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Testing of Circuit Breakers

The document discusses various techniques for testing circuit breakers. It explains why circuit breakers need to be tested regularly, as they are mechanically complex devices that must perform reliably over many years. The document then outlines different types of tests that can evaluate aspects like contact timing and resistance, motion characteristics, minimum voltage operation, coil performance, vacuum integrity, and humidity levels. Regular comprehensive testing is important to verify circuit breakers are functioning properly and safeguarding expensive equipment.

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Pradeep Singh
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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250 views

Testing of Circuit Breakers

The document discusses various techniques for testing circuit breakers. It explains why circuit breakers need to be tested regularly, as they are mechanically complex devices that must perform reliably over many years. The document then outlines different types of tests that can evaluate aspects like contact timing and resistance, motion characteristics, minimum voltage operation, coil performance, vacuum integrity, and humidity levels. Regular comprehensive testing is important to verify circuit breakers are functioning properly and safeguarding expensive equipment.

Uploaded by

Pradeep Singh
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODERN TECHNIQUES OF CIRCUIT BREAKER TESTING

By- Pradeep Singh Sr. Engr (E)

WHY TEST CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Provide Protection Of Ex en!ive E"#i $ent% Prevent O#t&'e! T(&t )e&d To )o!! Of Inco$e% En!#re Re*i&+i*it, Of E*ectricit, S# Prevent Do-nti$e . D&r/ne!!% To 0erif, Bre&/er Perfor$&nce *,%

WHY TEST CIRCUIT BREAKERS (contd..)


Breakers are mechanically sophisticated devices requiring periodic adjustments.

Breakers has to perform duty for some tens for milli-secs after several

months or even years.

Proper functioning of breaker is reliant on numbers of individual

components that have to be calibrated & tested at regular intervals.

The intervals are often based on time since last test ,no of operations or

severity of fault current operations.

echanical !ear & lubrication often affects the performance of the breaker .

CIRCUIT BREAKER C)OSING REQUIREMENTS

Closing & opening at re !ired speed. S!ppl" o# energ" to co$press #l!id or gas present in

C.B. c%a$&er.

S!ppl" energ" to c%arge tripping spring. To o'erco$e rep!lsi'e #orces on closing on #a!lt

(AI) & ARCI)* C+)TACTS

(aintenance Aspects

)#+ric&nt Cont&ct &d1#!t$ent Ne'*ect or *&c/ of &d1#!t$ent%

Brief*, t(e $o!t i$ ort&nt t(in' for +re&/er $&inten&nce i! 're&!e% A** +re&/er! #!e 're&!e &! *#+ric&nt . 're&!e tend! to dr, o#t over ti$e d#e to (e&t rod#ced in t(e +re&/er &rt! c&rr,in' t(e *o&d%

Test & ,ara$eters


-irst trip test Contact ti$ing ,ri$ar" in.ection test. (otion Static resistance $eas!re$ent.(SR() /"na$ic resistance $eas!re$ent (/R(). Coil test. (ini$!$ 0oltage test. (ini$!$ 'oltage re !ired to operate &rea1er. 0ac!!$ &ottle test. +il test. S#2 lea1age test H!$idit" test. Air press!re test

Fir!t tri te!t


A good & e##ecti'e 3a" to c%ec1 t%e condition o# C.B. is to doc!$ent its &e%a'ior at #irst operation a#ter it %as &een ideal #or long ti$e.

Carried o!t 3%en &rea1er is still in ser'ice.

I# t%e CB %as not operated #or $an" "ears 4 #irst trip testing 3ill re'eal i# t%e CB is slo3er d!e to pro&le$s in t%e $ec%anis$ lin1ages or coil ar$at!res ca!sed &" corrosion or dried grease.

Anal"5ing t%e coil c!rrent signat!re gi'es t%e in#or$ation o# t%e CB condition.

Cont&ct Ti$in'
/e#initions o# t%e ti$ing $eas!re$ents according to IEC. According to IEC standard it is t%e closing & opening o# t%e arcing contact t%at co!nt as a &rea1ers operating ti$e not t%e $ain contact.

O enin' ti$e67 T%e ti$e inter'al #ro$ t%e opening release (e.g coil) is acti'ated to t%e instant 3%en t%e ARCI)* C+)TACT %as separated at all poles. C*o!in' ti$e67 T%e ti$e inter'al #or$ t%e closing de'ice (E.g. closing coil) is acti'ated to t%e instant 3%en ARCI)* C+)TACT to!c% eac% ot%er in all poles. SIMU)TANEIT2 TEST34 (!lti&rea1 poles 67 8 9 $sec Bet3een poles 67 8 :7; $sec

(otion
<)Tra'el67
Indicates instantaneo!s position o# CB contacts d!ring an operation. *i'es i$p in#o s!c% as total tra'el 4 o'er tra'el 4!nder tra'el & ano$alies 3%ic% are e'ident #ro$ t%e trace.

9)Speed 67

Speed is calc!lated &et3een t3o points on t%e $otion c!r'e. T%e !pper point is de#ined as a distance in lengt% o# $o'e$ent #ro$ a) t%e &rea1ers closed or open position &)t%e contact clos!re or separation point. T%e ti$e t%at elapses &et3een t%ese t3o points ranges #or$ <=79= $secs.

Ad'antage67 T%e single $ost i$portant &ene#it deri'ed #or$ t%e instantaneo!s 'elocit" & acceleration c!r'es is t%e insig%t t%at t%e" pro'ide into t%e #orces in'ol'ed d!ring t%e peration o# t%e C.B

STATIC RESISTA)CE (EASURE(E)T

/C resistance $eas!re$ent. B" $eas!ring t%e 'oltage drop t%e resistance can &e calc!lated.

0al!e o# $ain contact resistance re#lects t%e condition o# t%e cond!cting parts.

I# arcing contact is to s%ort or ot%er3ise in &ad condition 4 t%e &rea1er &eco$es !nrelia&le. T%e $ain contact s!r#ace scan &e degraded &" arcing res!lting in increased resistance 4 e>cessi'e %eating & in 3orst case e>plosion.

IEC :2 states t%at t%is t"pe o# resistance is to &e $eas!red !sing a c!rrent ranging &et3een := A$p & &rea1er?s no$inal c!rrent.

A)SI C@;.=A speci#ies a $ini$!$ test c!rrent o# <== A$p.

D,n&$ic Re!i!t&nce Me&!#re$ent!


Test cond!cted &" in.ecting /C c!rrent t%ro!g% t%e &rea1er $ain contact & $eas!ring t%e 'oltage drop & c!rrent 3%ile t%e &rea1er is operated.

Brea1er anal"5er t%en calc!lates & plots resistance as a #!nction o# ti$e.


Used #or contact diagnosis. Arcing contact lengt% can &e relia&l" esti$ated.

+t%er alternati'e #or #inding t%e lengt% o# t%e arcing contact is dis$antling t%e CB

In s#2 CB arcing contact is co$$onl" $ade o# t!ngsten. T%e contact is &!rned o## & &eco$es s%orter #or eac% interr!ption o# load c!rrent.

MINIMUM 0O)TAGE TEST

+#ten neglected test. +&.ecti'e is to $a1e s!re t%at t%e &rea1er can operate at t%e lo3est

'oltage le'el pro'ided &" station &atter" 3%en t%e &rea1er %as to operate d!ring t%e po3er o!tage.

T%e test is per#or$ed &" t%e appl"ing t%e lo3est speci#ied operating

'oltage & 'eri#" t%at t%e &rea1er operates 3it%in speci#ied operating para$eters .

Standard test 'oltage is B: C & ;=C o# no$inal 'oltage #or close &

open respecti'el"

(ini$!$ 'oltage re !ired to operate t%e &rea1er

(ini$!$ 'oltage at 3%ic% &rea1er is a&le to operate. (eas!re o# %o3 $!c% #orce t%at is needed to $o'e t%e coil ar$at!re. Send lo3 'oltage control 'oltage to t%e coil. I# not operates increase t%e 'oltage in steps e.g @0 & tr" again n so on. Record t%e 'oltage at 3%ic% &rea1er operates. Co$pare periodic testing data to deter$ine c%anges

Coi* Te!t

Anal"5ing Circ!it &rea1er operating coil signat!re $a" pro'ide t%e in#or$ation a&o!t t%e condition o# t%e latc%ing s"ste$.

0ac!!$ Bottle Test

To c%ec1 t%e integrit" o# 0I is intact or not.

Can &e c%ec1ed &" appl"ing t%e 'oltage o# AC 9: K0 r$s as 'oltage 3it%stand test #or a&o!t <= Secs.

W%en press!re inside t%e 0I %as attained At$ press. /ielectric &rea1do3n occ!rs at lo3er 'oltage.

I# test set7!p trips repeat t%e process t%rice. I# t%e test set7!p trips all t%ree ti$es 0I is dee$ed to &e de#ecti'e.

H!$idit" test
H!$idit" can ca!se corrosion & #las%o'er inside t%e &rea1er it is i$portant to 'eri#" t%at t%e $oist!re content inside t%e S-2 &rea1er is 1ept to a $ini$!$. T%is can &e done &" 'enting a s$all a$o!nt o# S-2 gas #ro$ t%e &1r t%ro!g% $oist!re anal"5er 3ill tell "o! t%e $oist!re o# t%e gas.

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