TESTING AND MAINTENANCE OF

SWITCHGEARS

MUNISH MISHRA
DGM(OS-ELECTRICAL)
NTPC LTD
SWGR EQUIPMENTS (EHV,HT,LT)

Circuit Breakers
Modules
Surge Arresters
Current transformers
Voltage transformers
Bus

BREAKERS
EHV
(ABCB,SF6).
HT
(MOCB,SF6,VACUUM)
LT
(ACB,VACUUM)
EHV Circuit Breakers
HT Breakers
HT Panels and Vacuum Bottles
HT Breakers & Panels
TESTS OF EHV CIRCUIT BREAKER
1. OPERATING TIMINGS OF MAIN AND AUXILIARY CONTACTS
2. TRIP/CLOSE COIL CURRENTS MEASUREMENT
3. STATIC CONTACT RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT
4. CONTACT TRAVEL MEASUREMENT
5. DEW POINT MEASUREMENT OF SF6 GAS
6. DYNAMIC CONTACT RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT
7. TAN DELTA MEASUREMENT OF GRADING CAPACITORS
8. AIR PRESSURE DROP TESTS
9. SF6 GAS PRESSURE MONITORING
10. RUNNING TIME OF COMPRESSURE/PUMP FOR PRESSURE
BUILD UP.
11. SIMULATION OF ALARMS.
12. TESTING OF PD RELAY AND PROTECTION RELAY.

TESTS OF HT/LT CIRCUIT BREAKER
1. OPERATING TIMINGS OF MAIN AND
AUXILIARY CONTACTS
2. TRIP/CLOSE COIL CURRENTS
MEASUREMENT
3. STATIC CONTACT RESISTANCE
MEASUREMENT
4. CONTACT TRAVEL MEASUREMENT
5. CHECKING OF SF6 GAS PRESSURE
6. MEASUREMENT OF VACUUM
7. SIMULATION OF ALARMS.
8. TESTING OF RELAYS.

BREAKER MAINT.
EHV
CLEANING OF INSULATORS /INTERRUPTING
CHAMBER,KIOSKS.
CHECKING OF OIL/AIR CIRCUITS.
SERVICING OF CC & TC PLUNGERS.
CALIBERATION OF PRESSURE GAUGES
ATTENDING ANY LEAKAGES.
MAJOR O/H ~10,000 OPN OR OEM
GUIDELINES


BREAKER MAINT
HT/LT
CLEANING OF INSULATORS ,
CHECKING CONTACTS(IF POSSIBLE),
SERVICING OF CC & TC PLUNGERS.
SERVICING THE MECHANISMS.
IN CASE OF ANY(SF6,OIL) LEAKAGES
,REPLACEMENT/ ATTENDING.
O/H~ 10 YRS OR OEM GUIDELINES

Evaluation of Test Results
Problem
Area
Limits Defects Effects
Pole
discrepancy
time more in
closing/
tripping
3.33ms
Revised IEC-
62271
-5/ 3.33ms
Problem in
Op.drive
Closing/trip Coil
Etc.
High Asymmetrical Current
upto 3.01p.u.
(Ref CIGRE-02)
High Sw. Over Voltages
Delayed fault clearance
Grading
Capacitors
Capacitance
value within
5%
Elements degraded
Oil leakage
Non-uniform voltage
distribution leading to higher
stresses
Abnormal
DCRM
Signatures
Comparison
w.r.t. factory
values
Erosion/
misalignment of
Main/Arcing
Contacts
Unsuccessful current
interruption leading to re-
strikes and subsequent
failures


Evaluation of Test Results
Problem
Area
Limits Defects Effects
Abnormal
Contact
Travel/
Speed
Comparison
w.r.t . factory
values
Problem in
Operating
levers, op.
mechanism
Unsuccessful CB
operation
SF6 gas -
High
Moisture
Content
-35 deg C/
-27deg C
Leakage from
Sealing
sections
Re-strikes
LT MODULES
LT MODULES TESTING AND
MAINT.
TESTING OF O/L RELAY
CLEANING AND ALIGNMENT
CHECKING.
CONNECTION TIGHTNESS.
CONTACTOR CONTACT CHECKING /
VACUUM TESTING OF BOTTLE.
LYRA CONTACT CHECKING
RACK IN/ OUT MECHANISM SERVICING
Surge Arrester
SURGE ARRESTOR TESTING &
MAINT.(EHV/HT)
MEGGERING OF THE STACK.
CLEANING OF INSULATOR SURFACES.
TIGHTNESS.
TESTING OF MONITORS(BOTH
LEAKAGE CURRENT AND COUNTER).
SA Characteristics
LA
TECHNIQUES FOR THE HEALTH
MONITORING OF SURGE ARRESTERS


1. TOTAL LEAKAGE CURRENT MEASUREMENT
2. WATT LOSS MEASUREMENT
3. INSULATION RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT
4. THIRD HARMONIC RESISTIVE CURRENT
MONITORING.
5. THIRD HARMONIC RESISTIVE CURRENT
(THRC) MONITORING WITH COMPENSATION
FOR THIRD HARMONICS IN SYSTEM
VOLTAGE.

THE MEASUREMENT PRINCIPLE
- HARMONICS ARE CREATED IN
LEAKAGE CURRENT ON APPLICATION
OF FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY, DUE
TO NON LINEAR VOLTAGE-CURRENT
CHARACTERSTIC OF SURGE
ARRESTERS.
- THIRD HARMONIC IS THE LARGEST
HARMONIC COMPONENT OF THE
RESISTIVE CURRENT
Basic circuit for LA testing
Third Harmonic Resistive Current
Make
LA
(0-2Yrs.)
LA
(2-5Yrs.)
LA
(5-10Yrs.)
LA
(10-15Yrs.)

LA
>15Yrs.

Alstom
10-25A 10-40A 20-100A 40-125A 50-
150A
Elpro
10-30A 10-40A 20-100A 40-125A 50-
150A
CGL
10-20A 10-40A 20-50A - -
Oblum
10-20A 10-40A 20-50A - -
Capacitance and Tan Delta Measurement
Current Transformers
EHV INSTRUMENT
TRANSFORMERS
BUSDUCT INSTRUMENT
TRANSFORMERS
C T MAINT.
CLEANING OF INSULATORS.
CHECKING OF SECONDARY CONN.
CHECKING OF TEST TAP EARTHING.
CLEANING/TIGHTNESS OF PRIMARY
CONN.
NITROGEN PRESSURE CHECKING(EHV)
CT Tests
Polarity Test
Magnetization Curve Test
Ratio Test
Secondary loop resistance
Tan delta Capacitance test(EHV).

Knee Point Voltage
10% increase in Voltage will lead to 30%
or more increase in Current.
CT online checks

Visual Inspection for leakages
Thermovision Scanning

CT TESTING TAN DELTA
Tan delta measurement
CTs with Test Tap- Ungrounded Specimen Test mode
(UST)
CTs without Test Taps Grounded Specimen Test (GST)
mode with jumpers disconnected
Values to be monitored w.r.t. factory/ pre-commissioning
values
Sudden change in measured values indicate faster
deterioration of insulation.
Precautions: P1/P2 to be shorted. Porcelain surface to be
thoroughly cleaned. Test Tap to be reconnected to Earth
after the Test

CT Equivalent Circuit
C1 and C2 Tan delta measurement
For C1: Apply 10kV between HV and test tap on UST mode.
For C2: Apply 500 V between Test tap and Ground with
HV Guarded on GSTg mode
Voltage Transformer


1. CVT
2. PT
PT


CVT Construction Details
Tests
Ratio test.

Capacitance and Tan delta measurement
of stacks(CVT)
Tan delta measurement of stacks
Change in Capacitance value above 6%,
CVT need to be replaced
Tan delta values more than 0.003 from pre-
commissioning value needs replacement
BUS BAR
BUSBAR ARRANGEMENTS
TWO MAIN ONE TRANSFER BUS
SCHEME(EHV)
ONE & HALF BREAKER SCHEME(EHV)
TWO BUS WITH BUSCOUPLER (HT/LT)
BUS MAINTENANCE AND
TESTING
CLEANING AFTER OPENING
COVERS(HT/LT).
TIGHTNESS CHECKING.
CHECKING OF SEALING
POINTS(HT/LT).
RECTIFICATION OF ANY HOTSPOT
INDICATIONS.(OBSERVED PHYSICALLY
OR BY THERMOGRAPHY)
MEGGERING
ONLINE CONDITION
MONITORING
I R THERMOGRAPHY
P D MONITORING(CT,CVT,TRANSF)
P I D
CARONA MONITORING

THANKS