Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: What is an Air Circuit Breaker? Working Principle & Applications
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Electrical Basics > What is an Air Circuit Breaker? Working Principle & Applications

What is an Air Circuit Breaker? Working Principle & Applications

An air circuit breaker consists of fixed and moving contacts that are enclosed in an arc chute chamber having air as an arc quenching medium.

Last updated: June 7, 2022 11:42 am
Editorial Staff
Electrical Basics
No Comments
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

A circuit breaker is the one device in switchgear that operates during any abnormal fault condition in an electrical system i.e. overcurrent, earth fault, and short circuit, thus isolating a faulty electrical circuit from the healthy electrical circuit.

Contents
Classification of Circuit BreakersWhat is Air Circuit Breaker?Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) ConstructionWorking PrincipleTypes of Air Break Circuit BreakerApplications of Air Circuit Breakers

Switchgear is switching equipment used in an electrical system for various applications. The general specifications of the circuit breaker are operating voltage, nominal current, making capacity, breaking capacity, and the duty cycle.

What is Air Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers can also be operated manually or from a remote location as per requirement in an electrical system.

Circuit breakers are made for various voltage and current ratings depending on is applications. Circuit breakers are classified according to arc quenching medium for extinguishing arc during the opening of a breaker.

Classification of Circuit Breakers

FeaturesACBMOCBABCBVCBSF6
Voltage Range
LV: <1000 V,
MV: 1KV to 33KV
HV: 33 to 220KV,
EHV: ≥440 KV
LVMVMV HV EHVMVMV HV EHV
Construction
IMC- internal metal clad
GIS – Gas insulated
OPC – outdoor porcelain clad
IK – indoor Kiosk
IMCIMC OPCIK OPCIMC IK GISIMC OPC GIS
MaintenancelessmaximumlessNilless
Contact life
Max – 100 short circuits
lesslessmoremaximummore
Explosion possibilitieslessmaximumlessNilless
Fire HazardlessmaximumNilNilNil
Capacitor switching
NS- not suitable, S – suitable
NSNSSSS
Repeated operation
NS- Not suitable, S – Suitable
SNSSSS

What is Air Circuit Breaker?

An air circuit breaker consists of fixed and moving contacts that are enclosed in an arc chute chamber having air as an arc quenching medium.

Components of Air Circuit Breaker

These circuit breakers are usually used for low voltage applications (up to 1000 V). Its current rating ranges from 500 amps to 10000 amps.

Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) Construction

A low voltage Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) has compact construction. All poles of an ACB having fixed and moving contacts are housed in an arc chute assembly. These breakers can be operated both electrically and mechanically through a triggering mechanism.

These breakers are provided with rack-in and rack-out features with sliding and guide rail assembly. Push buttons are mounted on ACB for its manual operations.

ACBs are also provided with inbuilt CTs, relay, and trip unit provisions.

Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) Construction

Working Principle

The air circuit breaker employs a high resistance interruption method for arc extinction.

Resistance of the arc is rapidly increased to a high value during the opening of a circuit breaker in fault or normal operating condition such that source voltage becomes incapable to maintain arc voltage.

Working Principle of Air Circuit Breaker

Arc Resistance Ra can be increased by many methods such as

  1. Cooling the arc
  2. Lengthening the arc
  3. Reducing the cross-section of the arc
  4. Splitting the arc
Air Break Circuit Breaker Graph

Types of Air Break Circuit Breaker

  1. Plain Break Type ACB or Cross-Blast ACB
  2. Magnetic Blowout Type ACB
  3. Magnetic Blowout Type ACB
  4. Magnetic Blowout Type ACB
Applications of Air Circuit Breakers
Air Chute Circuit Breaker, Image Courtesy: Codrey

Applications of Air Circuit Breakers

  1. Air Circuit Breakers are mainly used for Low voltage and Low/high current applications.
  2. Air Circuit Breakers are used mostly in indoor low to medium-voltage electrical installations such as Power control cubicles & Motor control cubicles.
  3. Air Circuit Breakers are preferred for applications where there is a high risk of fire hazards as ACBs have a very short arcing time.
  4. Air Circuit Breakers are used for motor & capacitor starting and protection applications as they are most suitable for frequent and high-speed operations.    
  5. Air blast type circuit breakers are widely used in railways electrifications
Electrical Air Circuit Breaker

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, PLC, and SCADA video tutorials.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive daily updates.

Read Next:

DOL Starter Circuit Diagrams
Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
Star Delta Starter Circuit Diagrams
Control Two Motors after Time Delay
Thermal Protection Relay for Motors

Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

Introduction to Protective Systems
One Nation One Grid One Frequency – Electrical Engineering
Circuit Breaker Making Capacity
Motor VFD Drive features
What are Static UPS and Rotary UPS?
Advantages of Three Phase System Compared to Single Phase System
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Difference Between Metering CT and Protection CT
Root Cause Analysis – Burst Transformers and 11 kV Input Breakers
Why Are Neutral and Earth Separated?
Electrical Components Overheating – Causes, Troubles, Prevent
Siemens Standard Drives Application Handbook (PDF)
Basic Principles of Electricity
Difference between Stepper Motor and DC Motor
Dynamic Braking Resistor in VFD

Keep Learning

Worldwide Voltage & Frequency Values

Worldwide Voltage & Frequency Values

Electrical Power Grid Automation

Electrical Power Grid Automation

Electrical Motor Model number and serial number

How to Read the Nameplate of a Motor?

What is a Core Type Transformer

Difference Between Core and Shell Transformers

Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) Motor

Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) Motors Rampant Winding Burnouts

Applications of Electrical Conduit System

What is an Electrical Conduit? – Types – How to Choose?

Earthing Calculations

Electrical Earthing Calculations

Gas-Insulated Transmission Line

What is Gas-Insulated Transmission Line? Principle Advantages

Learn More

Transformer Energy Losses & Efficiency

Free Siemens PLC Training Course

Free Siemens PLC Training Course

Omron PLC increment and decrement

Increment & Decrement Instructions in CX-Programmer (OMRON)

PLC Program Upload

How to Upload Siemens PLC Programs?

Liapunov’s Stability Analysis

Direct Method & Constructing of Liapunov for the Linear & Non-Linear System

What is an instruction list language?

Structured Text vs. Instruction List for PLC Programming

Boiler Feed Water Circulation System

Boiler Feed Water Circulation System

Lime Slaker

Advancements in Lime Slaking Technology: What’s New And What’s Next

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?