• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.132-139
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• 2011

Technical requirements for medium voltage class circuit breaker were harmonized by IEC and IEEE, and IEC newly adopted the requirements for class S2 circuit-breaker for overhead-line with the ratings of high-frequency TRV(Transient Recovery Voltage), which IEEE already adopted. Under these circumstances, KERI(Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute) studied testing technologies and facilities, which enable to perform interrupting capacity tests for class S2 circuit-breaker. As results, KERI could carry out interrupting capacity tests for medium voltage class circuit breaker rated up to 3-phase 52[kV] 40[kA], which satisfies the IEC standard.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1663-1672
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• 2018

In recent times, gas insulated medium voltage (MV) circuit breakers (CB) form a vital component in power system network, considering its advantages such as reduced size and safety margins. Gas insulation characteristics of circuit breakers are generally measured by lightning impulse (LI) test according to IEC standard 60060-1 as a factory routine test. Considering the environmental issues of $SF_6$ gas, many research works are being carried out towards the mixture of $SF_6$ gases for high voltage insulation applications. However, few reports are only available regarding the LI withstand and streamer propagation characteristics (at both positive and negative polarity of waveform) of $SF_6/N_2$ gas mixture insulated medium voltage circuit breakers. In this paper, positive and negative polarity LI tests are carried out on 22 kV medium voltage circuit breaker filled with $SF_6/N_2$ gas mixture at different gas pressures (1-5 bar) and at different gas mixture ratios. Important LI parameters such as breakdown voltage, streamer velocity, time to breakdown and acceleration voltage are evaluated with IEC standard LI ($1.2/50{\mu}s$) waveform. Weibull distribution analysis of LI breakdown voltage data is carried out and 50% probability breakdown voltage, scale parameter and shape parameter are evaluated. Results illustrate that the $25%SF_6+75%N_2$ gas filled insulation considerably enhances the LI withstand and breakdown strength of MV circuit breakers. LI breakdown voltage of circuit breaker under negative polarity shows higher value when compared with positive polarity. Results show that maintaining the gas pressure at 0.3 MPa (3 bar) with 10% $SF_6$ gas mixed with 90% $N_2$ will give optimum lighting impulse withstand performance of 22 kV MV circuit breaker.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.105-113
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• 2011

The study about three-phase synthetic making test using DC power has been performed in order to increase the making test capacity on Vacuum Circuit Breaker. And, it made possible to solve the limitations that short-circuit testing facilities can not fulfill the testing requirements of VCB exceeding three-phase 36[kV] 31.5[kA]. By using DC power and high speed spark-gap switch, this method made the equivalence with the pre-arc that occurred during the making process under the fault condition of power system. As results, KERI(Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute) could have capacity to carry out type test for VCB under three-phase 52[kV] 40[kV], which satisfies the IEC Standard.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.467-469
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• 2003

IEC(International Electrotechnical Commission) 62271-100 has been adopted for the design test of circuit breaker which is used as the main protecting device of power system. But, it is also necessary to separately receive the testing certificate in accordance with ANSI/IEEE standard for getting into the american market. Up to now, several domestic companies have completed the ANSI/IEEE testing in medium circuit breaker of distribution system, but they recently started the ANSI/IEEE testing in ultra high-voltage class of transmission and substation system. This paper introduces the testing techniques and its results for the making and breaking performance of 145kV, 40kA $SF_6$ gas circuit breaker which was firstly performed in KERI(Korea Electrotechnology Institute) by the ANSI/IEEE standard.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.808-810
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• 2002

Higher current-rating and improved thermal performance are being sought for existing medium-voltage vacuum circuit breakers(VCB) in order to meet market needs which require to be compact and downsized. In this paper, thermal performance of medium voltage vacuum circuit breaker was investigated through experiments and numerical analysis. We changed several major parameters of current-rating and heat sink affecting on thermal behaviors in the breaker and observed the results. To predict the temperature distribution in complex three-dimensional (3-D) VCB components and gas, the commercial package was used to simulate conjugate heat transfer. Although some assumptions and simplifications were introduced to simulate the model, results from the computational model were in good agreement with actual temperature rise measurements obtained from experiments.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.365-368
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• 2002

The design of industrial arc plasma systems is still largely based on trial and error although the situation is rapidly improving because of the available computational power at a cost which is still fast coming down. The desire to predict the behavior of arc plasma system, thus reducing the development cost, has been the motivation of arc research. To interrupt fault current, the most enormous duty of a circuit breaker, is achieved by separating two contacts in a interruption medium, $SF_{6}$ gas or air etc., and arc plasma is inevitably established between the contacts. The arc must be controlled and interrupted at an appropriate current zero. In order to analyze arc behavior in $SF_{6}$ gas circuit breakers, a numerical calculation method combined with flow field and electromagnetic field has been developed. The method has been applied to model arc generated in the Aachen nozzle and compared the results with the experimental results. Next, we have simulated the unsteady flow characteristics to be induced by arcing of AC cycle, and conformed that the method can predict arc behavior in account of thermal transport to $SF_{6}$ gas around the arc, such as increase of arc voltage near current zero and dependency of arc radius on arc current to maintain constant arc current density.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.804-806
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• 2003

In these days the Vacuum Circuit Breaker(VCB) is used in most medium voltage level because VCB has merits of simple structure, long life, free maintenance and environment friendly characteristics. Most of VCBs adopt mechanical spring drive mechanism to operate vacuum interrupter, but this mechanism is composed of many components and needs frequent maintenance works. In this paper, we study about the VCB drive mechanism with Permanent Magnet Actuator (PMA). Design methods and design flows about PMA are presented. The magnetic equivalent circuit is used for elementary and detailed design to determine the size of PMA. Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis is performed to evaluate the behavior characteristics of PMA in both static and transient state. Finally we manufacture sample PMA and verify FEM analysis through experiments.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers B
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.381-389
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• 2003

Nowadays, Vacuum Circuit Breaker(VCB) is used in the most medium voltage level because vacuum has environment-friendly characteristics as well as excellent dielectric strength. In order to elevate the breaking performance, the improvement of vacuum interrupters and the driving mechanism should be proceeded. In this paper, the development of a Permanent Magnet Actuator could replace the mechanical spring mechanism which is the driving mechanism of existing VCB. The holding force and opening characteristics of magnetic actuator are analysed with FEM and the result is verified through experiment.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.54-59
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• 2023

In this paper, we analyze experimental results by applying the PHILS model to a lab-scale superconducting current limiter system for its actual application in medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) systems. Superconducting current limiters exhibit effective current-limiting performance in circuit breaker operations, particularly in limiting large fault currents within a short period, addressing the challenges posed by the increasing use of renewable energy and the integration of DC medium-voltage distribution systems. The development of such superconducting current limiters faces various technical and cost disadvantages, especially when applying a medium-voltage 35kV level system, which is intended for future introduction. The proven lab-scale superconducting current limiter system and the PHILS model are combined and integrated into the actual system. Our plan involves analyzing the limiter's performance, assessing its impact on the system, and preparing for its application in future medium-voltage systems. Utilizing RTDS, a simulation was conducted by connecting actual scaled-down equipment and systems, with the analysis results presented.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1995.07a
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• pp.160-164
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• 1995

In order to develop a medium voltage class gas circuit breaker by our own technology, we designed and manufactured the model interrupters using the hybrid arc extinguishing principle which adopts the thermal expansion principle in the large current region and the arc rotation principle by permanent magnet in the small current region. As the results of the first year research out of three years' research period, the main design parameters such as the volume of thermal expansion chamber, the distance between fixed contact and nozzle, the length of nozzle throat, the nozzle expansion angle and the magnitude of permanent magnet etc. have been determined. 4 types of model interrupters have been designed and manufactured considering the main design parameters. The 25kA short-circuit test and capacitive current breaking test have been performed for the model interrupters and the test results analyzed to improve the model interupters.