DC

CIRCUIT
BREAKER

AIM
The

main aim of the project is to give

alternative solution of electro-mechanical
DC circuit breaker by using power semiconductor like SCR, GTO, IGBT etc.

ABSTRACT
In AC system/circuit current is alternating with
natural frequency 50Hz. So current become zero 100
times in second. All AC circuit breaker chose this time
to interrupt current and increase arc resistance so that
arc extinguish.
Now interrupt this steady current under abnormal
condition such as short circuit fault moving But in
case of DC system current is not alternate or steady
current is passing through system for given load.
contact must be move fast from fixed contact or arc
resistance increase to high value in short time. This is
very difficult to achieve.

This

problem can be solved by using SCR based

static circuit breaker.
In static breaker no fixed and moving contact.
So no chances of arc between them.
Under normal operating condition solid state
devices is on state and offer zero impedance but
when fault is occur on system than this devices
become off and offer infinite impedance so arc
unable to maintain and it is extinguish

DISADVANTAGES OF COVENTIONAL
DCCB
Difficult to interrupt current
Arc is struck between two contacts
Large in size
Wear-tear of contacts
Frequently maintenance required

BASIC CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF

STATIC DCCB

SCR1- Main SCR

SCR2-Auxiliary SCR

WORKING
Capacitor

is charge with some voltage and

polarity as shown in figure. As soon as the
START push button is pressed, a gate triggering
pulse is applied to SCR1 through R1 by
discharging of capacitance C and SCR1 starts
conducting to supply power to load.
Power supply to load is continuing till any
abnormal condition is occurs like short circuit
fault. At this abnormal condition if load must be
disconnect fast from supply.

UNDER SHORT CIRCUIT FAULT

Now

let short circuit fault is occurs across load

and large current is pass through load. This more
current developed more voltage across
resistance R2. If voltage across R2 is not more
than minimum turn on gate voltage Vgmin2 of
auxiliary SCR2 than load current is continue.
But if is more than Vgmin2 than gate pulse is
applied to SCR2. As soon as SCR2 is turned on ,
the voltage across C is applied across SCR1 to
turn it off due to voltage commutation

UNDER OVER LOAD CONDITION

Let

SCR1 be on and carrying the load current. If the

load current increases beyond a certain limit, then the
voltage across R2 increases to such a value that it can
forward bias the diodes D1, D2, D3, as well as the gate
cathode junction of SCR2. This will turn on SCR2.
As soon as SCR2 is turned on, it will turn off SCR1
immediately due to voltage commutation as explained
earlier. Thus the load can be protected automatically
under the overload condition.
If we want to turn off the power delivered to the load,
then the STOP button is pressed momentarily. This
will supply a gate current pulse to SCR2 through R5
and SCR2 will be turned on

ADVANTAGES OF STATIC DCCB

Current

is easily interrupted
No Arcing problem between two contacts
Compact in size
Less maintenance required

Application of DCCB
Railways

DC rolling stock/traction vehicles (including

locomotives, trains, metros and light rail vehicles) to
protect main and auxiliary electric circuits
Industrial installations such as steel/aluminum rolling mills
Marine converters
Renewable energy plants
Chemical plants and mines
Power motor excitation
Field excitation in generators
Electrolysis plants
Particular physics research, for protection of the
superconductive coils in purpose-built accelerators