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CIRCUIT BREAKER MONITOR FUNCTION
PURPOSE OF CIRCUIT BREAKER MONITORING
Circuit breakers are complex mechanical and electrical systems which require periodic maintenance. The need for maintenance is
affected by
• Number of fault operations
• Number of total operations
• SF₆ sealing system integrity
• Environmental conditions
• Time since last operation
• Time since installation (equipment age)
There are symptoms associated with the maintenance needs which the Optimizer3 detects.
• Longer-than-normal arcing times
• Occurrence of restrikes
• Longer-than-normal Opening (Trip Latch) Time
• Longer-than-normal Opening Travel Time
• Spring-Charging motor high peak current or longer-than-normal run times
• Trip Coil or Close Coil exhibiting high forward voltage drop (=open coil)
Extended arcing time can result from blast nozzles on puffer circuit breakers that have a high accumulated arcing duty. The
exposure to hot arcs causes ablation of the Teflon nozzle material so the nozzle diameter gets larger and the velocity of the SF₆
blasted into the arc is reduced, with reduced effectiveness to extinguish the arc. For Oil Circuit Breakers, extended arcing times may
be the symptom of contaminated oil or fault currents in excess of its rating.
Longer-than-normal Opening Travel Time is equivalent to slower-than-normal average velocity. In most cases, long measured
Opening Travel Times are caused by poor lubrication or bearings that have seized with grease where liquids have evaporated and
only the clay or other thickener remain.