A circuit breaker is an important electrical component used to protect circuits and equipment. It can quickly cut off the current when an overload, short circuit, or other fault is detected in the circuit, preventing equipment damage or circuit fire. Depending on the application requirements and operating principle, circuit breakers are divided into many different types. This article will summarize some of the common types of circuit breakers.
Air circuit breaker (ACB): An air circuit breaker is a common type of circuit breaker. It uses air as a medium to cut off and connect the circuit through a switching mechanism. The air circuit breaker has a high power-off capacity, can withstand high currents and fault currents, and is suitable for the protection of medium and high voltage circuits. It is widely used in the power system of industrial and commercial buildings.
Magnetic circuit breaker: A magnetic circuit breaker is a type of circuit breaker that works on the principle of electromagnetism. It uses the magnetic force generated by current induction to determine whether the circuit is overloaded, and quickly cuts off the current when it is overloaded. Magnetic circuit breakers are suitable for the protection of low-voltage circuits and are widely used in circuit protection in homes and offices.
Thermal circuit breaker: A thermal circuit breaker is a type of circuit breaker that works based on temperature changes. It uses thermally responsive elements, such as bimetal sheets or thermistors, to detect overloads in a circuit. When the current exceeds the limit and continues for a certain period of time, the thermal circuit breaker cuts off the current by expanding the thermally responsive element. Thermal conductive circuit breakers are widely used in the protection of low-power circuits such as electronic equipment and household appliances.
Oil Circuit Breaker: An oil circuit breaker is a protective device for high-voltage circuits. It uses insulating oil as a medium and is able to effectively cut off fault currents in high-voltage circuits. The oil-immersed circuit breaker has a high power-off capacity and arc extinguishing capacity, which is suitable for substations and high-voltage power systems.
SF6 circuit breaker: SF6 circuit breaker is a circuit breaker that uses sulfurized gas (SF6) as the arc extinguishing medium. It has excellent arc extinguishing and insulation properties, and is able to cut off fault currents in high-voltage circuits. SF6 circuit breakers are widely used in substations, transmission lines and industrial power systems.
In addition to the above listed circuit breakers, there are many other types of circuit breakers, such as vacuum circuit breakers, electronic circuit breakers, etc. Depending on the operating principle and application scenario, these circuit breaker types offer a variety of options to meet a variety of circuit protection needs.