TMCS-15EE63B 2020-21

Unit-3 Testing and maintenance of Circuit Breaker and

Reactors

CO3:- Understand the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers

and reactors

Session 14:- Explain mechanical test, temperature rise, mill volt drop
test

Session 15:- Explain DC resistance test and dielectric test

1. Mechanical test (Endurance test):- The circuit breaker should be in a position to

open & close satisfactorily. In mechanical tests, the circuit breaker is opened & closed
several times. Some operations are done by energizing the relay, remaining are by
closing the trip circuit by other means. No adjustment or replacement of parts is
permitted during the mechanical test. However, lubrication is permitted as per
manufacturers instructions.
After the tests, the contacts, linkages and all the other parts should be in good
condition and should not show any permanent deformation or distortion. The
dimensions should be within original limits. During repeated operations of the circuit
breaker, the weaker parts in the assembly may fail. The circuit breaker is then
considered to have failed in the mechanical test. The tests are then to be repeated after
improvement in the design and manufacture. Successful performance in mechanical
endurance tests proves the adequacy of design and also good quality of materials and
manufacture. Though 1000 close-open cycles are specified in the standards, the
manufacturer may conduct 10,000 or more operations to ensure the reliability and for
getting design data.

2.Temperature rise tests:- Alternating current of rated value and rated frequency is
passed through a closed circuit breaker, continuously till a steady temperature is
reached. Readings of temperature of various conducting, insulating and structural
parts are taken at an interval of one or half an hour. When the steady temperature is
reached, the maximum temperature rise of each part should be less than the
permissible limit. When the circuit breaker in closed condition carries normal current,
the heat is generated in the current carrying parts due to I2RT loss. This heat is
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dissipated by conduction, convection and radiation. To maintain the temperature rise

within the specified limits, the I2RT losses should be reduced by increasing conductor
cross-section using suitable low resistivity material, improving convection,
conduction and radiation of heat.

The test set up is shown in the figure for single phase. The current is obtained from
special transformer which gives required continuous current at a low voltage (5 to 15
V). Current is adjusted by regulation on primary voltage. The tests are either single
phase or three phase. Temperature can be measured by thermocouples, thermometer.

3. Millivolt drop test:- The voltage drop across the circuit breaker poles is measured
for different values of DC currents. The voltage drop gives a measure of resistance of
current carrying parts and contacts. The current should be less than the rated current
of the circuit breaker. The resistance of the circuit breaker pole should be measured at
ambient air temperature. The resistance is of the order of few tens of micro-ohms.

Measurement of D.C. Resistance:-

The D.C. resistance of main circuit of each pole of a circuit- breaker is of the
order of a few tens of micro-ohms. The resistance of the pole tested for temperature
rise provides the basis of comparison for all other poles of the same type. The
resistance is measured by measuring d.c. voltage drop or by measuring resistance
across terminals of each pole by means of a micro-ohm-meter.

Dielectric tests:-
These are conducted to confirm the rated level of the circuit-breaker. The
dielectric tests include power frequency voltage withstand tests and impulse voltage
withstand tests.

Refer session 13 for impulse voltage withstand test and power frequency voltage
withstand test.

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Unit-3 Testing and maintenance of Circuit Breaker and

Reactors

CO3:- Understand the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers

and reactors

Session 16:- Explain routine tests on CB

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Unit-3 Testing and maintenance of Circuit Breaker and

Reactors

CO3:- Understand the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers

and reactors

Session 17:- List the short circuit tests on CBs. Explain stresses on
CBs during short circuits

Short circuit tests on CBs:- These are conducted to prove the ratings of the
circuit-breaker. They come under the type tests. The short circuits tests include:

Explain stresses on CBs during short circuits:-

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Unit-3 Testing and maintenance of Circuit Breaker and

Reactors

CO3:- Understand the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers

and reactors

Session 18:- Explain the layout of simple SC Testing station. Explain

the rules for Type Tests, short time current test

Explain the layout of simple SC Testing station.

Fig shows simple Short circuit test plant.

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Rules for Type tests:-

a. Breaking current:-The short circuit current broken by the circuit breaker should be
measured at the instant of contact separation. It should be stated in terms of Breaking
current and d.c. component.

b. Breaking capacity:- The breaking capacity test should be performed with specified
TRV of test circuit.

c. Peak making current:- The peak making current made by the circuit breaker during
the test should be expressed by maximum current in any pole.

d. Conditions of severity for making capacity and breaking capacity tests are specified
as under the following clauses:

1. Conditions of breaker before test

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2. Conditions during the test

3. Conditions of breaker after test

4. Applied voltage before test

5. Transient recovery voltage

6. Short-circuit power factor

7. Test frequency

8. Earthing of test circuit

9. Test duties

Short time current test:-Refer session 13

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Unit-3 Testing and maintenance of Circuit Breaker and

Reactors

CO3:- Understand the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers

and reactors

Session 19:- Explain critical current tests and short line fault tests

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Short line fault tests:-

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Unit-3 Testing and maintenance of Circuit Breaker and

Reactors

CO3:- Understand the testing and maintenance of circuit breakers

and reactors

Session 20:- Explain Line Charging Breaking current Tests and out
of phase switching tests

Line Charging Breaking current Tests:-

Charging Currents in Transmission Lines:-Any two conductors separated by an

insulating medium constitutes a condenser or capacitor. In case of overhead
transmission lines, two conductors form the two plates of the capacitor and the air
between the conductors behaves as dielectric medium. Thus an overhead transmission
line can be assumed to have capacitance between the conductors throughout the
length of the line. The capacitance is uniformly distributed over the length of the line
and may be considered as uniform series of condensers connected between the
conductors.

When an alternating voltage is applied across the transmission line it draws the
leading current even when supplying no load. This leading current will be in
quadrature with the applied voltage and is termed as charging current. It must be
noted that charging current is due to the capacitive effect between the conductors of
the line and does not depend on the load. The strength of the charging currents
depends on the voltage of transmission, the capacitance of the line and frequency of
the ac supply. It is given by the expression Charging current Ic = 2 . pi . f . C . V

Where f is the frequency of the supply

C is the Capacitance of the line

V is the voltage of the line

The rated line-charging breaking current:- It is the maximum line-charging

current that the circuit breaker shall be capable of breaking at its rated voltage.

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Out of phase switching phenomenon:-

Out-of-phase switching conditions occur, when circuit breaker is used to connect two
different voltage sources operating at equal voltages. The equivalent sources may
have different phase angles, partly or entirely 180◦ out of phase.

A difference in the phase-angle of the rotating vectors representing the source

voltages causes out-of-phase currents across the connection, which must be
interrupted by a circuit-breaker at either side of the connection.

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Rated out of phase breaking current:-It is the maximum unequal current that the
circuit breaker can handle and still open normally.

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