Types of Circuit Breaker

•According different criteria there are different types of circuit breaker .

•According to their arc quenching media the circuit breaker can be divided as :

1) Oil Circuit Breaker
2) Air Circuit Breaker
3) SF6 Circuit Breaker
4) Vacuum Circuit Breaker

•According to their services the circuit breaker can be divided as

1) Outdoor Circuit Breaker
2) Indoor Breaker

•According to the operating mechanism of circuit breaker they can be divided as

1) Spring operated Circuit Breaker
2) Pneumatic Circuit Breaker
3) Hydraulic Circuit Breaker

•According to the voltage level of installation types of circuit breaker are referred as

1) High Voltage Circuit Breaker
2) Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker
3) Low Voltage Circuit Breaker

Classification Based on Rated Voltages:

•The a.c. circuit breakers can be classified  based on rated voltages.

•- Low Voltage Circuit Breakers: The CBs below rated voltage of 1000 volt is termed as

 low-voltage circuit breakers;

•- High Voltage Circuit Breakers: The CBs above the  rated voltage of 1000 volts are termed 

as high voltage circuit breakers.

- Classification Based on the Medium of  Arc Extinction: The circuit breakers are sometimes classified based 

on the medium used for arc extinguishing as follows

–- Air Blast Circuit

–- Oil Circuit Breakers (Tank Type/Bulk Oil Type)

–- Minimum Oil Circuit Breakers

–- Air-blast circuit breakers

–- Magnetic-air circuit breakers

–- Gas circuit breakers (SF6): Single Pressure, Double Pressure

–- Vacuum circuit breakers

1. Oil circuit breakers use standard transformer oil, an effective medium for quenching the arc and providing

 an open break after current has dropped to zero. There are two general types of oil circuit breakers: dead

-tank for the higher voltage ranges and live-tank for lower voltages

•Oil circuit breakers have been improved by adding such features as oil-tight joints, vents, and separate chamber

s to prevent the escape of oil. Also, improved operating mechanisms prevent gas pressure from reclosing the 

contacts, making them reliable for system voltages up to 362 kV

•However, above 230 kV, oil-less breakers are more economical .

2. Air-blast circuit breakers were developed as alternatives to oil circuit breakers as voltages increased. 

They depend on the good insulating and arc-quenching properties of dry and clean compressed air injected

 into the contact region .

3. Magnetic-air circuit breakers use a combination of strong magnetic field with a special arc chute to 

lengthen the arc until the system voltage is unable to maintain the arc any longer. They are used principally in 

power distribution systems.

4. Gas circuit breakers take advantage of the excellent arc-quenching and insulating properties of sulfur

 hexafluoride (SF6) gas. These outdoor breakers can interrupt system voltages up to 800 kV

•These circuit breakers are typically included in gas insulated substations (GISs) that offer space-saving and

 environmental advantages over conventional outdoor substations. Gas (SF6) circuit breakers are made with

 ratings up to 800 kV and continuous cur rent up to 4000 A. 

•They are alternatives to oil and vacuum breakers for metal-clad and metal-enclosed switchgear up to 38 kV

• 5. Vacuum circuit breakers, more accurately termed vacuum-bottle interrupters, are generally used for

 voltages up to 38 kV and continuous current ratings to 3000 A. They are used for higher system voltage,

 current, and interrupting ratings, and are typically specified for metal-clad and metal-enclosed switchgear in 

distribution systems.