Short Circuit Laboratory

The original set-up consisted of 12 kV 50 MVA Short-Circuit (SC) Generator driven by 3.3 kV induction motor and a DC shunt generator coupled to the Generator shaft. Set-up also consisted of auxiliary equipment like Air-blast Master Circuit-breaker for breaking the short-circuit current and a high speed Make Switch for initiating the short-circuit, protection system for drive motor and Generator, Control Desk, Measuring/recording system, etc. As there was demand for the DC Short-Circuit test from the various manufacturers 600 V, 30 kA DC short-circuit test facility was created under 8th Plan capital project. This is the only unique DC short-circuit test facility available in India even today for testing LV DC equipment like MCBs, MCCBs, switches, contractors, fuses etc. An impulse test facility for up to 30 kVp was also created for carrying impulse tests on LV equipment. The laboratory contributed a lot in the indigenous development of HRC fuses and Moulded Case Circuit Breakers with electronics trip circuits by English Electric Company, indigenization of Circuit Breakers used in completely selfprotected (CSP) transformers, medium-voltage vacuum contractors, etc.