Reclosers will reset on their own if they do not lockout.

If they lock out then the lineman has to go out and reset it manually. There is like a little cup in a recloser every time it trips a little bit of oil is pumped into the cup. If it trips three times the cup is heavy enough to throw the breaker inside the recloser and lock it out. If the reloser only fires twice then the oil leaks out of the bottom of the cup and hence the auto reset.

They are used in coordinated protection schemes for overhead line power distribution circuits. These circuits are prone to transitory faults such as nearby lightning strikes, wind-borne debris, squirrels climbing insulators, and the like. With a conventional circuit breaker or fuse, a transient fault would open the breaker or blow the fuse, disabling the line until a technician could manually reclose the circuit breaker or replace the blown fuse. But an autorecloser will make several pre-programmed attempts to re-energize the line. If the transient fault has cleared, the autorecloser's circuit breaker will remain closed and normal operation of the power line will resume. If the fault is some sort of a permanent fault (downed wires, tree branches lying on the wires, etc.) the autorecloser will exhaust its pre-programmed attempts to re-energize the line and remain tripped off until manually commanded to try again.

What are Reclosers? They are electrical devices on your overhead distribution line that attempts to re-energize the line after an interrupt in the voltage, usually caused by fallen branches, lightning stricks, animals crawling on the wire, etc. Without reclosers, the system would fault and trigger a breaker or fuse, and would need an electrician to resolve the fault and reset the fuse or breaker. Reclosers are programmed make a preset number of attempts to re-establish the voltage before determining a permanent fault. Recloser operations are programmed in an electronic control with accurate characteristics and a host of advanced features. Precise operating tolerances enable close coordination with other protective devices on the system. When system requirements change, program settings are easily altered with no sacrifice of accuracy or consistency. What are the different types of reclosers? Single phase or three phase reclosers: Single phase reclosers will close just one phase of the distribution line that it is on, and leave the remaining two phases on. Where as a three phase rescloser has more applicable uses and is more economical. Hydraulic vs Electronic reclosers: Hydraulic reclosers are commonly single phase reclosers. The overcurrent triggers a trip coil in series with the distribution line. The electronic recloser is 3-phase reclosers, and is more customizable for programming, meter, and automation. Reclosers are installed to provide maximum continuity of service to distributionloads,simplyandeconomically,byremovingapermanently faultedcircuitfromthesystemorbyinstantclearing and reclosing on a circuit subjected to a temporary fault caused by lightning, trees, wildlife, orsimilar causes. Unlike fuse links, which interrupt either temporary or permanent faults indiscriminately,reclosers are able to distinguish between the two types of faults, permanent and temporary. They givetemporary faults repeated chances to clear or to be cleared by a subordinate protective device. If the faultisnotcleared,therecloserrecognizesthefaultaspermanentandoperates tolockoutor,insomeapplications, hold closed (see Section 5.9.5.4). Feeder - A circuit, such as conductors in conduit or a busway run, which carries a large block of power from the service equipment to a sub-feeder panel or a branch circuit panel or to some point at which the block power is broken into smaller circuits.

Reclosers are small circuit breakers located at the top of distribution poles and are typically used on very long distribution feeders. Their function is to isolate a section of the feeder in fault or overload conditions and thereby minimize the number of customers without service. Since they act as small circuit breakers, they have the capability to restore power automatically in temporary fault situations, hence the name "recloser". To further reduce the number of customers taken out of service in a fault condition, reclosers are "coordinated" with downstream fused cutouts and upstream substation circuit breakers. For example, let's say a tree branch falls across a tapped single phase line in a residential community. Without a recloser between the fused cutout serving the tapped single phase line and the substation circuit breaker, the entire feeder would be affected. With a recloser present, only that portion of the feeder downstream from it would be affected. Now, the recloser would operate (or open) and then reclose almost instantaneously. If the fault (tree branch on the line) is still present, the recloser would open again. This time it may be preset to wait a second or two before reclosing. After reclosing, if the fault is still there and the fused cutout didn't blow during the last operation, the recloser would hold for a short while to give the fused cutout time to blow and isolate just the tapped single phase line. If it doesn't for some reason, the recloser would open a third time and "lockout". At this point a lineman must be dispatched to inspect the problem and reclose the recloser manually. 3.6 AUTOMATIC C I R C U I T RECLOSERS. An automatic circuit recloser is a self-contained protective device that automatically interrupts and recloses alternating current circuits w i t h predetermined sequences of opening and reclosing, followed by resetting or lockout. Unlike fuse links, which interrupt either temporary or permanent faults indiscriminately, reclosers give temporary faults repeated chances to clear themselves or to be cleared by a subordinate protective device. If the fault is not cleared, the recloser recognizes it as permanent and operates to lock out. 3.6.1 Purpose. Reclosers are installed to maintain power to distribution loads w i t h a minimum of outages. Reclosers instantly clear and reclose a circuit subjected to: a temporary fault due to lightning, trees, or similar causes; or by removing a permanently faulted circuit from the system. 3.6.2 Application . Automatic circuit reclosers are used in distribution substations and on branch feeders that are vulnerable to temporary short circuits (such as bare overhead conductor systems) to protect and switch feeder circuits. Their proper application requires a study of the load characteristics of both the protecting and the protected equipment. This includes the medium-voltage fuses or other protection in the supply to a substation; circuit breakers or reclosers at the distribution voltage supplying the feeders originating at the substation; various line reclosers, sectionalizers or fuses; and the conductors of the system. 3.6.3 Ratings. Automatic circuit reclosers are rated in terms of voltage, continuous current, minimum trip current and interrupting current. In operating a recloser, the limitations imposed by a given recloser rating must not be exceeded in any respect; otherwise, excessive maintenance or unsatisfactory operation may be experienced. 3.6.3.1 Voltage Rating . Nominal voltage specifies the nominal system voltage at which the recloser can be applied. Maximum design voltage indicates the highest voltage at which the recloser is designed to operate. Voltage ratings of automatic circuit reclosers range f ro m 14.4 kV to 69 kV f o r o i l reclosers and f ro m 14.4 kV to 34.5 kV f o r vacuum reclosers (per A N S I C37.60-1981). Units rated 14.4 kV may be applied at any system voltage f ro m 2.4 - 14.4 k V , as long as the proper interrupting ratings are used. Older units, that carry nominal voltage ratings below 14.4 kV (i.e., 2.4 kV or 4.16 k V ) , may still be in service.

3.6.3.2 Continuous Current Rating. The continuous current rating is the magnitude of rms current in amperes that the recloser is designed to carry continuously. In many cases the continuous current rating is limited by the series solenoid coil rating. As load current requirements change, therefore, it is necessary to replace the solenoid coil w i t h one having the required rating. The continuous current ratings of automatic circuit reclosers range f ro m 5 to 1120 A. 3.6.3.3 Minimum Trip Current Rating . The minimum trip current rating is the minimum current at wh ich a recloser will operate. The pickup is adjustable, but generally a setting of 140 or 200 percent of the continuous current rating is used. The differential between minimum trip and continuous current ratings normally provides sufficient margin f o r inrush current pickup after an extended outage on a feeder circuit. 3.6.3.4 Interrupting Current Rating . The interrupting current rating is the maximum rms symmetrical current that a recloser is designed to interrupt under the standard operating duty, circuit voltage, and specified circuit constants. 3.6.4 Three-Phase Versus Single-Phase Reclosers. Automatic o i l circuit reclosers are available in both single-phase and three-phase (Figure 3-15). The application of reclosers is dependent upon the type of loads being served. Three-phase equipment should not be served by a feeder using single-phase reclosers. Operation and lockout of one of the reclosers wou ld cause single-phase operation of the three-phase equipment and result in possible damage. A three-phase recloser f o r such an application wou ld disconnect a l l three phases regardless of which phase is faulted. 3.6.5 Construction . An automatic circuit recloser is made up of f ive major components: housing, bushings, mechanism, interrupter, and controls. 3.6.5.1 Housing . A vacuum recloser may be housed in a pad-mounted metal enclosure. These enclosures are easy to install, are tamperproof, and are neat in appearance. A tank is used to house the interrupter and the tripping and closing coils of an oil-filled recloser. The tank is usually made of steel and is rectangular f o r a three-phase recloser and cylindrical f o r a single-phase unit. Typical single-phase automatic recloser construction is shown in Figure 3-16. 3.6.5.2 Bushings . The bushings are the insulating structures including through-conductors w i t h provision f o r mounting on the top of t3.6.5.3 Operating Mechanism. The operating mechanis m of an automatic circuit recloser provides the power to open, close, or lock out the main contacts. (a) The tripping mechanism releases the holding means and permits the contacts to open. In most cases the opening force is furnished by springs that are charged by the closing action. (b) The closing mechanism is normally a solenoid coil or a motor and gear arrangement. The closing force serves to close the main contacts and at the same time to charge the spring providing the opening force. The lockout mechanism locks the main contacts in the open position fo llowing the completion of a predetermined sequence of operation; i.e., when the fau lt is not cleared after a predetermined number of reclosures. 3.6.5.4 Interrupter . The interrupter contains separable contacts that operate w it h in an o i l or vacuum chamber. Low-energy arc interruption in a vacuum results in quiet and reliable operation. 3.6.5.5 Control . Reclosers are provided w i t h sequence control devices and an operation integrator to change the recloser f ro m instantaneous operations to time-delay operations, and to lock out the recloser after a prescribed number of operations. Individual tripping operations of a recloser can be made to f o l l o w instantaneous or time-delay time-current characteristics. (a) Examples of operational sequences: o Four time-delay operations. This consists of three open-close operations and a f inal open operation. All operations are preceded by a fixed time delay to a llo w the fault to clear. Aft er three open-close operations, it is assumed that the fau lt is permanent and the fourth operation is a lockout trip.

o One instantaneous operation followed by three time-delay operations. This consists of three open-close operations and a fina l open operation. The first operation is instantaneous, and the subsequent three operations are preceded by a fixed time delay. The fault may be intermittent, so that the first operation, which is instantaneous, often clears the fault in a shorter time than if a time delay were used f o r the first operation. o T w o instantaneous operations followed by t w o time-delay operations. These are similar to the above, in that the first t w o operations are made w i t h no intentional time delay. This is based on the assumption that most faults are transient in nature, and that possibly the fau lt did not clear on the first t r y , but no intentional time delay is needed f o r the second operation he recloser (b) T w o major categories of sequence control devices: o In the hydraulic type, a pump piston attached to the recloser plunger raises the trip piston a certain amount by pumping a measured amount of o i l under the trip piston w i t h each operation of the recloser. This changes the sequence f ro m fast to delayed tripping and eventually locks the recloser out. o In the electronic control scheme, minimum phase and ground trip values and timing of tripping, reclosing, and resetting are established by a plug-in resistance-capacitance network. Current transformers provide sensing f o r overcurrent or faults. The battery-powered electronic control panel sends signals to a solenoid to open or reclose the contacts 3.6.6 Automatic Operation. When an overcurrent of sufficient magnitude f lows through the trip coil or current transformers, the tripping action is initiated and the contacts are opened. The recloser contacts then reclose fo llowing a predetermined length of time. By the time the recloser has reclosed the circuit, the sequence control device has moved to count the trip operation. If the fau lt st ill persists on the circuit when the recloser closes, the tripping and reclosing sequence is repeated (a predetermined number of times), as established by the sequence control device, u n t i l the recloser goes to lockout. If the fau lt has cleared f ro m the circuit during any open period, the recloser closes and remains closed, and the sequence control device resets so that it is in position f o r the next sequence of operations. 3.6.7 Manual Operation. 3.6.7.1 Manual Tripping. An automatic circuit recloser can be tripped open manually by moving the manual operating handle to the trip position by means of a hookstick. If the recloser is provided w i t h a nonreclosing lever, it should be pulled down as far as possible to cut out the automatic reclosing before the recloser is manually tripped. 3.6.7.2 Manual Closing. An automatic circuit recloser can be closed manually by moving the manual operating handle to the close position by means of a hookstick or, if the recloser is provided w i t h remote control, by moving the control switch to the close position. If the recloser is provided w i t h a nonreclosing lever, the nonreclosing lever should be pulled down as far as it will go in order to cut out the automatic reclosing before the recloser is closed manually. Afte r the automatic circuit recloser has been successfully closed, the automatic reclosing should be placed in service. 3.6.7.3 Manual Reclosing Afte r Lockout Operation. Reclosers in service are designed to lock out follo wing a selected sequence of tripping and automatic reclosing operations. When a recloser appears to be locked out, the operator is always faced w i t h the possibility that the recloser itself may have failed. The fo llowing procedure is recommended f o r reclosing of recloser after a lockout operation

Application of Autoreclosing on Transmission Systems A primary concern in the application of autoreclosing, especially on EHV-rated lines and higher, is the maintenance of system stability and synchronism. This is normally done through the application of high-speed tripping and autoreclosing. The problems involved with maintaining stability on these lines when autoreclosing during a fault on the line depend on the characteristics of the system - whether it is loosely connected, for example, with two power systems connected by a single tie line, or, conversely, highly interconnected, in which case maintaining synchronism during autoreclosing is much easier. The intent of autoreclosing on transmission and subtransmission systems, other than the maintenance of stability, is to return the system to its normal configuration with minimum outage of the line with the least expenditure of manpower. System restoration becomes increasingly important when applied to lines that interconnect systems and are critical for reliable power exchange between the systems. Individual utility policy and system requirements dictate the complexity and variety of automatic reclosing schemes in service today. Control Intelligence: The intelligence that enables a recloser to sense overcurrents, selecttiming operation, time the tripping and reclosing functions, and finally lock out, is provided by its control.There are two basic types of control schemes used: integral hydraulic control or electronic controllocated in a separate cabinet. A recloser employs one of these controls. 5.9.2.2.1 Hydraulic Recloser Control: Hydraulic recloser control is used in single-phase reclosers andin smaller ratings of three-phase reclosers. It is built as an integral part of the recloser. With this type of control, an overcurrent is sensed by a trip-coil connected in series with the line. When the overcurrentflows through the coil, a plunger is drawn into the coil to trip open the recloser contacts. Timing andsequencing are accomplished by pumping oil through separate hydraulic chambers or ducts. 5.9.2.2.2 Electronic Recloser Control: Electronic recloser control is used with some single-phasereclosers and larger three-phase reclosers. Compared to the hydraulic control, it is more flexible, moreeasily adjusted, and more accurate. The electronic control, housed in a cabinet separate from the recloser,conveniently permits changing timing, trip current levels, and sequences of recloser operations withoutde-energizing or untanking the recloser. A wide range of accessories are available from meteringcapabilities on some models to modifying the basic operation, solving many different applicationproblems.
we analyzed recloser to fuse protective coordination when superconducting fault current limiters (SFCL) are applied into power distribution system. Generally, fuses are installed at more remote position from substation than reclosers. Thus, when instantaneous faults occur at the point behind the fuse, the fuse doesn't melt because the recloser removes the fault by reclosing operation. When permanent faults occur, the fuse has to melt just before the last delay trip of the recloser in order to prevent the loads between the recloser and the fuse to be interrupted. However, in power distribution system with SFCL, the fault current is decreased by the effect of the impedance of the SFCL. In this case, when a permanent fault occurs, the fuse may not melt during the delay operation of the recloser because of the insufficient heat from the decreased current. As a result, the recloser is locked-out and the loads between the recloser and the fuse are interrupted unnecessarily. Therefore, when SFCLs are applied into power distribution system, the rating of fuse has to be reselected to coordinate recloserfuse effectively. However, this reselection for the protective coordination becomes very complicated problem considering the impedances of generator, transformer, distribution line, fault and so on. To solve these problems, we proposed the method to calculate and select the ratings of fuse using the above-mentioned impedances. The proposed method will be proved through the case studies.