Density monitoring of high-voltage SF6 circuit breakers

Circuit breakers play a vital role in ensuring the stability and reliability of a power system [1]. When a circuit breaker operates, the contacts inside the circuit breaker open and the electrical arc is extinguished resulting in the electrical circuit being interrupted [2]. Circuit breakers are named by the medium that is used to extinguish the electrical arc, with the most common type being sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) circuit breakers [3]. Figure 1 shows a typical design of a 132-kV live tank and dead tank circuit breaker.