A review of MV interrupting technology through the prism of a contemporary SF6 circuit breaker

In recent years, much has been documented on vacuum interrupter improvements. This paper focuses on an alternative technology in the form of arc quenching in SF₆ gas by means of a rotating arc and thermal expansion. These parallel developments in SF₆ circuit breakers make possible choices between vacuum and SF₆ breakers. User identified criteria in evaluating the emergent and competing technologies are offered in an effort to provide an understanding of the differences in medium voltage switchgear technologies