CONDITION MONITORING OF

EQUIPMENT
WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO

CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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 Link between Protects
the supply and downstream
end user apparatus

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 AVERAGE LIFE OF
CIRCUIT BREAKERS

• 10 kV Class ~17 Years

• 20 kV Class ~16 Years
• 110 kV Class ~18 Years
• 220 kV Class ~22 Years
• 380 kV Class ~16 Years

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• Time at which equipment no longer
performs its intended function-
Either

•Mechanically or Electrically

Due to degradation of its functional ability

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Environment Electrical Thermal Mechanical

High Metal Contact High no. of

temperature deposition heating operation
High Sub or vibrations
Arc heating
humidity component Low no. of
failure I2R Losses operation
Dust
Loose High temp.amb.
connections Overloading.
Salt
Insulation
Corrosive system failure
atmosphere

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 The “life time” of the equipment depends
usage of the equipment
Constant / frequent usage of equipment

May shorten May impose limits

life on the service life
OF THE EQUIPMENT

03/27/2021 Gyanendra Sharma, NPTI Delhi

 Factors that Shorten Electrical Equipment Life

High Increased
Mechanical Fault Duty
Operation Limits
Low High
Mechanical Current
Operations Application

High
Ambient
Temperature

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03/27/2021 Gyanendra Sharma, NPTI Delhi
 Failures of Equipment.
Type of Failures

Mechanical Mode Hydraulic mode

Noise, Vibration ,Heat or Leakage, sluggish

Change in Process operation or No response
parameters to command
Electrical mode

No indication. Fail on go-no go basis.

Catastrophic failures -
due to availableShort circuit levels,
time duration etc.,

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 FAILURE RATE-
SUB ASSEMBLY CONTRIBUTION.

Operating
component at service
mechanism 33%
voltage-48%

Electrical control &

auxiliary circuits.-19%

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 A Components at service voltage
Sub Assembly failure rate 1.Interrupting unit
2.Auxiliary inter resistor
12 13 1 3.Main Insulation to earth

14.0% 2
7% B Electrical Control & Aux.Ckts.
11 3.8% 4.Trip/Close circuits

8.9% 1% 3 5.Auxiliary Switches

6.Contactors, heaters etc.
5.7%
7.Gas Density monitor
10 9.0% 10.0%
C Operating mechanism.
4 8.Compressors,pumps etc.
9.Energy Storage.
8%
7.4% 10. Control elements.

9 13.6% 7.6% 5 11.Actuators, dampers etc.

12.Mechanical transmission
4.0%
8 6 13.Others
7

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 Water droplets

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 WATER FROM BUSHING ?

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 HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
The general recommendations for the maintenance by
manufacturers is once in 6 to 12 months.

The cost, availability of unit due to technical reasons-

makes the above Impractical many times.

As such the experience of maintenance group counts.

Experienced external checks, avoid financial implication,
delay and need of labour for internal inspection.

Since most of the internal defects surface in the first year

of operation, frequent inspections during this time is suggested
As a guideline, the following schedule may be adopted for a
newly commissioned breaker.

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 HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS -contd..

For the existing circuit breakers, the inspection is

advisable after a Severe fault interruption. If the external
inspection is satisfactory, then The internal inspection
may be scheduled as follows:-

For circuit breakers upto 220kV voltage class-

After 10 fault interruptions.

For circuit breakers above 220kV voltage class-

After 5 fault interruptions.

In the absence of the above, the scheduling of external & Internal
inspection shall be not beyond 2 and 4 years respectively.

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 HIGH VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKERS -contd..

SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS

The general maintenance and inspection of ABCB

holds good for this type of breaker too. However
following few point may be taken while handling the
gas.
Before attending the maintenance evacuate the
gas

Do not breath the gas.

Flush the breaker with fresh air

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ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS TO AVOID UNTIMELY
MAINTENANCE IS

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 Contd...

 Plans the maintenance with regard to

service time and personnel in the
organisation.
 Minimize unexpected breakdowns and
interruptions.
 Facilitate the provision of spares.

 Improve outage planning at suitable

occasions.

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 Contd...

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Diagnostic Techniques for circuit breaker Insulation

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Diagnostic Techniques for circuit breaker Insulation

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Diagnostic Techniques for circuit breaker Insulation

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Diagnostic Techniques for circuit breaker Insulation

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 Diagnostic methods for the current carrying part of
circuit breaker

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 Diagnostic methods for the current carrying part of
circuit breaker

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 MONITORING

• INFRARED THERMOVISION-
Thermovision cameras, used to map the hot spots at the
terminals,clamps and internal portion of the equipment

SWITCHING PARAMETERS

Operating timings, Travel timings, Contact resistance

In Closed Condition On Closing

CRM DCRM

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Arrangement for Dynamic contact Resistance and timing
measurement
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 Infra - red Thermal Scan
of
Transformer

57.

55

L I 0 1

50

45

40

36.

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 Thermography of Oil filled Bushing

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 Thermography of Breaker connections

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 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED

Due point of SF6 Gas As per norms

 Dew point of
operating Air - 45 deg C at Atm. Pr.

Operating Timings 220kV 400kV

Closing Time (max) -ms 200 150

Trip Time (max) -ms 035 025

Close / Trip Time (max) –ms

Pole discrepancy Ph to Ph.. 3.33 3.33

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 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED

PIR Timings -msec 400kV

 BHEL Make 12 to 16

 CGL Make 08 to 12

 ABB Make 08 to 12

 NGEF Make 08 to 12

 M & G Make 08 to 12

 TELK Make 08 to 12

 ABB Make (HVDC) 08 to 12

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 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED

Tan Delta of 0.007 at 20 deg C

Grading Capacitors

 Capacitance of Within +10% / - 5% of

the rated value
Grading Capacitors

Contact Resistance 150 micro ohms

Contact Resistance of 10 micro ohms per

Terminal connectors connector

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 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED

Insulation Resistance Value

Phase to Earth 1000 mega Ohms (min)

By 5/10 kV megger

Across Open Contacts 50 mega Ohm (min)

By 0.5 kV megger

50 mega Ohm (min)

Control Cables By 0.5 kV megger

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 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED

 Pressure Switch Settings

With in +/- 0.1 Bar of

SF6 Gas Pressure Switches Set Value

Operating Air Pressure With in +/- 0.1 Bar of

Switches Set Value

Operating Oil Pressure With in +/- 0.1 Bar of

Switches Set Value

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 PARAMETERS TO BE MONITORED

BDV OF THE OIL used for MOCBs

At the time of Filling 40kV at 2.5mm Gap

(min)

During O & M 20kV at 2.5mm Gap

(min)

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