Parameters for condition assessment of the high voltage circuit breakers arcing contacts using Dynamic Resistance measurement

Circuit Breakers are one of the most important elements in the transmission and distribution of electrical energy, and assessing their condition is of the upmost importance regarding the health and safety of the transmission and distribution system. Numerous procedures and parameters exist that directly reflect the state of the circuit breaker, but this paper focuses on a relatively new procedure that measures and estimates the states of the arcing contacts of the circuit breaker. The state of the arcing contacts is in a direct correlation with the health of the circuit breaker and it is assessed by applying test called the Dynamic resistance measurement. The important parameters during this Dynamic Resistance test will be explained. The results obtained using developed algorithm are demonstrated in the field on a real circuit breaker, completing thus all necessary steps for the assessment of the arcing contacts.