Air Circuit Breaker

At home or work place we are often surrounded by different types of electric equipments. Therefore it is very important to know about how to protect these from any kind of damage and thus enhance their work life. Air Circuit Breaker comes handy when it is about hazardous damage due to unstable voltage or frequency trouble.

Air circuit breaker, popularly known as ACB, is an electrical safety device. It is used to safeguard the machine when the fault occurs. Faults can be of various types – inconsistent voltage, disturbance in frequency, short circuit, reverse power, earth fault etc. Air circuit breaker identifies when the equipment is at risk of being exposed to any of these faults. When a system is at risk of damage because of this, the contacts within the circuit break open and stop electricity from flowing though the electrical system. The energy thus generated is stored by compressing a large powerful coil springs which are attached to the contact assembly of a circuit breaker. Once these springs are compressed, the latch may be operated to release the springs, and spring pressure then shuts the circuit breaker.

This type of circuit breakers works in air at atmospheric pressure. Compressed air extinguishes the arc when the connection opens. Their most common application is in electrical distribution systems.

Air circuit-breakers can be used both as circuit-breakers for general protection (of plants, of user complexes, of electric lines) and as protection circuit-breakers of electrical machines (generators, motors, transformers, capacitors).This can be controlled electronically, and in some models are even controlled though microprocessor.

ACBs can be either fixed or movable. A fixed circuit breaker is installed between the power source and a load.The load is the item receiving power, such as house. A movable circuit breaker can be removedfrom a power source and loaded when necessary.

Aircircuit breakers larger than these are used in large commercial as well as industrial distribution systems. These circuit breakers are installed in much higher continuous current and interrupting ratings than the molded case circuit breaker. Most of these large ACBs use a closing device, known as a “stored energy mechanism,” for fast, positive closing action.

An important characteristic of air circuit breakers is that they should be set up to facilitate easy maintenance. It is also important to test the functioning of ACB regularly. This is the best way to ensure safety of all these instruments and create a non-dangerous work environment for you.