As a vital protective device in the power system, circuit breakers are widely used in industrial, commercial and civil fields. With the continuous development of power technology, the types of circuit breakers are becoming more and more abundant, and different types of circuit breakers have their own characteristics in function, structure and applicable scenarios. Understanding the classification and application of circuit breakers will help users choose suitable products according to actual needs to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system.
From the perspective of structure and working principle, circuit breakers are mainly divided into four categories: air circuit breakers, vacuum circuit breakers, SF6 circuit breakers and oil circuit breakers. Air circuit breakers are the most common type, using air as the arc extinguishing medium, suitable for low-voltage power distribution systems, with simple structure and easy maintenance. Vacuum circuit breakers use vacuum environment arc extinguishing, with the advantages of small size, long life and suitable for frequent operation, and are widely used in medium-voltage power distribution systems. SF6 circuit breakers use sulfur hexafluoride gas as the arc extinguishing medium, with excellent insulation performance and arc extinguishing ability, suitable for high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage power systems. Although oil circuit breakers were widely used in the past, they have been gradually replaced by other types due to environmental and safety issues.
From the perspective of application voltage level, circuit breakers can be divided into low-voltage circuit breakers, medium-voltage circuit breakers and high-voltage circuit breakers. Low-voltage circuit breakers are usually used in power distribution systems below 400V to protect household appliances and industrial equipment from overload and short circuit. Medium-voltage circuit breakers are suitable for power systems from 1kV to 35kV and are commonly found in substations and industrial plants. High-voltage circuit breakers are used in high-voltage transmission systems of 110kV and above, and play a key role in the safe and stable operation of power grids.
In addition, circuit breakers can also be divided into manual circuit breakers and electric circuit breakers according to the operation mode. Manual circuit breakers require manual operation and are suitable for occasions with low automation requirements; electric circuit breakers can realize automatic opening and closing through relay protection devices and are widely used in power systems with a high degree of automation.
Understanding the classification and characteristics of circuit breakers will help users choose suitable products according to actual needs and ensure the safety and reliability of power systems. With the development of smart grids, circuit breakers will develop towards intelligence, miniaturization and environmental protection in the future, bringing more innovative solutions to the power industry.
