Dive into the Information Pool about Air Circuit Breaker

Generally, when the current increases over the safe level or when there are any other electrical system failures, we are not used to seeing accidental explosions or flames burning in our house or business. When one of these unintentional occurrences is going to occur, the circuit breaker shuts off the electricity to the system.

Household power would not be viable without an air circuit breaker because of the risk of fires and other havoc brought on by straightforward wiring issues and device failures. It is one of the most significant safety features in both the main electrical supply and the electrical distribution networks that supply energy to our homes.

An electrical arc is produced when an air circuit breaker opens because it interrupts the current flow. For the space between the contacts to once again withstand the voltage in the circuit, this arc is carefully cooled and put out. The contact is once again closed to restart the circuit’s power supply once the fault situation has been corrected. Dc breaker is known as air circuit breakers when they employ compressed air to put out an arc (ACB).

Construction: The three types of contacts that make up each phase of a three-phase Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) are the main contacts, which carry the load current, arcing contacts, and arcing horn.

The load current is carried by the main contacts during normal operation. Hence, while current is flowing through it, the primary contact resistance needs to be low enough to prevent overheating.

Hence, a good conducting material like copper, silver, or copper with silver plating is used for the major contacts. These metals can sustain damage from arcing because they have substantially lower melting points than other metals. The primary contacts do not create or interrupt the current to avoid this harm.

Contacts for Arcing: Arcing contacts, which can make or stop the circuit current, are given since there can’t be any arcing at the main contacts.

Opening Cycle: When the breaker is closed, the low-resistance main contacts are used to transmit the load current. Nevertheless, the primary contacts open first when the breaker opens, sending the current to the arcing contacts. An arc is created across the arcing horns when the arcing contacts open. The arc enters the arc chute after rising to the top of the arcing horns, where it is quickly cooled by a heat-transfer mechanism in the cooling plates. Cooled gas deionizes, rendering it incapable of conducting electricity, and as a result, the arc is put out.

The ACB’s advantages over conventional circuit breakers include:

• Very low cost
• Low maintenance needs
• simple construction
• simple installation

Applications: Air Circuit Breakers (ACB) can handle both low and high-voltage currents. They are frequently utilized in NGD for power up to 15 KV and electrical distribution systems. The environment is mostly exposed to ac breaker, which has functioning mechanisms. They safeguard against overload, short circuits, ground faults, and earth faults. The majority of air circuit breakers are utilized in substations of the indoor type.