Purpose of anti pumping circuit in breaker

The purpose of an anti-pumping circuit in a breaker is to prevent the breaker from repeatedly tripping and reclosing due to a fault condition, such as a short circuit or overcurrent. This phenomenon is known as "pumping" or "repeated tripping".

When a breaker trips due to a fault, it opens the circuit and disconnects the power supply. However, if the fault is not cleared, the breaker may reclose and try to re-establish the circuit, only to trip again due to the same fault. This repeated tripping and reclosing can cause damage to the breaker, the circuit, and the equipment connected to it.

The anti-pumping circuit is designed to prevent this repeated tripping and reclosing by detecting the fault condition and preventing the breaker from reclosing until the fault is cleared. The circuit typically consists of a timer and a logic circuit that monitors the breaker's trip and close operations.

Here's how it works:

  1. When the breaker trips due to a fault, the anti-pumping circuit is triggered.
  2. The timer starts counting down from a predetermined time period (typically several seconds).
  3. During this time, the breaker remains open, and the circuit is disconnected.
  4. If the fault is cleared before the timer expires, the breaker can reclose normally.
  5. If the fault is not cleared before the timer expires, the breaker remains open, and the circuit remains disconnected.

The anti-pumping circuit serves several purposes:

  1. Prevents repeated tripping and reclosing, which can cause damage to the breaker and the circuit.
  2. Reduces the risk of equipment damage or failure due to repeated fault conditions.
  3. Improves the overall reliability and availability of the power system.
  4. Reduces the likelihood of false tripping, which can occur when the breaker trips due to a temporary fault condition.

In summary, the anti-pumping circuit is an important feature in breakers that helps prevent repeated tripping and reclosing due to fault conditions, ensuring the reliability and safety of the power system.