Megger – HVCB Seminar

HVCB Testing Seminar

Dynamic Resistance Measurements

(DRM)

Volney Naranjo

Traditional testing
• Regular timing in SF6 breakers measures
the operation time at make or part of the
contact Arcing contact life curve, ABB

• Problem:
– Does not differentiate between main contact
and arcing contact
• No information about the condition of the
contacts
• No information about the length of the
arcing contact
• Arcing contact can erode after high
current interruptions
• To determine the contacts condition (main
and arcing) visual inspection is required
– Costly and time consuming
• Solution:
– DRM testing

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Outline

• History
• What is DRM?
• Components to analyze
• Why perform?
• Case study
• Conclusion

History
● Late ´80s: Technical papers written
● ´92: Cooperation with ABB Ludvika
○ Extensive tests on ABB LTB type to determine arcing contact wear
○ Before and after short circuit current interruptions
○ During 5000 operations test
● ´93: DRM method developed through DRM10 / DRM1000,
TM1600/MA31 and CABA DOS
● ´06: DRM1800
● ´09: SDRM201/202
● Finepoint ´09: “New method: DRM”

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Product development

DRM 1000 DRM 1800

32 kg (70.5 lbs) 12 kg (26.5 lbs)

Product development-Lead cells vs. ultra

capacitor
DRM 1800 SDRM 202
6.8 kg (15 lbs) 1.8 kg (4 lbs)

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What is DRM?

• Dynamic Resistance Measurement (DRM)

– Time and travel test performed concurrently with micro ohm
meter
– Analysis of arcing contact in SF6 CBs
– Determine length of arcing contact in SF6 CBs

Schematic Hookup for DRM

1.Inject high current

2.Start recording &
3.Operate Circuit Breaker
4.Calculate Resistance

Ohms Law
R=U/I

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SDRM
Hookup

Components to Analyze

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Components to Analyze

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Components to Analyze

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Megger – HVCB Seminar

Components to Analyze

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Quenching element in closed

position
1. Current flows through upper terminal
2. Fixed contact support
3. Main contact
4. Moving contact
5. Blast piston carrier
6. Lower terminal

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Megger – HVCB Seminar

Start of opening operation

4. Moving contact parts

3. From main contact
7. Current passes through arcing
contact

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Thermal self-blasting effect

7. Arc formed when contacts separate

Vt. Energy of arc increases the pressure in
thermal expansion chamber
Vp. At no load operation, thermal energy is to
weak to develop pressure, additional blast piston
blows out arc

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Arc quenching

8. When contact emerges from

9. Insulating nozzle
Vt. Thermal overpressure in the expansion
chamber is released
This energy blast quenches the arc
immediately before the current passes through
zero

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Open position

10. Arc is extinguished

SF6 molecules split by arc recombine
simultaneously
Arc byproducts formed during the
quenching operation are trapped in an
absorber

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Megger – HVCB Seminar

Length of arcing contact

Dynamic Resistance Measurement - Open

Resistance curve
equal to voltage drop over breaker
[500 μΩ/div]

Movement starts
Length of arcing contact

Main contact opens,

arcing contact
conducting.

Travel curve
[10mm/div]

Current curve
[100 A/div]

Small increase in resistance

of the main circuit when the Arcing contact opens, current drops
main contact fingers slide and resistance is infinite.

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Dynamic Resistance Measurement

(DRM) Why?

• To analyze arcing contact

• To determine arcing contact length
• Advanced testing
– Dual ground testing (with limitations)
– Siemens graphite/graphite breakers
• Easy to hook up
• Non destructive test
• Much quicker than visual inspection

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Case study- ABB HE Generator CB

Case Study

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Case study

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Measurement on new GCB

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Same GCB after short circuit fault

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Contact assembly

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Moving arcing contact

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Fixed arcing contact

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Megger – HVCB Seminar

Fixed arcing contact

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DRM conclusions

• Adds little time to overall testing

• Non-invasive look at arcing contacts
• Use high current for maximum resolution
• Perform travel measurement simultaneously
• Compare among previous measurements for best results

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