Current Interruption Transients Calculation, 2nd Edition

Appendix HEvolution of Transient Recovery Voltages

H.1 Introduction

Circuit breakers are one of the greater inventions of the twentieth century. The first bulk‐oil type circuit breaker made longer distance transmission of electric power possible and development has continued enabling the development of power systems up to 1200 kV. The approximate manufacturing periods for the different circuit breaker types is as follows:

• Bulk‐oil circuit breakers: Manufactured from 1910 to 1995; the longest such period for any circuit breaker type.
• Minimum‐oil (also described as low‐oil content) circuit breakers: Manufactured from 1965 to 1985, a live‐tank version of the dead‐tank bulk‐oil circuit breaker and used extensively outside the U.S.
• Air‐blast circuit breakers: Manufactured from 1950 to 1980, achieving the faster interrupting times needed for the first extra high voltage (EHV) power systems at 300 kV and above.
• Dual‐pressure SF₆ gas circuit breakers: Manufactured from 1955 to 1980, applied principally in the U.S.
• Single‐pressure SF₆ gas circuit breakers: Manufactured from 1965 and continuing, evolving from the straight puffer‐type to assisted‐blast type.
• Vacuum circuit breakers: Manufactured from 1965 and continuing, initially at system voltages of 36 kV and below and presently up to system voltages up to 145 kV.

Standardized transient recovery voltages (TRVs) and associated testing have evolved driven by the interrupting medium technology and the growth and knowledge of power systems. ...