Live-Tank Circuit Breakers

Overall Test Procedure:

Knowledge Is Power SM
Apparatus Maintenance and Power Management
for Energy Delivery
•Disconnect Bus-Work
•Test Each Contact
•Test Each Column
•Record:
Doble Testing •Current (I)
Live Tank •Watts (W)
Circuit Breakers •Capacitance (C)
•%PF if I > 300 µA

Live-Tank Circuit Breakers Live-Tank Circuit Breakers

B Overall Tests
D
A Test Test Circuit Test Results Should Compare:
1 UST Measure Red Ground Blue
Blue LV Lead 2 UST Measure Blue Ground Red
3 GST Guard Red and Blue •Between Phases
Red LV Lead
Test Measure •Previous Test Results
HV Lead
1 Left Interrupter Chamber and •Similar Units
Grading Capacitor
2 Right Interrupter Chamber and •Tabulated Data in Doble Test Data Reference
Grading Capacitor Book (TDRB)
3 Support Insulator and Operating
Rod

All tests with breaker open.

Ground Lead
 Live-Tank Circuit Breakers Live-Tank Circuit Breakers
R1 S1 R2 S2
C1 C3
A
D
B Test Procedure:
C2 C4
1. UST Measure Red Ground Blue
C5 R3
C1, C3 = Interrupter Chambers
2. UST Measure Blue Ground Blue
C2, C4 = Grading Capacitors
S1, S2 = Resistor Switch Chambers 3. GST Guard Red & Blue
R1, R2 = Resistors
C5 = Support Insulator
R3 = Operating Rod

Test Energize Ground Guard UST Measure

1 D B A C1 + C2 + (S1 + R1)
2 D A B C3 + C4 + (S2 + R2)
3 D A,B C5 + R3

Live-Tank Circuit Breakers Live-Tank Circuit Breakers

Using Two Low-Voltage Leads:
High Voltage Lead
Test 1: UST Measure Red Ground Blue
High Voltage Lead

R1 S1 S2 R2
Low Voltage Lead Low Voltage Lead A C1 C3 B
C2
D C4
UST Mode
Low Voltage Lead Low Voltage Lead
C5 R3

Ground Lead
 Live-Tank Circuit Breakers Live-Tank Circuit Breakers
Using Two Low-Voltage Leads
High Voltage Lead
Test 2 : UST Measure Blue Ground Red

High Voltage Lead

R1 S1 S2 R2
A C1 C3 B Low Voltage Lead Low Voltage Lead

C2 D C4 GST-Guard
Mode
Low Voltage Lead Low Voltage Lead
C5 R3

Ground Lead

Live-Tank Circuit Breakers Live-Tank Circuit Breakers

Using Two Low-Voltage Leads: Test Data Analysis
Test 3: GST Guard Red & Blue • If Current is Greater Than 300 µA, Evaluate % PF
• No Temperature Correction
High Voltage Lead
• Compare Results:
R1 S1 S2 R2
• Among Similar Test Specimens (Among Phases)
C1
A C3 B
• Interrupting Chamber Tests
C2 C4
• Column Insulation Tests
Low Voltage Lead • Previous Test Results, Similar Breakers, and Doble’s
C5 R3 Low Voltage Lead
Tabulated Data for Similar Breakers (TDRB)
* Grading Capacitors May Have Nameplate Data
 Live-Tank Circuit Breakers Live-Tank Circuit Breakers
Test Data Analysis - Interrupter Chamber Test Data Analysis - Column Test
• With Grading Capacitor • Current 300 µA or Less, Evaluate Losses
• Grading Capacitor Dominates Test • Losses Generally 0.030 Watts or Less
• Evaluate Power Factor and Capacitance • Very Sensitive to External Surface Conditions
• % PF is Generally 1.0 % or Less • High Losses Are Normally Due to Moisture
• Without Grading Capacitor •Operate Breaker and Retest
• Current 300 µA or Less, Evaluate Losses •Check for Leaks
• Losses Generally 0.020 Watts or Less

Test Procedure For Candlestick Breaker Candlestick or Type I Breaker

Or Switcher
T1 T1
Test 1: Low Voltage Lead
Test Mode: UST Red Interrupting Chamber C1
Interrupter
T2
T2 Operating Rod &
Test 2: High Voltage Cable Support Column R
Test Mode: GST Guard
Red Support Column T3
T3
Standard Test Procedure:
M ode E ner G round G uard U S T M easure
UST T2 T3 --- T1 C1
Ground Lead GST T2 T3 T1 --- R
 Alternate Test Procedure Alternate Test Procedure
High Interference High Interference
(Test 1A) T1 T1
High Voltage Cable
Test 1: Interrupting Chamber C1
Test Mode: UST Red Interrupter T2
Operating Rod &
Test 2: T2 R
Low Voltage Lead Support Column
•Close Circuit Breaker
•Connect Low Voltage Support Column T3
Lead to Ground (Test 1A)
Test Mode: GST Ground T3
Mode Breaker Ener Ground Guard UST Measure
Red & Blue
UST Open T1 T3 --- T2 C1
GST Closed T1+T2 T3 --- --- R
Ground Lead

Candlestick or Type I Breaker

Typical Test Results (up to 72.5 kV):

Test µAmps Watts

Case Study # 1
1 10 - 40 0.003 – 0.01 Effect of SF6 Gas Purity

2 90 – 140 0.007 – 0.02

Case Study # 1 - Effect of SF6 Gas Purity Case Study # 1 - Effect of SF6 Gas Purity

Partial Test Data for Siemens 3AT5 500 kV •Analysis of Test Data:
•Normal Test Results Were Obtained for Entrance
C o lu m n P hase C u r re n t W a tts Bushings
(µ A ) •Normal Current Readings Were Obtained for All
1 C 160 0 .0 1 8 Columns
•Higher Losses Were Measured on Columns 5 & 6
2 C 155 0 .0 1 2
(Phase A)
3 B 161 0 .0 1 0 •Normal Moisture Content Tests on the SF6 Gas
4 B 158 0 .0 0 8 •Gas Purity Test Results Were as Follows:
5 A 160 0 .1 8 0 Phase A = 91.7 %
High
6 A 166 0 .1 6 0
Phase B = 99.5 %
Watts
Phase C = 99.7 %

Case Study # 1 - Effect of SF6 Gas Purity

Phase A SF6 Gas Was Removed

Extended Vacuum Was Pulled (24 hrs.)
New SF6 Gas Was Installed (> 99 % pure)
Columns 5 & 6 Were Retested:
Case Study # 2
Defective Grading Capacitor
Column Phase Current Watts
(µA)

5 A 173 0.024
Normal
6 A 175 0.032 Watts
Partial Test Data for Siemens 3AT5 500 kV
Case Study #2-Defective Grading Capacitor Case Study #2-Defective Grading Capacitor

AEG S2-420 Test Data for AEG S2-420

Test Current Watts % PF Cap.
C1 C2 (mA) (pF)
C1 (A) 3.801 0.165 0.43 1209
C2 (A) 3.811 0.169 0.44 1213
S1 (A) 0.196 0.011 0.56 62
C1 (B) 3.818 0.190 0.50 1215
S1
C2 (B) 3.823 0.187 0.49 1216
S1 (B) 0.199 0.012 0.60 63
C1 (C) 3.830 0.205 054 1219
C2 (C) 3.809 0.369 0.97 1212
High Watts &
S1 (C) 0.187 0.008 0.43 59
Power Factor

Case Study #2-Defective Grading Capacitor Case Study #2-Defective Grading Capacitor

•Higher Watts And % Power Factor on Entrance

Bushing And Grading Capacitor Assembly C2 •Grading Capacitor C2 (Phase C) Was Replaced and
(Phase C) Acceptable Test Results Were Obtained
•Grading Capacitors Were Tested Individually:
Capacitor % PF % PF Cap
@ 10 kV @ 2 kV (pF)

C2 (A) 0.42 0.42 1190

C2 (B) 0.46 0.46 1188
C2 (C) 0.97 1.20 1187

•Tip-down Was Observed With Normal Capacitance

Reading