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Filed diagnostic testing

Understanding diagnostic testing of HV Circuit Breakers is essential. When diagnostic tests are performed on HV Circuit Breakers, valuable information can be extracted. From a technical maintenance perspective, these diagnostic tests provide critical information about the condition of the HV Circuit Breakers.

How to perform diagnostic testing of HV circuit breakers
How to perform diagnostic testing of HV circuit breakers (on photo: The circuit breaker test equipment CIBANO 500 that combine in one device a specific micro-ohm meter, time analyzer and a coil power supply and motor; credit: OMICRON)

Standard field tests widely applied today in HV Circuit Breaker diagnostics include:

  1. Timing and Travel
  2. Power Factor
  3. Contact Resistance (Static and Dynamic)
  4. Minimum Pick-Up

These specific diagnostic tests have been selected as the primary focus for this paper and discussion.

This easy-to-follow paper and presentation focuses on how diagnostic techniques can be applied to HV circuit breakers as part of the standard condition assessment protocol.

The audience will be provided with an understanding, application, and analysis of these tests, supported by case studies validating the value that these diagnostic tests bring to HV circuit breaker testing.

Main Contact Connections
Main Contact Connections

Introduction

Circuit breaker technology varies depending on the application. Also, the preferred technology is dependent on the geographical region in which it is applied. Case in point, Dead Tank SF6 Filled Circuit Breakers and Bulk Oil Circuit Breakers are primarily used in North America in HV applications, while the rest of the world prefers Live Tank Circuit Breaker technology.

Overall, circuit breakers, regardless of type and technology, are designed with the following three functions in mind:

  1. Direct current flow between desired sections of an electric power system
  2. Interrupt current flow under abnormal power system events and conditions (faults)
  3. Carry load current under normal power system conditions with minimal losses
These three functions must be performed under both normal and abnormal (fault) conditions, and must perform under strict performance specifications.

Circuit breakers vary by subsystems:

  1. Insulation System
  2. Arc Quenching Method
  3. Mechanism
  4. Contact Technology
  5. Control Circuit Schemes
  6. CT’s

These subsystems above need to be analyzed both separately and as a complete electro-mechanical system.

Diagnostic testing can be performed in either an on-line/in-service state or an off-line/de-energized state. The manufacturer’s recommendations, duty, number of operations, and past experience should be considered when justifying the test and maintenance requirements.

Title:A Systematic Approach to High-Voltage Circuit Breaker Testing + Presentation – Charles Sweetser, OMICRON
Format:PDF
Size:958 KB
Pages:18
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How to perform diagnostic testing of HV circuit breakers
How to perform diagnostic testing of HV circuit breakers

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2 Comments


  1. Azubuike nwaobi
    Jul 23, 2020

    This there any way for one to come for a technician training in EEP


  2. Mulenga
    Jun 30, 2020

    This is very interesting

Leave a Reply to Azubuike nwaobi

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