Breaker Reclosing
BE1-BPR relays can be configured as multiple shot reclosing relays that operate in
parallel and independently from the breaker failure function.
Three major factors should be considered when establishing a reclosing philosophy.
• Desired number or reclosure attempts.
• Time delay between breaker opening and reclosure.
• Supervisory control.
The first major factor is the desired number of reclosure attempts. Where most
faults are attributable to heavy tree exposure, as in distribution networks, multiple
reclosure attempts are common. This is possible because of low voltage levels and
is desirable considering customer inconvenience during outages. BE1-BPR relays
are programmable for up to three reclosure attempts per sequence. This allows
tailoring of the reclosing sequence to the specific needs of the circuit.
The second major factor is the time delay between breaker opening and reclosure.
On sub-transmission and distribution networks, it is necessary to ensure that motors
are no longer running and that local generation is off-line prior to attempting reclosure.
At the same time, a rapid reclosure minimizes damage, ionization, and system shock
in transmission networks. After the first reclosure attempt, additional attempts are
generally delayed to allow for de-ionization of the interrupter. BE1-BPR relays have
three reclosing shots and each shot has a programmable time delay.
Three outputs are available. They are CLOSE, RECLOSE FAIL, and LOCKOUT.
A third major factor to be considered in reclosing is supervisory control. Supervisory
control allows the operator to maintain control of the system at all times. BE1-BPR
relays have two supervisory inputs (WAIT and LOCKOUT). WAIT stops the reclose
sequence at any point and allows the sequence to continue when the WAIT input is
removed. LOCKOUT drives the reclose function immediately to lockout status and
takes precedence over all other inputs.