IEC 62271-100:2021

IEC 62271-100 ®
Edition 3.0 2021-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
High-voltage switchgear and controlgear –
Part 100: Alternating-current circuit-breakers

Appareillage à haute tension –
Partie 100: Disjoncteurs à courant alternatif

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IEC 62271-100 ®
Edition 3.0 2021-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
High-voltage switchgear and controlgear –

Part 100: Alternating-current circuit-breakers

Appareillage à haute tension –

Partie 100: Disjoncteurs à courant alternatif

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.130.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-9885-5

– 2 – IEC 62271-100:2021  IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 11
1 Scope . 13
2 Normative references . 13
3 Terms and definitions . 14
3.1 General terms and definitions . 15
3.2 Assemblies . 19
3.3 Parts of assemblies . 19
3.4 Switching devices . 19
3.5 Parts of circuit-breakers . 21
3.6 Operational characteristics . 25
3.7 Characteristic quantities . 27
3.8 Index of definitions . 43
4 Normal and special service conditions . 47
5 Ratings . 47
5.1 General . 47
5.2 Rated voltage (U ) . 48
r
5.3 Rated insulation level (U , U , U ) . 48
d p s
5.4 Rated frequency (f ) . 48
r
5.5 Rated continuous current (I ) . 48
r
5.6 Rated short-time withstand current (I ) . 48
k
5.7 Rated peak withstand current (I ) . 48
p
5.8 Rated duration of short-circuit (t ) . 48
k
5.9 Rated supply voltage of auxiliary and control circuits (U ) . 48
a
5.10 Rated supply frequency of auxiliary and control circuits . 48
5.11 Rated pressure of compressed gas supply for controlled pressure systems . 48
5.101 Rated short-circuit breaking current (I ) . 49
sc
5.102 Rated first-pole-to-clear factor (k ) for terminal fault . 52
pp
5.103 Rated short-circuit making current . 52
5.104 Rated operating sequence . 52
5.105 Rated out-of-phase making and breaking current . 52
5.106 Rated capacitive currents. 53
6 Design and construction . 55
6.1 Requirements for liquids . 55
6.2 Requirements for gases . 55
6.3 Earthing . 55
6.4 Auxiliary and control equipment and circuits . 56
6.5 Dependent power operation . 56
6.6 Stored energy operation . 56
6.7 Independent unlatched operation (independent manual or power operation) . 56
6.8 Manually operated actuators . 56
6.9 Operation of releases . 56
6.10 Pressure/level indication . 57
6.11 Nameplates. 58

6.12 Locking devices . 60
6.13 Position indication . 60
6.14 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures . 60
6.15 Creepage distances for outdoor insulators . 60
6.16 Gas and vacuum tightness . 60
6.17 Tightness for liquid systems . 60
6.18 Fire hazard (flammability) . 60
6.19 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) . 60
6.20 X-ray emission . 60
6.21 Corrosion . 60
6.22 Filling levels for insulation, switching and/or operation . 61
6.101 Requirements for simultaneity of poles during single closing and single
opening operations . 61
6.102 General requirement for operation . 61
6.103 Pressure limits of fluids for operation . 61
6.104 Vent outlets . 62
6.105 Time quantities . 62
6.106 Mechanical loads . 62
6.107 Circuit-breaker classification . 63
7 Type tests . 65
7.1 General . 65
7.2 Dielectric tests . 67
7.3 Radio interference voltage (RIV) test . 72
7.4 Resistance measurement . 72
7.5 Continuous current tests . 73
7.6 Short-time withstand current and peak withstand current tests . 74
7.7 Verification of the protection . 74
7.8 Tightness tests . 74
7.9 Electromagnetic compatibility tests (EMC) . 74
7.10 Additional tests on auxiliary and control circuits . 75
7.11 X-radiation test procedure for vacuum interrupters . 75
7.101 Mechanical and environmental tests . 75
7.102 Miscellaneous provisions for making and breaking tests . 88
7.103 General considerations for making and breaking tests . 106
7.104 Demonstration of arcing times . 113
7.105 Short-circuit test quantities . 132
7.106 Short-circuit test procedure . 155
7.107 Terminal fault tests . 157
7.108 Additional short-circuit tests . 161
7.109 Short-line fault tests . 164
7.110 Out-of-phase making and breaking tests . 175
7.111 Capacitive current tests . 177
7.112 Requirements for making and breaking tests on class E2 circuit-breakers
having a rated voltage above 1 kV up to and including 52 kV . 191
8 Routine tests . 192
8.1 General . 192
8.2 Dielectric test on the main circuit . 193
8.3 Tests on auxiliary and control circuits . 195

– 4 – IEC 62271-100:2021  IEC 2021
8.4 Measurement of the resistance of the main circuit . 195
8.5 Tightness test . 195
8.6 Design and visual checks . 195
8.101 Mechanical operating tests . 195
9 Guide to the selection of switchgear and controlgear (informative) . 197
9.101 General . 197
9.102 Selection of rated values for service conditions . 199
9.103 Selection of rated values for fault conditions . 201
9.104 Selection for electrical endurance in networks of rated voltage above 1 kV

and up to and including 52 kV . 205
9.105 Selection for switching of capacitive loads . 205
10 Information to be given with enquiries, tenders and orders (informative) . 205
10.1 General . 205
10.2 Information with enquiries and orders . 205
10.3 Information to be given with tenders. 206
11 Transport, storage, installation, operation instructions and maintenance. 208
11.1 General . 208
11.2 Conditions during transport, storage and installation . 208
11.3 Installation . 208
11.4 Operating instructions . 214
11.5 Maintenance . 214
11.101 Resistors and capacitors . 215
12 Safety . 215
13 Influence of the product on the environment . 215
Annex A (normative) Calculation of TRVs for short-line faults from rated

characteristics . 216
A.1 Basic approach . 216
A.2 Transient voltage on line side . 219
A.3 Transient voltage on source side . 219
A.4 Examples of calculations . 223
Annex B (normative) Tolerances on test quantities during type tests . 226
Annex C (normative) Records and reports of type tests. 235
C.1 Information and results to be recorded . 235
C.2 Information to be included in type test reports . 235
Annex D (normative) Method of determination of the prospective TRV . 239
D.1 General . 239
D.2 Drawing the envelope . 239
D.3 Determination of parameters . 240
Annex E (normative) Methods of determining prospective TRV waves . 243
E.1 General . 243
E.2 General summary of the recommended methods . 245
E.3 Detailed consideration of the recommended methods . 246
E.4 Comparison of methods . 257
Annex F (informative) Requirements for breaking of transformer-limited faults by
circuit-breakers with rated voltage higher than 1 kV . 261
F.1 General . 261
F.2 Circuit-breakers with rated voltage less than 100 kV . 262

F.3 Circuit-breakers with rated voltage from 100 kV to 800 kV . 264
F.4 Circuit-breakers with rated voltage higher than 800 kV . 264
Annex G (normative) Use of mechanical characteristics and related requirements . 265
Annex H (normative) Requirements for making and breaking test procedures for
metal-enclosed and dead tank circuit-breakers . 266
H.1 General . 266
H.2 Reduced number of making and breaking units for testing purposes . 266
H.3 Tests for single pole in one enclosure . 267
H.4 Tests for three poles in one enclosure . 270
Annex I (normative) Requirements for circuit-breakers with opening resistors . 272
I.1 General . 272
I.2 Switching performance to be verified . 272
I.3 Insertion time of the resistor. 285
I.4 Current carrying performance . 285
I.5 Dielectric performance . 285
I.6 Mechanical performance . 285
I.7 Requirements for the specification of opening resistors. 285
I.8 Examples of recovery voltage waveshapes . 285
Annex J (normative) Verification of capacitive current breaking in presence of single
or two-phase earth faults . 292
J.1 General . 292
J.2 Test voltage . 292
J.3 Test current . 292
J.4 Test-duty . 293
J.5 Criteria to pass the tests . 293
Bibliography . 294

Figure 1 – Typical oscillogram of a three-phase short-circuit make-break cycle. 29
Figure 2 – Circuit-breaker without switching resistors – Opening and closing operations . 30
Figure 3 – Circuit breaker without switching resistors – Close-open cycle . 31
Figure 4 – Circuit-breaker without switching resistors – Reclosing (auto-reclosing) . 32
Figure 5 – Circuit-breaker with switching resistors – Opening and closing operations . 33
Figure 6 – Circuit-breaker with switching resistors – Close-open cycle . 34
Figure 7 – Circuit-breaker with switching resistors – Reclosing (auto-reclosing) . 35
Figure 8 – Determination of short-circuit making and breaking currents, and of
percentage DC component . 50
Figure 9 – Percentage DC component in relation to the time interval from the initiation

of the short-circuit for the different time constants . 51
Figure 10 – Example of wind velocity measurement . 82
Figure 11 – Test sequence for low temperature test . 84
Figure 12 – Test sequence for high temperature test . 85
Figure 13 – Humidity test . 87
Figure 14 – Example of reference mechanical characteristics (idealised curve) . 91
Figure 15 – Reference mechanical characteristics of Figure 14 with the envelopes
centred over the reference curve (+5 %, –5 %) . 92

– 6 – IEC 62271-100:2021  IEC 2021
Figure 16 – Reference mechanical characteristics of Figure 14 with the envelope fully
displaced upward from the reference curve (+10 %, –0 %) . 93
Figure 17 – Reference mechanical characteristics of Figure 14 with the envelope fully

displaced downward from the reference curve (+0 %, –10 %) . 93
Figure 18 – Equivalent testing set-up for unit testing of circuit-breakers with more than
one separate making and breaking units . 95
Figure 19 – Earthing of test circuits for single-phase short-circuit tests, k = 1,5 . 96
pp
Figure 20 – Earthing of test circuits for single-phase short-circuit tests, k = 1,3 . 97
pp
Figure 21 – Test circuit for single-phase out-of-phase tests . 97
Figure 22 – Test circuit for out-of-phase tests using two voltages separated by 120
electrical degrees . 98
Figure 23 – Test circuit for out-of-phase tests with one terminal of the circuit-breaker
earthed (subject to agreement of the manufacturer) . 98
Figure 24 – Example of prospective test TRV with four-parameter envelope which
satisfies the conditions to be met during type test – Case of specified TRV with four-
parameter reference line . 99
Figure 25 – Example of prospective test TRV with two-parameter envelope which
satisfies the conditions to be met during type test: case of specified TRV with two-
parameter reference line . 100
Figure 26 – Example of prospective test TRV-waves and their combined envelope in
two-part test. 101
Figure 27 – Earthing of test circuits for three-phase short-circuit tests, k = 1,5 . 108
pp
Figure 28 – Earthing of test circuits for three-phase short-circuit tests, k = 1,3 . 109
pp
Figure 29 – Determination of power frequency recovery voltage . 111
Figure 30 – Graphical representation of the time parameters for the demonstration of

arcing times in three-phase tests of test-duty T100a . 114
Figure 31 – Graphical representation of an example of the three valid symmetrical
breaking operations for k = 1,5 . 115
pp
Figure 32 – Graphical representation of the three valid symmetrical breaking
operations for k = 1,2 or 1,3 . 116
pp
Figure 33 – Graphical representation of an example of the three valid asymmetrical

breaking operations for k = 1,5 . 120
pp
Figure 34 – Graphical representation of an example of the three valid asymmetrical
breaking operations for k = 1,2 or 1,3 . 121
pp
Figure 35 – Example of a graphical representation of the three valid symmetrical
breaking operations for single-phase tests in substitution of three-phase conditions for
k = 1,5 . 125
pp
Figure 36 – Example of a graphical representation of an example of the three valid
symmetrical breaking operations for single-phase tests in substitution of three-phase
conditions for k = 1,2 or 1,3 . 126
pp
Figure 37 – Example of a graphical representation of an example of the three valid
asymmetrical breaking operations for single-phase tests in substitution of three-phase
conditions for k = 1,5 . 128
pp
Figure 38 – Example of a graphical representation of an example of the three valid
asymmetrical breaking operations for single-phase tests in substitution of three-phase

for k = 1,2 and 1,3 . 129
pp
Figure 39 – Graphical representation of the arcing window and the pole factor k ,
p
determining the TRV of the individual pole, for systems with a k of 1,2 . 131
pp
Figure 40 – Graphical representation of the arcing window and the pole factor k ,
p
determining the TRV of the individual pole, for systems with a k of 1,3 . 131
pp
Figure 41 – Graphical representation of the arcing window and the pole factor k ,
p
determining the TRV of the individual pole, for systems with a k of 1,5 . 132
pp
Figure 42 – Representation of a specified TRV by a 4-parameter reference line and a
delay line . 135
Figure 43 – Representation of a specified TRV by a two-parameter reference line and

a delay line . 136
Figure 44 – Basic circuit for terminal fault with ITRV . 136
Figure 45 – Representation of ITRV in relationship to TRV . 137
Figure 46 – Example of line transient voltage with time delay with non-linear rate of rise . 151
Figure 47 – Necessity of additional single-phase tests and requirements for testing. 162
Figure 48 – Basic circuit arrangement for short-line fault testing and prospective TRV-
circuit-type a) according to 7.109.3: Source side and line side with time delay . 166
Figure 49 – Basic circuit arrangement for short-line fault testing – circuit type b1)
according to 7.109.3: Source side with ITRV and line side with time delay . 167
Figure 50 – Basic circuit arrangement for short-line fault testing – circuit type b2)

according to 7.109.3: Source side with time delay and line side without time delay . 168
Figure 51 – Example of a line side transient voltage with time delay . 169
Figure 52 – Flow chart for the choice of short-line fault test circuits . 170
Figure 53 – Compensation of deficiency of the source side time delay by an increase
of the excursion of the line side voltage . 172
Figure 54 – Recovery voltage for capacitive current breaking tests . 188
Figure 55 – Reclassification procedure for line and cable-charging current tests . 190
Figure 56 – Reclassification procedure for capacitor bank current tests . 191
Figure A.1 – Typical graph of line and source side TRV parameters – Line side and
source side with time delay . 218
Figure A.2 – Actual course of the source side TRV for short-line fault L , L and L . 221
90 75 60
Figure A.3 – Typical graph of line and source side TRV parameters – Line side and

source side with time delay, source side with ITRV . 222
Figure D.1 – Representation by four parameters of a prospective TRV of a circuit –
Case D.2 c) 1) . 241
Figure D.2 – Representation by four parameters of a prospective TRV of a circuit –
Case D.2 c) 2) . 241
Figure D.3 – Representation by four parameters of a prospective TRV of a circuit –

Case D.2 c) 3) i) . 242
Figure D.4 – Representation by two parameters of a prospective TRV of a circuit –
Case D.2 c) 3) ii) . 242
Figure E.1 – Effect of depression on the peak value of the TRV . 244
Figure E.2 – Breaking with arc-voltage present . 246
Figure E.3 – TRV in case of ideal breaking . 247
Figure E.4 – Breaking with pronounced premature current-zero . 247
Figure E.5 – Relationship between the values of current and TRV occurring in test and
those prospective to the system . 248

– 8 – IEC 62271-100:2021  IEC 2021
Figure E.6 – Breaking with post-arc current . 249
Figure E.7 – Schematic diagram of power-frequency current injection apparatus . 250
Figure E.8 – Sequence of operation of power-frequency current injection apparatus . 251
Figure E.9 – Schematic diagram of capacitance injection apparatus . 253
Figure E.10 – Sequence of operation of capacitor-injection apparatus . 254
Figure F.1 – First example of transformer-limited fault (also called transformer-fed fault) . 261
Figure F.2 – Second example of transformer-limited fault (also called transformer-
secondary fault) . 262
Figure H.1 – Test configuration considered in Table H.1, Table H.2 and Table H.3 . 268
Figure I.1 – Typical system configuration for breaking by a circuit-breaker with opening
resistors . 272
Figure I.2 – Test circuit for test-duties T60 and T100 . 274
Figure I.3 – Test circuit for test-duties T10, T30 and OP2 . 275
Figure I.4 – Example of an underdamped TRV for T100s(b), U = 1 100 kV I = 50 kA,
r sc
f = 50 Hz . 277
r
Figure I.5 – Example of an overdamped TRV for T10, U = 1 100 kV I = 50 kA, f =
r sc r
50 Hz . 278
Figure I.6 – Example of a test circuit for short-line fault test-duty L . 279
Figure I.7 – Example of real line simulation for short-line fault test-duty L based on
U = 1 100 kV, I = 50 kA and f = 50 Hz . 280
r sc r
Figure I.8 – Typical recovery voltage waveshape of capacitive current breaking on a
circuit-breaker equipped with opening resistors. 282
Figure I.9 – Typical recovery voltage waveshape of T10 (based on U = 1 100 kV, I =
r sc
50 kA and f = 50 Hz) on the resistor switch of a circuit-breaker equipped with opening
r
resistors . 283
Figure I.10 – TRV waveshapes for high short-circuit current breaking operation . 286
Figure I.11 – Currents in case of high short-circuit current breaking operation . 287
Figure I.12 – TRV shapes for low short-circuit current breaking operation . 288
Figure I.13 – Currents in case of low short-circuit current breaking operation . 289
Figure I.14 – Voltage waveshapes for line-charging current breaking operation . 290
Figure I.15 – Current waveshapes for line-charging current breaking operation . 291

Table 1 – Preferred values of rated capacitive currents . 54
Table 2 – Nameplate information . 59
Table 3 – Examples of static horizontal and vertical forces for static terminal load . 63
Table 4 – Number of mechanical operations . 64
Table 5 – Type tests . 66
Table 6 – Invalid tests . 67
Table 7 – Test requirements for voltage tests as condition check for metal-enclosed
circuit-breakers . 70
Table 8 – Number of operating sequences . 79
Table 9 – Standard values of ITRV – Rated voltages 100 kV and above . 112

Table 10 – Last current loop parameters in three-phase tests and in single-phase tests
in substitution for three-phase conditions in relation with short-circuit test-duty T100a –
Tests for 50 Hz operation . 117
Table 11 – Last current loop parameters in three-phase tests and in single-phase tests
in substitution for three-phase conditions in relation with short-circuit test-duty T100a –
Tests for 60 Hz operation . 118
Table 12 – Prospective TRV parameters for single-phase tests in substitution for three-

phase tests to demonstrate the breaking of the second-pole-to-clear for k = 1,3 . 122
pp
Table 13 – Prospective TRV parameters for single-phase tests in substitution for three-
phase tests to demonstrate the breaking of the third-pole-to-clear for k = 1,3 . 123
pp
Table 14 – Standard multipliers for TRV values for second and third clearing poles . 130
Table 15 – Arcing window for tests with symmetrical current . 130
Table 16 – Values of prospective TRV for class S1 circuit-breakers rated for k = 1,5 . 138
pp
Table 17 – Values of prospective TRV for class S1 circuit-breakers rated for k = 1,3 . 140
pp
Table 18 – Values of prospective TRV for class S2 circuit-breakers rated for k = 1,5 . 142
pp
Table 19 – Values of prospective TRV for class S2 circuit-breakers for rated for k = 1,3 . 144
pp
Table 20 – Values of prospective TRV for circuit-breakers rated for k = 1,2 or 1,3 –
pp
Rated voltages of 100 kV and above . 147
Table 21 – Values of prospective TRV for circuit-breakers rated for k = 1,5 – Rated
pp
voltages of 100 kV to 170 kV . 149
Table 22 – Values of prospective TRV for out-of-phase tests on class S1 circuit-
breakers for k = 2,5 . 152
pp
Table 23 – Values of prospective TRV for out-of-phase tests on class S1 circuit-
breakers for k = 2,0 . 153
pp
Table 24 – Values of prospective TRV for out-of-phase tests on class S2 circuit-

breakers for k = 2,5 . 153
pp
Table 25 – Values of prospective TRV for out-of-phase tests on class S2 circuit-
breakers for k = 2,0 .
...