Final Report of the 2004 - 2007
International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment
Part 1 - Summary and General Matters
Working Group
A3.06
October 2012
Working Group A3.06
Final Report of the 2004 - 2007
International Enquiry on Reliability of
High Voltage Equipment
Part 1 - Summary and General Matters
Members
M. Runde (NO) Convener, C. E. Sölver (SE) Past Convener, A. Carvalho (BR),
M. L. Cormenzana (ES), H. Furuta (JP), W. Grieshaber (FR), A. Hyrczak (PL), D. Kopejtkova (CZ),
J. G. Krone (NL), M. Kudoke (CH), D. Makareinis (DE), J. F. Martins (PT), K. Mestrovic (HR),
I. Ohno (JP), J. Östlund (SE), K.-Y. Park (KR), J. Patel (IN), C. Protze (DE), J. Schmid (DE),
J. E. Skog (US), B. Sweeney (UK), F. Waite (UK).
Corresponding Members
B. Bergman (CA), S. Tsukao (JP)
Copyright © 2012
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ISBN: 978-2-85873-201-2
Table of Contents
1.1 REPORTING STRUCTURE ........................................................................................... 1
1.2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
1.2.1 Objectives and Motivation ..................................................................................................1
1.2.2 Scope .................................................................................................................................2
1.2.3 Previous Reliability Surveys ...............................................................................................2
1.2.4 Organization of the Survey; Questionnaires ......................................................................3
1.2.5 Participation ........................................................................................................................4
1.2.6 Failure Definitions...............................................................................................................4
1.3 DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS ......................................................................... 5
1.3.1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................5
1.3.2 Confidentiality Commitments and Consequences .............................................................6
1.3.3 Biases in the Survey...........................................................................................................7
1.3.3.1 Homogeneity ................................................................................................................ 7
1.3.3.2 Under Reporting ........................................................................................................... 7
1.3.4 Distributions ........................................................................................................................7
1.3.5 The Poisson and Binomial Distribution ..............................................................................8
1.3.5.1 Expected Number of Failures and Failure Frequency.................................................. 9
1.3.5.2 Implementation Using Microsoft Excel ....................................................................... 10
1.3.5.3 Application: Equipment Failure Probability for Known Failure Frequency ................. 11
1.3.6 Confidence Interval ..........................................................................................................12
1.3.6.1 Calculation Method ..................................................................................................... 13
1.3.6.2 Implementation Using Microsoft Excel ....................................................................... 16
1.3.6.3 Application: Using Confidence Interval for Failure Frequency when a Certain Number
of Failures are Recorded for the Asset....................................................................... 17
1.3.7 Tolerance Interval.............................................................................................................18
1.3.7.1 Calculation Method ..................................................................................................... 18
1.3.7.2 Implementation Using Microsoft Excel ....................................................................... 19
1.3.7.3 Precision of Calculation .............................................................................................. 19
1.3.8 Testing of Hypotheses......................................................................................................20
1.3.8.1 Performing a Test in Detail ......................................................................................... 21
1.3.8.2 Implementation into Microsoft Excel........................................................................... 24
1.3.9 Applying Working Group's Statistical Model to a Utility's Equipment Population.............25
1.4 SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .................................. 26
1.4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................26
1.4.2 CB Service Experience Distribution .................................................................................26
1.4.3 Distribution of Failure Frequencies ..................................................................................26
1.4.4 Failure Characteristics......................................................................................................28
1.4.5 Influence of Maintenance .................................................................................................29
1.4.6 Recommendations for Utilities and Manufacturers ..........................................................29
1.5 DISCONNECTORS AND EARTHING SWITCHES SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .
....................................................................................................................... 30
1.5.1 AIS DE Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................31
1.5.2 GIS DE Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................33
1.5.3 Recommendations for Utilities and Manufactures ...........................................................35
1.6 INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMER SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ......................... 36
1.6.1 Participation and Service Experience ..............................................................................36
1.6.2 Instrument Transformer Failure Frequencies ...................................................................37
1.6.3 Instrument Transformer Failure Characteristics ...............................................................38
1.6.4 Recommendations for Utilities and Manufacturers ..........................................................40
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1.7 GIS SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................... 40
1.7.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................40
1.7.2 Referred GIS Population ..................................................................................................41
1.7.3 GIS Major Failure Frequencies ........................................................................................41
1.7.4 GIS Failure Characteristics and Their Correlations ........................................................44
1.7.5 Recommendation for Utilities and Manufacturers ............................................................45
1.8 SUMMARY OF GIS PRACTICES ................................................................................ 46
1.8.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................46
1.8.2 Results and Recommendations for Utilities and Manufacturers .....................................46
1.9 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 49
1.9.1 Recommendations for Utilities and Manufacturers ..........................................................49
1.9.2 Recommendation for Future Surveys ..............................................................................50
1.9.3 Recommendation for Future Work for CIGRÉ and Standardization Bodies ....................51
1.10 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................... 52
1.11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ 54
REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................ 55
APPENDIX 1. USE OF RELIABILITY DATA ....................................................................... 58
APPENDIX 2. EXAMPLES OF STATISTICAL WORK PERFORMED BY THE WORKING
GROUP ....................................................................................................................... 64
Implementation in Microsoft Excel .................................................................................................64
Example 1: Failure Frequency Calculations Made by the Working Group....................................64
Example 2: Using Excel to Compare Independent Populations ....................................................66
Example 3: Analysis of a Subpopulation .......................................................................................68
Example 4: Expected Failure Frequency and Tolerance Interval Computing ...............................70
Tolerance Calculation ....................................................................................................................71
APPENDIX 3. PARTICIPATING UTILITIES ......................................................................... 73
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1.1 Reporting Structure
The results of the 2004 - 2007 reliability study of high voltage equipment are presented in six
Technical Brochures (TBs):
• TB 509 “Final Report of the 2004 - 2007 International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment, Part 1 - Summary and General Matters”
• TB 510 “Final Report of the 2004 - 2007 International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment, Part 2 - SF6 Circuit Breakers” [2]
• TB 511, “Final Report of the 2004 - 2007 International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment, Part 3 - Disconnectors and Earthing Switches” [3]
• TB 512 “Final Report of the 2004 - 2007 International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment, Part 4 - Instrument Transformers” [4]
• TB 513 “Final Report of the 2004 - 2007 International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment, Part 5 - Gas Insulated Switchgear” [5]
• TB 514 “Final Report of the 2004 - 2007 International Enquiry on Reliability of High
Voltage Equipment, Part 6 - GIS practices” [6]
TB 509 contains material that concerns the entire work, such as the objectives and scope,
description of how the survey was organized, explanations of the statistical methods being
applied, suggestions on how utilities can use the results, some general definitions and a
short bibliography. In addition, extensive summaries of the most important findings from the
different component types are included.
The four component TBs, i.e., no. 510 - 513, contain much more details as they present all
results for each component type. This includes tables, figures, and graphs presenting
reliability and service experience data and correlations, as well as text with commentaries
and discussions. The relevant parts of the questionnaire and the relevant definitions used in
the survey are shown in their own appendix.
TB 514 presents an overview of utility practices concerning commissioning (high voltage
testing), service (monitoring, diagnostics and service problems), major maintenance and
extension as well as experience with new technology for gas insulated switchgear (GIS). The
information was collected by means of a questionnaire that was circulated together with the
reliability enquiry questionnaire. Again, the relevant parts of the questionnaire and the
associated definitions are shown in its own appendix.
Each TB is a self contained and complete report, but does also form a part of a bigger
whole. To simplify cross referencing between the different parts, an overall numbering
system that assigns a unique number to all sections, tables and figures is applied. Items in
Part 1 are numbered using the format 1.X.X.X, in Part 2 the format is 2.X.X.X, etc.
1.2 Introduction
1.2.1 Objectives and Motivation
Accurate information about service experience of high voltage equipment is of significant
value for both electric utilities and for manufacturers of such equipment. It helps the
manufacturers improve their products, and provides important inputs for the utilities when
buying equipment, when organizing maintenance and when benchmarking their
performance. Equipment reliability data are also required when assessing the overall
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reliability of an electric power system, including studies of the electric energy supply security.
Furthermore, international standards applicable to high voltage equipment are being
improved on the basis of service experience and reliability data.
Hence, CIGRÉ considers collecting, analyzing and publishing reliability data important tasks.
A number of years have passed since the previous surveys on high voltage equipment. For
example, in the previous study on circuit breaker service experience, the data collection
ended in 1991. Deregulation and new technologies, among other things, have caused the
service and maintenance practices to change significantly, and it is thus time for renewed
studies.
Against this background, CIGRÉ Study Committee 13 in 2003 established Working Group
A3.06 “Reliability of High Voltage Equipment”, which was instructed to organize and carry
out a new worldwide enquiry on service experience on high voltage equipment.
1.2.2 Scope
The aim of the work is to determine and present reliability data and trends, based on a
worldwide enquiry. The survey is comprehensive in that it addresses several types of high
voltage components: circuit breakers, disconnectors and earthing switches, instrument
transformers and gas insulated switchgear (GIS).
For circuit breakers only single pressure SF6 technology is included, thus in practice
excluding equipment installed before around 1970. For disconnectors, earthing switches and
instrument transformers there is no such limitation in age or technology. Both equipment
installed in air insulated and gas insulated substations are covered.
The enquiry comprises equipment rated for voltages greater than or equal to 60 kV. Only
failures occurring in the four-year period 2004 - 2007 are included.
The results of the enquiry are, for circuit breakers, instrument transformers and GIS,
compared to the results of previous CIGRÉ studies.
1.2.3 Previous Reliability Surveys
The first circuit breaker survey was carried out in 1974 - 1977 and concerned nearly 79 000
circuit breaker years of service. The results were published in 1981 [7] and had a significant
impact on IEC standardization work, including mechanical and environmental test
procedures.
The second circuit breaker survey covered almost the same number of circuit breaker years,
but was limited to single pressure SF6 technology. Service data were collected in the period
1988 – 1991. The very comprehensive and detailed 180-page report [8] remains a very
valuable source of information for the circuit breaker community, and a CIGRÉ bestseller.
The first failure survey of conventional instrument transformers was published in 1990 [9]. It
covers failures from the time interval 1970 - 1986. Both manufacturers and users
contributed. There was no age limitation to the overall population.
A second instrument transformer failure survey that covered the years 1985 - 1995 was also
performed. This survey only made use of contributions from users, and the results were
published in 2009 [10]. As for the first survey, there was no age limitation to the overall
population.
The first survey result of gas insulated substations was published in 1992 to 1994
[11][12][13]. Both users and manufacturers were addressed. It collected service experience
