APPLICATION

High voltage circuit breaker testing with dual grounding

by Nils Wckln, Klas Bjrck and Linus Claesson, Programma With the deregulation of the electrical power industry, utilities and service companies are operating in a changing business environment. With less key technical resources, the time spent on substation maintenance is decreased, there are fewer test engineers, longer time intervals between diagnostic tests and circuit breaker availability is decreased in favor of high availability. This increases the need for test equipment that encourages safe and efficient working.

Using the technology makes it possible to perform a circuit breaker timing test with both sides grounded throughout the test. Working with both sides grounded is safe while removal of one ground creates a dangerous environment. Regulations from legal bodies, standardization organizations and trade unions require that all objects in high voltage substations to be grounded at both sides during maintenance. In coming years application of regulations will be stricter. Using the dual grounded method approach makes it easy to comply with the safety regulations. At the same time the tests become easier and faster when some of the safety procedures are omitted. This is illustrated in Fig. 1. The DRM (Dynamic Resistance Measurement) method was introduced in 1992. This technology enables estimation of the

arcing contact length in a non-intrusive measurement. Without this, circuit breaker dismantling was required. Five years later the vibration solution was put on market. Vibration is a direct mechanical method designed to detect mechanical failures that conventional measurements cannot detect. This was a response to the CIGR study on the installed base showing that 70% of all actual circuit breaker failures are caused by mechanical problems. In 2007 the methods and equipment making circuit breaker testing in high voltage substations safe were introduced. Today there is no reason to work with only one side grounded. All diagnostic tests available for circuit breakers can, with the right methods and equipment, be made with both sides grounded throughout the test.

Test Methods Contact resistance: Measure the current through earth and compensate accordingly in the calculation. Timing: Technology described in this paper. (TM1800, DCM) Motion: The conventional method can be used. DRM: The same as contact resistance. Vibration: The conventional method can be used. Timing test For the field engineer the timing test is very similar to conventional timing. The difference in method is to keep the ground connection throughout the measurement. The administration of sanction for test and other safety related paperwork is reduced. Fig. 1 is an overview of how the test sequence is changed. The difference in instrumentation for the timing test is that the TM1800 is complemented with the dynamic capacitive measurement (DCM) module and

Fig. 1: Typical procedure for diagnostic test of circuit breaker. To the left is the conventional procedure where only one side is grounded during the test. In the conventional sequence the steps where personal safety is compromised marked by red. To the right dual grounded technology is utilized and there are fewer steps and safety is not compromised.

Fig. 2: The DCM cable connected to a circuit breaker. Generation of the high frequency test signal is in a separate box on the cable to be close to the test object.

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technical conferences is recommended. The fundamental physical property that the DCM timing technique is based is the capacitance that exists when two areas of conductor are separated by an insulation medium. In a circuit breaker, the contacts are the conductors and the insulation media is usually oil, air, vacuum or SF6. Any circuit breaker, therefore, has capacitance. When the contacts move, i.e., during a close or open operation, the capacitance varies. The capacitance in the circuit breaker is used as a part of a resonant circuit. See Fig. 4 for a theoretical model. The resonant frequency is dependent on the value of the circuit breaker capacitor and the resonant frequency will vary with movement of the main contacts. The recorded response to a high frequency test signal will be proportional to the capacitance of the circuit breaker. Fig. 5 shows a theoretical diagram for a close operation. Timing test with DRM Working with both sides grounded, which is possible with DRM, has long been the preferred practice. The definition of timing according to standards such as IEEE/ANSI C37.100-1981 is: The time interval between the initiation of the closing operation and the instant when metallic continuity is established in all poles. The DRM equipment is generally considered too clumsy and expensive for a timing test. Also it is a more complicated test demanding more time with the circuit breaker taken out of service. A few initiatives to sidestep these problems have been proposed. There is DRM equipment available that is not capable of a DRM because the current is too low.

Fig 3: Timing measurement on a GIS circuit breaker.

DCM Cables. On the timing leads there is a small box built into the cable with electronics for generation of test signals. The module converts the signal into the equivalent of a conventional timing measurement that is transmitted over to the timing M/R Module. The box on the cable can be seen on Fig. 2 in the lower right corner. The technology that

enables the timing test with is described briefly in next section. DCM timing technology The DCM technology for enabling two-sided grounded timing is described below. For more in-depth description of this technology papers presented at the IEEE and CIGR

Fig. 4: The resonant circuit model formed by the circuit breaker (dashed box, CB), the connection cables from the measurement unit and grounding cables on both sides.

Fig. 5: The response measured when applying the high frequency test signal during a close operation. There are three bounces before stable contact. Below is the traditional thin or thick line indicating open or closed circuit breaker.

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voltage drop is measured as normal. In this way (see Fig. 6), the resistance can be measured with both sides grounded given a test device capable of the theoretically simple calculations. Measuring the ground loop current with a current clamp gives sufficient accuracy. The test object has a low resistance compared to the ground grid and therefore most of the current, typically 90%, takes the path through the test object. Summary and conclusions All diagnostic tests required for in-field diagnostic test of high voltage circuit breakers can be performed, including micro-ohm measurement, timing, motion, coil currents as well as DRM and Vibration. The advantages of using the technology and methods are: This makes the equipment less expensive and reduces the weight but there is still an additional amount of boxes, chargers and complications of the workflow. However the timing value achieved by DRM currents down to 30 A should be reliable (at least for circumstances with high resistance ground grid, ground cables, low inductive and capacitive interference and a high accuracy breaker analyzer). On GIS circuit breakers the ground loop has a low resistance compared to outdoor substations and AIS. Therefore a both sides grounded timing test on GIS with DRM is not possible. The DCM technology has advantages over both conventional timing and DRM for GIS applications. Micro-ohm measurement Increased resistance in high voltage circuit breakers causes heat generation and energy loss. In worst cases the situation escalates with an exploding breaker chamber as the ultimate consequence. Measuring the resistance with a high accuracy microohmmeter is therefore a fundamental test in circuit breaker diagnostics. Also bus-bar joints, disconnectors and other high-current links require micro-ohmmeter testing. The technology for resistance measurement is well known; generate a current through the test object and measure the voltage drop. Ohms law gives the resistance. To achieve high accuracy the advanced measuring electronics can never make up for a too low current. High accuracy requires high current. This is why standardization bodies recommend testing with a current as close to nominal as possible. IEEE stipulates a minimum of 100 A. It is theoretically possible to make the resistance test with both sides of the test object grounded. The generated current now has two paths and is therefore not equal to the current through the test object. If the current through earth is measured the current through the test object is the generated current minus the earth loop current. The Improved field safety for field engineers. A more time efficient workflow is achieved when dangerous steps are omitted and safety arrangements are no longer needed. High accuracy is provided with an easier test sequence.

Fig. 6: The test hook up. The current through the ground is measured with a current clamp and the resistance calculation is compensated accordingly.

Contact Marius Pitzer, Megger, Tel 011 452-6287, marius.pitzer@megger.com v

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