TechTopics
TechTopics Topic: 3-Cycle vs. 5-Cycle Interrupting Time
TechTopics No. 6 Revision 0 Date: April 28, 2001
This issue of TechTopics discusses the rated interrupting time for circuit breakers used in metal-clad switchgear. Historically, ANSI C37.04 characterized circuit breakers with interrupting time classes, such as 3-cycle, 5-cycle, and 8-cycle. These classes always were rather gross approximations, because they made no allowance for production variations, and also because the rated interrupting time could be exceeded by up to 50% under certain conditions. Further, a circuit breaker that was just slightly in excess of one rating class would fall into the next higher (longer) class, giving the impression of a radical change in performance that does not reflect reality. Thus, there is a need to establish some facts pertinent to discussion of 3-cycle versus 5-cycle circuit breakers. ANSI standards no longer establish 3-cycle and 5-cycle classes, nor do they give assumed values for contact-part time associated with a particular interrupting time. Instead, rated interrupting time is now stated in terms of absolute time in milliseconds. ANSI C37.04-1999, clause 5.6 defines rated interrupting time as the maximum permissible interval between the energizing of the trip circuit at rated control voltage and rated operating pressure for mechanical operation, and the interruption of the current in the main circuit in all poles. This definition makes it clear that the rating must consider the worst case conditions for all variables. Thus, it must consider the longest arc duration under the most onerous conditions. Of equal import, it must consider the longest opening time (including worst case production variations). For Siemens type GMI circuit breakers, the average arcing time is approximately 9 ms, which is representative of a very large number of interrupting tests in the short-circuit test laboratory. The longest arcing time observed during testing was 17 ms, which occurred on tests with maximum offset asymmetrical current interruptions, during tests designed to explore the outer limits of interrupting performance. In accordance with ANSI C37.09-1999, tests must explore both the shortest possible arcing time and the longest possible arcing time. The longest possible arcing time occurs when contact part occurs just prior to a current zero that precedes a minor loop of current. Because the first current zero occurs in a fraction of a millisecond, and the second current zero occurs only a short time later (perhaps 1-2 ms), the interruption does not take place until the current zero which ends the major loop of current. As stated, the purpose of these tests is to expose the circuit breaker to the worst conceivable set of circumstances, to establish that under this most extreme condition, the circuit breaker successfully interrupts. In the real world, such interruptions probably never occur. Certainly, they would comprise a very tiny fraction of one per cent of short-circuit interruptions. For Siemens type GMI circuit breakers, the relevant data is as follows: Description Opening time Arcing duration Interrupting time Nominal or Average Time 33ms 9ms 42ms Range of Values 25-41ms 2-17ms 27-58ms
If ANSI C37.04 based rated interrupting time on nominal opening time and average arcing duration, our type GMI circuit breakers would be rated 42ms (2.5 cycles). However, C37.04 says that the rating has to be
Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc. PO Box 29503, Raleigh, NC 27626
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based on the worst case conditions, which means that the type GMI circuit breakers are rated 58ms (3.5 cycles). Actual interrupting times on production circuit breakers could range from 42ms (25ms opening time + 17ms arcing duration) to 58ms (41ms opening time + 17ms arcing duration), using the worst case arcing duration. What does this mean to a user with respect to application of the circuit breakers? Basically, nothing. The reason for this relates to the way that circuit breakers are tested in the short-circuit test laboratory. When circuit breakers are tested for short-circuit performance, they are tested to a philosophy which is completely REVERSED from the manner in which they are rated. For ratings, the circuit breakers are rated in accordance with the worst case (longest) times. For testing, actual test parameters are set up based on the worst case short-circuit conditions, which means the shortest possible times. What does this mean for the GMI circuit breaker? Using the data above, the circuit breaker is tested as though it is the fastest circuit breaker, i.e., with the shortest opening time. Therefore, the short-circuit conditions are set up in the lab to expose the circuit breaker to the conditions that would occur if (for the GMI circuit breaker) it had a opening time of 25ms. Therefore, the circuit breaker is tested as though it was a historic 3 cycle circuit breaker (1.5 cycle contact part time in terms of C37.04-1979, clause 5.10.2.2) The result is that the type GMI circuit breaker has the interrupting capability of a 3-cycle circuit breaker, even though we must rate it as a 5-cycle circuit breaker. If you consider only the nominal value for operating time (33ms opening) and worst case arcing time (17ms arcing), the circuit breaker is a 3-cycle circuit breaker. However, under the limits of production tolerances, it varies between 2.5 and 3.5 cycles. Since ANSI uses the "maximum permissible interval", it's a 5-cycle breaker (since a 3.5 cycle class doesn't exist).
T. W. (Ted) Olsen Manager, Technology
Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc. PO Box 29503, Raleigh, NC 27626
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