Analysis of a Fast Acting Circuit Breaker Mechanism Part I: Electrical Aspects

Fast operation of high voltage circuit breakers has been achieved in recent years by electromagnetically driven mechanisms. Technical design and operational data must be available with manufacturers acturers of such circuit breakers. However, a detailed analysis of such a mechanism has not been published so far. In this paper the authors analyse the electromechanical behaviour of a model fast-acting circuit breaker mechanism. Numerical design techniques are also developed. Part I deals with the electrical aspects, while mechanical and thermal aspects are discussed in an accompanying paper (Part II).