• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1752-1758
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• 2018

In a low-voltage distribution system, the molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) is a widely used device to protect loads by interrupting over-current; however the hot gas generated from the arc discharge in the interrupting process depletes the dielectric recovery strength between electrodes and leads to re-ignition after current-zero. Even though the circuit breaker is ordinarily tripped and successfully interrupts the over-current, the re-ignition causes the over-current to flow to the load again, which carries over the failure interruption. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the dielectric recovery process and the dielectric recovery voltage of the MCCB. To determine these characteristics, a measuring system comprised of the experimental circuit and source is implemented to apply controllable recovery voltage and over-current. By changing the controllable recovery voltage, in this work, re-ignition is driven repeatedly to obtain the dielectric recovery voltage V-t curve, which is used to analyze the dielectric recovery strength of the MCCB. A measuring system and an evaluation technique for the dielectric recovery strength of the MCCB are described. By using this system and method, the measurement to find out the dielectric recovery characteristics after current-zero for ready-made products is done and it is confirmed that which internal structure of the MCCB affects the dielectric recovery characteristics.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.284-292
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• 2005

Because all of the short-circuit testing laboratories have the limitation of test facilities, the synthetic making test methods have been used to estimate the short-circuit making performance of the ultra high-voltage circuit breaker as the alternative to direct test methods. So, KERI(Korea Eelctrotechnology Research institute) has completed the construction of the synthetic making test facilities using the low capacity step-up transformer method which fulfill the requirements specified in newly revised IEC 62271-100 Edition 1.1(2003) and have the testing capability up to 550kV, 63kA full-pole circuit breaker. The test facilities using the low capacity step-up transformer method presented in this paper are made up of the unit equipments such as HCS(High-speed Closing Switch), ITMC(Initial Transient Making Current) circuit and UP TR(low capacity step-up transformer) and have the operating range of 17.6$^{\circ}$ $\~$ 145.1$^{\circ}$ for testing the circuit breaker rated on up to 50kA and 43.1$^{\circ}$ $\~$ 119.6$^{\circ}$ for more than 50kA.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.1953-1958
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• 2012

The major causes of electrical fire are classified to short circuit fault, overload fault, electric leakage and electric contact failure. The occurrence factor of the fire is electric arc or spark accompanied with such electric faults, specially short circuit faults. Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELB) and Molded_case Circuit Breaker (MCCB), that is, Residual Current Protective Devices (RCDs) used on low voltage distribution lines cut off earth leakage and overload, but the RCD can not cut off electric arc or spark to be a major factor of electrical fire. As the RCDs which are applied in low voltage distribution panel are prescribed to rated breaking time about 30ms(KS C 4613), the RCDs can't perceive to the periodic electric arc or spark of more short wavelength level. To improve such problem, this paper proposes a prevention apparatus using the line voltage drop of neutral wire and some semiconductor switching devices. Some experimental tests of the proposed apparatus confirm the validity of the analytical results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.458-461
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• 2009

In 3-phase 4 wire system, appearance of the $3^{rd}$ harmonic current by increasing non-liner load is the one of causes overheating neutral wire of power line, and apparatus. So it is necessary to protect power-factor decreasing by the $3^{rd}$ harmonic, and electric power apparatus, and line safely, in this study, power system accidents caused by the $3^{rd}$ harmonic were investigated, then harmonic components analysis and unbalanced load analysis got accomplished. As result, we proposed the method to protect the power line and apparatus from over-current of neutral line by using the most economic 4-pole low voltage circuit breaker.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.272-281
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• 2017

The DC circuit breaker is essential for supplying stable DC power with the advent of DC transmission/distribution and sensitive loads. Compared with mechanical circuit breakers, which must interrupt a very large fault current due to their slow breaking capability, a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) can quickly break a fault current almost within 1 [ms]. Thus, it can reduce the damage of an accident a lot more than mechanical circuit breakers. However, previous DC SSCBs cannot perform the operating duty, and are not economical because many SCR are required. Therefore, this paper proposes a new DC SSCB suitable for DC grids. It has a low semiconductor conduction loss, quick reclosing and rebreaking capabilities. As a result, it can perform the operating duties of reclosing and rebreaking. The proposed DC SSCB is designed and implemented so that it is suitable for home dc distribution at a rated power of 5 [kW] and a voltage of 380 [V]. The operating characteristics are confirmed by simulation and experimental results. In addition, this paper suggests design guidelines so that it can be applied to other DC grids. It is anticipated that the proposed DC SSCB may be utilized to design and realize many DC grid systems.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.1321-1328
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• 2009

In this paper, an electromagnetic force driving actuator (EMFA) and three-link mechanism are proposed as a driving mechanism and connection device for low voltage air circuit breaker (ACB). As the result of dynamic characteristic analysis, the actuator and link mechanism are designed from the simulation and manufactured. The magneitc field of the EMFA is analyzed using the finite element method (FEM). The dynamic characteristic analysis with calculation of the circuit equation and kinetical equation is performed by the time difference method (TDM). Also, the result of the analysis is verified through the experiment of the fabrication model. In this paper, the EMFA size is smaller than the actuator for high voltage circuit breaker. Thus, the dynamic characteristic is analyzed with end-winding inductance that is calculated by the same method which is applied on the circle type end-winding of motors. The designed model for 1600 ampere-frame ACB and the three-link mechanism for connecting contact part with actuating part are manufactured. It is confirmed that the three-link mechanism is possible for improving the circuit breaker efficiency and reducing the size of the EMFA. It is proved that the improved 2-D analysis is more accurate than established method.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.495-499
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• 2012

Recently, DC distribution systems become hot issues since DC type loads increase rapidly according to the expansion of IT equipment such as computers, servers, and digital devices; DC type loads will cover 50% for all electricity loads in 2020 which was mere 10% in 2000. DC distribution systems are also accelerated by the expansion of renewable power systems since they are easy to be interfaced with DC grids rather than AC grids. However, removing the fault current in DC grids is comparably difficult since the current in DC grids has non zero-crossing point like in AC grids. Thus, developing dedicated DC circuit breakers for DC grids is necessary to get safety for human and electrical facilities. Magnet arc extinguishing method is proper to small size DC circuit breakers. However, simple Magnet arc extinguishing method is not enough to break inductive fault currents. This paper proposed a novel DC circuit breaker against inductive fault current defined by IEEE C37.14-2004 Standard for Low-Voltage DC Power Circuit Breakers Used in Enclosures. The performance of the proposed DC circuit breaker was verified by an experimental circuit breaker test system built in this research.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2011

The purpose of smart grid is the low $CO_2$ through expansion of renewable energy. To achieve the purpose of smart grid, typical radial power distribution system will be changed to loop power distribution system. The loop power distribution system have many advantages such as low power loss, low voltage drop, and increase of connection of renewable energy. In this paper, the algorithm for minimization of interrupted section of power distribution system is proposed through communication between circuit breaker and recloser in loop power distribution system. The proposed algorithm is proved through case studies about reliability evaluation

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.1925-1929
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• 2007

This paper is studied on a novel Electric Safety Protection Device (ESPD) of high speed for incapable operation of Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELB) and Molded_case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) using the low voltage distribution line. The major causes of electrical fire are classified to short circuit fault, overload fault, electric leakage and electric contact failure. The occurrence factor of the fire is electric arc or spark accompanied with electrical faults. Residual Current Protective Device (RCD), that is ELB and MCCB, of high sensitivity type used at low voltage wiring cuts off earth leakage and overload, but the RCD can't cut off electric arc or spark to be a major factor of electrical fire. As the RCDs which are applied low voltage distribution panel are prescribed to rated breaking time about 30[ms] (KS C 4613), the RCDs can't perceive to the periodic electric arc or spark of more short wavelength level. To be improved on such problem, this research development is proposed to a novel ESPD of high speed to trip of distribution line on electric arc or spark due to electrical fire. Some experimental results of the proposed ESPD are confirmed to the validity of the analytical results.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07b
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• pp.1474-1476
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• 2005

Because MCCB, ELB, etc. discharge both technical and economical duty, it is important that the study of circuit breaker guarantee high-performance and realize the power distribution system with reliability. Because of complexity electrical equipment, the accident with imbalance and flicker occur often according to technical improvement. However, study of accident with harmonics remains. In this paper, the essential characteristic of circuit breaker is introduced. To analysis operation of circuit breaker, theoretical model and several simulations have been performed.