed contact loading
springs. When the energy of compressed closing spring is released, it is
directed to the closing mechanism to accelerate the CB moving contacts
towards the stationary contacts via insulated operating rods and held in the
close position by the trip latch mechanism

The Trip latch mechanism can be disengaged to by energizing the Trip coil
TC or by manually depressing the mechanical TRIP button on the CB.
Disengaging the Trip Latch mechanism when the CB is Closed will result in
an Opening sequence of the CB main contacts.

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Motor Operated Cell (MOC) and Truck Operated Cell (TOC) switches

Draw-out Vacuum Circuit Breaker (VCB) can be fitted with optional MOC and
TOC switches that are external to the VCB unit but mounted inside the CB cell.

MOC switch

The MOC switch is operated by the CB operating mechanism which slightly

protrudes externally from the VCB structure. The CB operating mechanism
engages and operates the MOC switch when the VCB is inserted in its CB
cell.

The MOC contacts operates with the same functionality as the CB auxiliary
contacts. These contacts can serve as an extension to the CB auxiliary
contacts since VCBs are provisioned with a limited number of auxiliary
contacts.

Truck Operated Cell (TOC) Switch

The TOC switch is operated by the VCB structure in the CB final connected
position. The TOC contacts can serve as an indication that CB has been fully
inserted, and is connected to the main bus.

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Learning Exercise 8: Interpreting a HV Circuit Breaker Schematics

Presented in this section are 8 schematic diagrams related to the ABB, HPL
300KV, 4000A, 50KA Circuit Breaker. The interpretation of the following
drawings will be based on the print reading information which have been presented
to this point. The print interpretations will be an instructor led session with inputs
from all participants.

Please make direct notes on each respective schematic.

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