CONTENTS

1- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 2- INTRODUCTION 3- SWITCHYARD DESIGN a) ONE & HALF BREAKER ARRANGEMENT b) DOUBLE MAIN & TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT 4- SWITCHYARD COMPONENTS a) BAY b) ISOLATOR c) WAVE TRAP d) CT e) CVT f) REACTOR g) ICT h) CIRCUIT BREAKER 5- SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER 6- SERVICING OF SF6 C.B 7- REFERENCES

POWER GRID CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED

400/220 KV SUB-STAION KARTARPUR, JALANDHAR(PUNJAB)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am very grateful to the working staff members of PGCIL Kartarpur 400/220 KV sub-station for providing me valuable insights into the working of substation . I am also very thankful to the Director HR Department PGCIL, North Division, Jammu for giving me a chance to undergo vocational training with PGCIL. I am also very thankful to my parents for their affectionate support.

INTRODUCTION
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), is an Indian stateowned electric utilities company headquartered in Gurgaon, India. Power Grid wheels about 50% of the total power generated in India on its transmission network. Power Grid has a pan-India presence with around 95,329 Circuit-km of Transmission network and 156 EHVAC & HVDC sub-stations with a total transformation capacity of 138,673 MVA. The Inter-regional capacity is enhanced to 28,000 MW. Power Grid has also diversified into Telecom business and established a telecom network of more than 25,000 km across the country. Power Grid has consistently maintained the transmission system availability over 99.00% which is at par with the International Utilities. In 1980 the Rajadhyaksha Committee on Power Sector Reforms submitted its report to the Government of India suggesting extensive reforms in the Indian power sector. Based on the recommendations of the Rajadhyaksha Committee, in 1981 the Government of India took the policy decision to form a national power grid which would pave the way for the integrated operation of the central and regional transmission systems. Pursuant to this decision to form a national power grid, PowerGrid was incorporated on October 23, 1989 under the companies Act, 1956 as the National Power Transmission Corporation Limited, with the responsibility of planning, executing, owning, operating and maintaining the high voltage transmission systems in the country. The Company received a certificate for commencement of business on November 8, 1990. Subsequently, the name of the Company was changed to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited with effect from October 23, 1992. POWERGRID has enhanced the inter-regional capacity of National Grid to 28,000 MW. India is divided into 5 Regions - Northern Region (NR), Eastern Region (ER), Western Region (WR), Southern Region (SR), and North-East Region (NER). Out of all these Regions the NR, ER, WR, and NER are synchronized which is known as NEW Grid. Whereas SR is not synchronized with the rest of the regions with AC lines and hence could run on a slightly different frequency. SR is connected with WR and ER with HVDC links only. When PGCIL was formed then the responsibility of Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) was handed over to POWERGRID by Central Electricity Authority (CEA). On 25th February, 2009 the National Load Despatch Center (NLDC) was inaugurated. Now these Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) and National Load Despatch Center (NLDC) form a separate Organisation named POSOCO (Power system Operation Corporation), a wholly owned subsidiary of POWERGRID.

SWITCHYARD DESIGN
Any transmission line originates or terminates at a Bus-bar. One bus bar is usually connected to more than one transmission lines depending upon its power handling ability. Different types of bus-bar designs are used based on requirement. Some of the commonly used bus bar arrangements are One and a half breaker arrangement, Double Main & Transfer Arrangement, ring main Arrangement, Mesh Arrangement and Single Bus Bar Arrangement (with or without Bus sectionalization). The choice of the type of bus bar arrangement depends on1- System voltage. 2- Provision of extension with load growth. 3- Economy keeping in views the needs and continuity of supply. 4- Maintenance possibility with interruption of supply. 5- Protection during faults. In the 400/220 kV switchyard of Power Grid Kartarpur, One and a half Breaker Arrangement is used for 400 kV transmission line and Double Main & Transfer Arrangement is used for 220 kV Transmission line. Both types of bus bar arrangements are explained below.

One and a Half Breaker Arrangement

This type of arrangement needs three circuit breakers for two circuits. The number of circuit breaker per circuit comes out to be 1, hence the name. This circuit is preferred in those stations where power handled is large.
CIRCUIT 1 CIRCUIT 1 CIRCUIT 1 BUS-1

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

BUS-1 CIRCUIT 2 CIRCUIT 2 CIRCUIT 2

FIGURE 1 ONE AND HALF BREAKER ARRANGEMENT

It is clear that three circuit breakers are used in one dia between the two busbars, Bus 1 and Bus 2 for two circuits emerging out of it. Two such dia are shown in the figure. Following advantages are associated with this type of bus bar arrangement 1- The supply is not interrupted in the event of fault on a bus as either of the bus can be used to maintain supply and keep the feeders (or transmission lines) charged. 2- The supply is not interrupted in the event of any fault on a circuit breaker. 3- Possibility of addition of circuits is always there.

Double Main and Transfer

This arrangement is quite frequently used where load and continuity of supply justifies additional cost. Generally, this system has two main bus-bars and one transfer bus-bar. However at Gwalior sub-station, two transfer busbars have been used for saving area. Both transfer bus-bars are electrically connected to each other. Two bus bars are used to increase redundancy. The two main bus-bars are electrically connected to each other through a bus coupler. They can be connected or disconnected from each other at will, depending upon the system requirements and contingencies. Under normal conditions both the bus-bars remain charged. Two bus-bars are used to increase redundancy. This scheme provides for one transfer bus. To save area and to accommodate more feeders, two transfer busbars can be used but they are electrically connected and treated as one for all purposes. Such an arrangement is present in the switchyard of the Power Grid Gwaliors substation. A single line diagram for the Double main and transfer arrangement is shown below
BUS 1

BUS 2

C.B

C.B

C.B

C.B

TRANSFER BUS

FEEDERS FIGURE 2 DOUBLE MAIN & TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT

As shown in the figure, each feeder comes with only one circuit breaker, unlike the One and a half arrangement where effectively each feeder had two circuit breakers. In case a fault occurs on the breaker associated with a feeder, the continuity of the supply could still be maintained by transferring the feeder to the transfer bus. For this, firstly the transfer bus is charged by closing the TBS or the Transfer Bus Coupler and then closing the isolator connecting transfer bus and the feeder. One transfer bus is used for all the feeders. However, only one feeder at a time can be put on the transfer bus. The designing does not permit more than one feeder to be put on the bus at a time.

Choice of Bus Bar Scheme

As already explained above, the choice of bus bar scheme depends on various factors like system voltage, protection, redundancy and economy. At the Kartarpur sub station, the 400 kV line are connected to the one and a half breaker bus bar while the 220 kV line are connected to the double main and transfer bus bar. One and a half breaker arrangement is more reliable as each circuit feeder has effectively two circuit breakers. In can one has some fault or has to be taken into maintenance, the arrangement would remain equally effective and power handling capability would remain same. One breaker with each dia can be safely taken out of service. However the cost is very high as more circuit breakers are being used. This is the cost of increased protection and ability to maintain the continuity of supply under faulty conditions. The cost of a 400 kV line tripping and ultimately going out is very high as one such line normally handles 500 600 MW or power. All power would be lost otherwise. 220 kV line is connected to double main and transfer bus bar. This arrangement is more economical than the one and a half scheme as it requires only one circuit breaker with each circuit. In the event of a fault in any breaker, the circuit associated with it can be connected to the transfer bus. However only one circuit at a time could be connected to the transfer bus. It gives reduced protection and restoring supply might take longer in the event of any fault if it extends to more than one circuit and all circuits except one would go out of service.

Connecting the Transformers

The transformers are connected between the bus bars. The power rating of the transformers depends upon the power to be handled in the bus bars. Using a transformer with power rating much higher than the average power flowing through it would lower the power factor. A total of three 3- transformers are installed at Kartarpur sub-station. All three are 315 MVA, 400/220 kV, 50 Hz transformers. A complete switchyard diagram of the 400/220 kV substation is given on the next page. Two buses are connected via two 315 MVA, 400/220 kV, 50 Hz transformers for voltage and current transformation.

SWITCHYARD COMPONENTS
Bay
A transmission line when enters in a switchyard in connected to a bay. A bay is basically a collection of isolator and wave trap connected in series and CVT, LA, earth switch connected in parallel. In sequence starting from the transmission lines last tower and going towards the switchyard, they lie as follows: LA, CVT, WT, earth switch, and isolator. LA comes first to protect the switchyard components from being damaged from the sudden voltage or current surge. Then comes the CVT which, on high voltage lines, are mostly used for the transmission of communication signals. They send and receive these high frequency signals. WT are used for filtering out the high frequency signals from the current as they may be outside the range of the switchyard components which are mostly designed to operate at the frequency of or around 50 Hz. Earth switch comes next to earth the line, if necessary. Isolator is the last component of the bay and is used to isolate the line from the bus bar

ISOLATOR
A disconnector or isolator switch is used to make sure that an electrical circuit can be completely de-energised for service or maintenance. Such switches are often found in electrical distribution and industrial applications where machinery must have its source of driving power removed for adjustment or repair. High-voltage isolation switches are used in electrical substations to allow isolation of apparatus such as circuit breakers and transformers, and transmission lines, for maintenance. Often the isolation switch is not intended for normal control of the circuit and is only used for isolation

FIGURE 4 400KV ISOLATOR

In some designs the isolator switch has the additional ability to earth the isolated circuit thereby providing additional safety. Such an arrangement would apply to circuits which inter-connect power distribution systems where both end of the circuit need to be isolated. WAVE TRAP Line trap also is known as Wave trap. What it does is trapping the high frequency communication signals sent on the line from the remote substation and diverting them to the telecom/teleprotection panel in the substation control room (through coupling capacitor and LMU). This is relevant in Power Line Carrier Communication (PLCC) systems for communication among various substations without dependence on the telecom company network. The signals are primarily teleprotection signals and in addition, voice and data communication signals. Line trap also is known as Wave trap. What it does is trapping the high frequency communication signals sent on the line from the remote substation and diverting them to the telecom/teleprotection panel in the substation control room (through coupling capacitor and LMU). This is relevant in Power Line Carrier Communication (PLCC) systems for communication among various substations without dependence on the telecom company network. The signals are primarily teleprotection signals and in addition, voice and data communication signals. The Line trap offers high impedance to the high frequency communication signals thus obstructs the flow of these signals in to the substation busbars. If there were not to be there, then signal loss is more and communication will be ineffective/probably impossible.

FIGURE 5 WAVE TRAP

SURGE ARRESTOR
The lightning arresters provide protection against atmospheric lightening. A lightning arrester is a protective device, which conducts the high voltage surges on the power system to the ground. It consists of a spark gap in series with a non-linear resistor. One end of the diverter is connected to the terminal of the equipment to be protected and the other end is effectively grounded. The length of the gap is so set that normal voltage is not enough to cause an arc but a dangerously high voltage will break down the air insulation and form an arc. The property of the non-linear resistance is that its resistance increases as the voltage (or current) increases and vice-versa. The action of the lightning arrester or surge diverter is as under: (i) Under normal operation, the lightning arrester is off the line i.e. it conducts no current to earth or the gap is non-conducting (ii) On the occurrence of over voltage, the air insulation across the gap breaks down and an arc is formed providing a low resistance path for the surge to the ground. In this way, the excess charge on the line due to the surge is harmlessly conducted through the arrester to the ground instead of being sent back over the line.After the surge is over, the resistor offers high resistance to make the gap non-conducting.

FIGURE 6 400 KV SURGE ARRESTOR

CURRENT TRANSFORMER
Current transformer (CT) is used for measurement of electric currents. When current in a circuit is too high to directly apply to measuring instruments, a current transformer produces a reduced current accurately proportional to the current in the circuit, which can be conveniently connected to measuring and recording instruments. A current transformer also isolates the measuring instruments from what may be very high voltage in the monitored circuit. Current transformer has a primary winding, a magnetic core, and a secondary winding. A primary objective of current transformer design is to ensure that the primary and secondary circuits are efficiently coupled, so that the secondary current bears an accurate relationship to the primary current. The most common design of CT consists of a length of wire wrapped many times around a silicon steel ring passed over the circuit being measured. The CT's primary circuit therefore consists of a single 'turn' of conductor, with a secondary of many hundreds of turns. The primary winding may be a permanent part of the current transformer, with a heavy copper bar to carry current through the magnetic core. Shapes and sizes can vary depending on the end user.

FIGURE 7 400 KV CT

CAPACITIVE VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER

The potential transformer are basically step-down transformers. The connections of voltmeter when used in conjuction with the potential transformer for measurement of high A.C. voltages. The voltage to be measured is applied across the primary winding which has a large no. of turns is coupled magnetically to the primary winding. Turn ratio is so adjusted that the secondary voltage is 110V when full rated primary voltage is applied to primary. Potential transformers are used to operate voltmeter, the potential coils of wattmeter and relays from high voltage lines. The design of potential transformer is quite similar to that of power transformer. But the loading capacity of a potential transformer is very small in comparison to that of power transformer. The loading of a potential transformer some time is only a few volt amperes. These transformers are made shell type because this condition develops a high degree of accuracy. For medium voltages i.e. upto 6.6 KV the potential transformer are usually of dry type, between 6.6 KV to 1.1 KV they may be either dry or oil immersed but for voltage more than 11 KV they always oil immersed type. An out of door type oil immersed voltage transformer having ratio 66000/110.

FIGURE 8 400 KV CVT

A capacitor voltage transformer (CVT) is a transformer used in power systems to step down extra high voltage signals and provide a low voltage signal, for measurement or to operate a protective relay. In its most basic form the device consists of three parts:

two capacitors across which the transmission line signal is split, an inductive element to tune the device to the line frequency, and a transformer to isolate and further step down the voltage for the instrumentation or protective relay. The tuning of the divider to the line frequency makes the overall division ratio less sensitive to changes in the burden of the connected metering or protection devices. The device has at least four terminals: a terminal for connection to the high voltage signal, a ground terminal, and two secondary terminals which connect to the instrumentation or protective relay. CVTs are typically single-phase devices used for measuring voltages in excess of one hundred kilovolts where the use of wound primary voltage transformers would be uneconomical. In practice, capacitor C 1 is often constructed as a stack of smaller capacitors connected in series. This provides a large voltage drop across C1 and a relatively small voltage drop across C2.

FIGURE 9 CIRCUIT-CVT

SHUNT REACTOR
The need for large shunt reactors appeared when long power transmission lines for system voltage 220 kV & higher were built. The characteristic parameters of a line are the series inductance (due to the magnetic field around the conductors) & the shunt capacitance (due to the electrostatic field to earth). Both the inductance & the capacitance are distributed along the length of the line. So are the series resistance and the admittance to earth. When the line is loaded, there is a voltage drop along the line due to the series inductance and the series resistance. When the line is energized but not loaded or only loaded with a small current, there is a voltage rise along the line (the Ferranti-effect).In this situation, the capacitance to earth draws a current through the line, which may be capacitive. When a capacitive current flows through the line inductance there will be a voltage rise along the line. To stabilize the line voltage the line inductance can be compensated by means of series capacitors and the line capacitance to earth by shunt reactors. Series capacitors are placed at different places along the line while shunt reactors are often installed in

the stations at the ends of line. In this way, the voltage difference between the ends of the line is reduced both in amplitude and in phase angle.

FIGURE 10 400 KV SHUNT REACTOR

Shunt reactors may also be connected to the power system at junctures where several lines meet or to tertiary windings of transformers. Shunt reactors contain the same components as power transformers, like windings, core, tank, bushings and insulating oil and are suitable for manufacturing in transformer factories. The main difference is the reactor core limbs, which have non-magnetic gaps inserted between packets of core steel.

INTER CONNECTING TRANSFORMER (ICT)

Interconnecting transfomers are used to connect two EHV line at different voltages i.e. 220KV to 400KV. The interconnecting transformer are auto transformer which can step up & step down the voltages for synchronization of two grid voltages. Generation of Electrical Power in low voltage level is very much cost effective. Hence Electrical Power are generated in low voltage level. Theoretically, this low voltage leveled power can be transmitted to the receiving end. But if the voltage level of a power is increased, the electric current of the power is reduced which causes reduction in ohmic or I2R losses in the system, reduction in cross sectional area of the conductor i.e. reduction in capital cost of the system and it also improves the voltage regulation of the system. Because of these, low leveled power must be stepped up for efficient electrical power transmission. This is done by step up transformer at the sending side of the power system network. As this high voltage power may not be distributed to the consumers directly, this must be stepped down to the desired level at the receiving end with help of step down transformer. These are the use of electrical power transformer in the Electrical Power System.

FIGURE 11 400/220 KV ICT

High-power or high-voltage transformers are bathed in transformer oil - a highlyrefined mineral oil that is stable at high temperatures. Large transformers to be used indoors must use a non-flammable liquid. Today, nontoxic, stable silicone-based oils or fluorinated hydrocarbons may be used, where the expense of a fire-resistant liquid offsets additional building cost for a transformer vault. The oil cools the transformer, and provides part of the electrical insulation between internal live parts. It has to be stable at high temperatures so that a small short or arc will not cause a breakdown or fire. To improve cooling of large power transformers, the oil-filled tank may have radiators through which the oil circulates by natural convection. Very large or high-power transformers (with capacities of millions of watts) may have cooling fans, oil pumps. Oil transformers ar equipped with Buchholz relays. BUCHHOLZ RRELAY Buchholz relay is a safety device mounted on oil-filled power transformers and reactors, equipped with an external overhead oil reservoir called a conservator. On a slow accumulation of gas, due perhaps to slight overload, gas produced by decomposition of insulating oil accumulates in the top of the relay and forces the oil level down. A float switch in the relay is used to initiate an alarm signal. If an arc forms, gas accumulation is rapid, and oil flows rapidly into the conservator. This flow of oil operates a switch attached to a vane located in the path of the moving oil. This switch normally will operate a circuit breaker to isolate the apparatus before the fault causes additional damage. Buchholz relays have a test port to allow the accumulated gas to be withdrawn for testing. Flammable gas found in the relay indicates some internal fault such as overheating or arcing, whereas air found in the relay may only indicate low oil level or a leak .

CIRCUIT BREAKER
A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect an individual household appliance up to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city. The circuit breaker must detect a fault condition; in low-voltage circuit breakers this is usually done within the breaker enclosure. Circuit breakers for large currents or high voltages are usually arranged with pilot devices to sense a fault current and to operate the trip opening mechanism. The trip solenoid that releases the latch is usually energized by a separate battery, although some high-voltage circuit breakers are selfcontained with current transformers, protection relays, and an internal control power source. Once a fault is detected, contacts within the circuit breaker must open to interrupt the circuit; some mechanically-stored energy (using something such as springs or compressed air) contained within the breaker is used to separate the contacts, although some of the energy required may be obtained from the fault current itself. Small circuit breakers may be manually operated; larger units have solenoids to trip the mechanism, and electric motors to restore energy to the springs. The circuit breaker contacts must carry the load current without excessive heating, and must also withstand the heat of the arc produced when interrupting (opening) the circuit. Contacts are made of copper or copper alloys, silver alloys, and other highly conductive materials. Service life of the contacts is limited by the erosion of contact material due to arcing while interrupting the current. Miniature and molded case circuit breakers are usually discarded when the contacts have worn, but power circuit breakers and high-voltage circuit breakers have replaceable contacts. When a current is interrupted, an arc is generated. This arc must be contained, cooled, and extinguished in a controlled way, so that the gap between the contacts can again withstand the voltage in the circuit. Different circuit breakers use vacuum, air, insulating gas, or oil as the medium in which the arc forms. Electrical power transmission networks are protected and controlled by high-voltage breakers. The definition of high voltage varies but in power transmission work is usually thought to be 72.5 kV or higher, according to a recent definition by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). High-voltage breakers are nearly always solenoid-operated, with current sensing protective relays operated through current transformers. Insubstations the protective relay scheme can be complex, protecting equipment and buses from various types of overload or ground/earth fault.

High-voltage breakers are broadly classified by the medium used to extinguish the arc.

Bulk oil Minimum oil Air blast Vacuum SF6

In 400/220 KV Kartarpur sub-station of PGCIL, the circuit breakers used are of SF6 type only, due to the nature of high rating lines.

SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKERS

SF6 GAS Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) is an excellent gaseous dielectric for high voltage power applications. It has been used extensively in high voltage circuit breakers and other switchgears employed by the power industry. Applications for SF6 include gas insulated transmission lines and'gas insulated power distributions. The combined electrical, physical, chemical and thermal properties offer many advantages when used in power switchgears. Some of the outstanding properties of SF6 making it desirable to use in power applications are :V High dielectric strength V Unique arc-quenching ability V Excellent thermal stability V Good thermal conductivity

FIGURE 12 SF6 ARC QUENCHING

The current interruption process in a high-voltage circuit breaker is a complex matter due to simultaneous interaction of several phenomena. When the circuit breaker contacts separate, an electric arc will be established, and current will continue to flow through the arc. Interruption will take place at an instant when the alternating current reaches zero. When a circuit breaker is tripped in order to interrupt a short-circuit current, the contact parting can start anywhere in the current loop. After the contacts have parted mechanically, the current will flow between the contacts through an electric arc, which consists of a core of extremely hot gas with a temperature of 5,000 to 20,000 K. This column of gas is fully ionized (plasma) and has an electrical conductivity comparable to that of carbon. OPERATING MECHANISM- ABB 400KV -SF6 BREAKER

CONTACT PARTING CLOSED POSITION ARC EXTINCTION CLOSING OPEN POSITION

MAIN

ARCING

A- Closed position. The current is conducted through the main contacts. B- Separation of main contacts. The moving contact has started to change position, the main contacts have parted. Pressure is starting to build up in the puffer and self-blast volumes. The current is commutated to the arcing contacts. C- After separation of the arcing contacts an arc is established between them. Heat from the arc generates pressure in the self-blast volume, the valve closes when the pressure is higher than in the puffer volume.

D- Arc extinction. The current approaches zero and the gas from the self-blast volume blasts up through the nozzle, cooling the arc and extinguishing it. Excessive pressure in the puffer volume is released through the pressure relief valve. E- The contacts are now fully open; the motion has been damped and stopped by the operating mechanism. F- During closing the contacts close and the puffer volume is refilled with cold gas, making it ready for the next opening operation.

ABB 400 KV SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER

1-Upper Terminals 2. Porcelain Insulators 3. Lower Terminals 4. Lifting Hooks 5. Supporting Structure 6. Cabinet 7. Inspection window 8. Cross-Angles

IMPORTANT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF CIRCUIT BREAKER

1- Type of circuit breaker : SF6. 2- Number of Poles : Three (3). 3- Rated Voltage : 420 KV (rms) 4- Corona extinction voltage : 320 KV (rms) 5- Rated frequency : 50 Hz. 6- Rated Normal Current : 2500 A at amb. & 3150 at 50 c 7- Total break time : Maximum 50 ms. 8-Total closing time : Maximum 160 ms. 9- Pre-insertion resistance : 400 Ohms (Required for line breaker only) 10-Short time current : 40 KA for 3 second at Carrying capability rated voltage. 11- Out of phase breaking : 10 KA (rms.) Current capacity. 12- First pole to clear factor : 1.3

PICTORIAL -STEPWISE VIEW OF SERVICING OF SF6 CIRCUIT BREAKER

FIGURE 13 SWITCHYARD SF6 BREAKER BASE UNIT

FIGURE 14 OPENING OF SF6 FOR SERVICING

FIGURE 16 MOVING CONTACTS SF6 BREAKER

FIGURE 17 OUTER CASING SF6 ARMS

FIGURE 18 FIXED CONTACTS -SF6 BREAKER

TESTING OF ABB SF6 BREAKER

Dynamic Contact Resistance Measurement for CB healthiness

By application of Dynamic Contact Resistance Measurement, condition of arcing contact, main contact, operating levers, driving mechanism can be predicted. If DCRM signature shows vide variations and also there is change in arcing contact insertion time, it indicates erosion of the arcing contacts to main contacts and subsequent failure.

Contact Travel Measurement

Transducers are attached to the operating rod or interrupting chamber in order to record the contact travel. When CB closes, contact travel is recorded. Contact bounces or any other abnormality is also clearly indicated by the Contact Travel Measurement. If contact travel, contact speed and contact acceleration signature are compared with the original signatures, then it may indicate problems related with the operating mechanism, operating levers, main/ arcing contacts, alignments etc. DCRM along with Contact Travel measurement is useful in monitoring length of Arcing contacts. Erosion of Arcing contacts may lead to commutation failures and current may get transferred to Main contacts. Due to heat of arc, main contacts may get damaged.

FIGURE 19 SETTING UP OF DCRM KIT

FIGURE 20 TESTING USING DCRM KIT

APPENDIX:
ABBREVATIONS 1. CTU Central Transmission Utility 2. CVT Capacitive Voltage Transformer 3. ISGS Inter State Generating Stations 4. IEC International Electromechanical Council 5. IEGC Indian Electricity Grid Code 6. LA Lightening Arrester 7. NLDC National Load Dispatch Center 8. PU Per Unit 9. RLDC Regional Load Dispatch Center 10. SLD Single Line Diagram 11. SLDC State Load Dispatch Center 12. TBS Transfer Bus Coupler 13. WRLDC Western Region Load Dispatch Center 14. WT Wave Trap

REFERENCES
[1] PGCIL official site [2] Power System Analysis, Glover Sarma [3] Power System Engineering, Nagrath Kothari [4] ABB Circuit breaker operational manual