742
3, JULY 2002
Strategies for Selecting Monitoring
of Circuit Breakers
C. Sweetser, Member, IEEE, W. J. (Bill) Bergman, Senior Member, IEEE, G. Montillet, Member, IEEE,
A. Mannarino, Member, IEEE, E. J. O’Donnell, Member, IEEE, R. William Long, Member, IEEE, J. Nelson,
R. Gavazza, Member, IEEE, and R. Jackson, Member, IEEE
Abstract—Diagnostics and monitoring can be used to optimize
maintenance practices, replacement, and utilization of aged cir-
cuit breakers. Monitoring practices should be selected with real-
istic expectations. Monitoring techniques and strategies for circuit
breakers can vary depending on the application. Some monitoring
techniques do not provide sufficient benefit to justify the cost and
effort. Conversely, appropriate selection of monitoring can provide
significant benefits. A new “IEEE Guide for the Selection of Mon-
itoring for Circuit Breakers” has been published. It outlines the
majority of monitoring options, and includes the important role
and application of failure modes and effect analyzes. Various mon-
itoring techniques and strategies are reviewed using the new guide
as a reference for selecting the most appropriate monitoring for a
given application.
I. INTRODUCTION
P RACTICES to minimize maintenance costs while maxi-
mizing the return on equipment have taken center stage.
The importance of maintaining power system equipment,
especially circuit breakers, has increased. The burden of circuit
breaker maintenance is increasing due to aging equipment,
system expansion and customer reliability requirements. As
aging circuit breakers approach their rated limits but are forced
to stay in service, their maintenance needs increase. Effective
monitoring techniques are necessary to provide continuous
condition assessment, identify problems, and in some cases
predict failures and problems before they become critical.
Advances in technology continue to provide more efficient
and reliable methods for determining maintenance needs. It
is important to have a clear understanding of the differences
between various monitoring techniques. Today, circuit breaker
Manuscript received October 24, 2001. This paper was prepared on behalf of
the IEEE Switchgear Committee, HVCB Quality & Reliability WG.
C. Sweetser is with Doble Engineering, Watertown, MA 02472 USA (e-mail:
csweetser@doble.com).
W. J. Bergman is with Bergman & Associates and Power System Solutions,
Calgary, AB, T3B 4K8 Canada (e-mail: bergman@ieee.org).
G. Montillet is with ALSTOM Power Transmission, Charleroi, PA 15022
USA (e-mail: georges.montillet@tde.alstom.com).
A. Mannarino is with PSEG (e-mail: antonio.mannarino@pseg.com).
E. J. O’Donnell is with Baltimore Gas and Electric, Baltimore, MD 21203
USA (e-mail: edward.j.odonnell@bge.com).
R. W. Long is with Cutler-Hammer, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1032 USA (e-mail:
longrw@ch.etn.com).
J. Nelson is with TVA, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 USA (e-mail:
jhnelson@tva.gov).
R. Gavazza is with Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, CA 94177 USA
(e-mail: rjg4@pge.com).
R. Jackson is with Detroit Edison, Detroit, MI 48226-1279 USA (e-mail:
jacksonr@detroitedison.com).
Publisher Item Identifier S 0885-8977(02)02752-8.
0885–8977/02$17.00 © 2002 IEEE
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 17, NO.
monitoring can be accomplished with either online or off-line
testing techniques. In some cases, the implementation of online
monitoring is a new practice and involves new technologies.
These concepts should be understood in all areas of circuit
breaker monitoring to fully benefit from this technology.
Circuit breaker monitoring strategies are almost as diverse
as the equipment, to which they are applied, misapplied, or
misunderstood. It is important to appreciate the interrelation-
ship of circuit breaker age, application details, risk considera-
tions, and economic factors when selecting monitoring. Also,
understanding failure modes, causes, and effects for a given
circuit breaker aids in the effective selection of circuit breaker
monitoring.
A working group sponsored by the Switchgear Committee of
the IEEE Power Engineering Society has prepared a C37.10.1
“IEEE Guide for the Selection of Monitoring for Circuit
Breakers.” The guide describes many options for monitoring
circuit breakers, however, it is not intended to address failures
associated with protection and control. The main intention of
this paper is to discuss various ways to effectively use this
monitoring guide. A brief overview of the guide’s content is
presented.
II. CIRCUIT BREAKER PROPERTIES
A circuit breaker should not be seen as a single component,
but as a system. This “system” consists of several components;
including control circuits, interrupters, drive mechanisms, insu-
lation, and a wide range of ancillary equipment. Because circuit
breakers can vary so much in design and application, it is es-
sential to understand and identify certain circuit breaker proper-
ties to apply the proper testing, troubleshooting, and diagnostic
and monitoring techniques. It is also important to appreciate
the interrelationship between functionality of components in the
power delivery system.
The primary function of a circuit breaker is to interrupt speci-
fied characteristics of current under a specified set of conditions.
There are several methods for interrupting current, some simple
and some more complex. It is useful to categorize various prop-
erties of circuit breakers due to the diversity of circuit breaker
design and application.
The interruption method is probably the most significant and
obvious property. For example, maintenance personnel gener-
ally refer to a style or type of a breaker by the intended inter-
ruption medium and method. Since current interruption occurs
in oil, air, vacuum and SF6, names such as bulk oil, SF6 puffer,
and air-blast have been adopted to best describe a breaker.
SWEETSER et al.: STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING MONITORING OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Operating mechanisms (energy storage devices and systems)
are classified by their method of energy storage. Monitoring
requirements for mechanisms using solenoids, springs, pneu-
matics, or hydraulics can be significantly different.
Circuit breakers may have a single operating mechanism
ganged for all three poles or an individual mechanism for
each pole. The complexity of the control scheme of the circuit
breaker is directly related to various complexities including
independent pole operation or phase-synchronized systems.
III. MONITORING AND MEASUREMENTS
The primary reason for monitoring is to provide diagnostic
information that can be used to make decisions about equipment
conditions. Measurement parameters must be carefully selected
to provide the greatest diagnostic benefit.
Available monitoring techniques range from simple to com-
plex. More advanced monitoring systems employ diagnostic ca-
pabilities, such as artificial intelligence (expert systems, neural
networks, fuzzy logic, and genetic algorithms) [1].
Many components and subsystems contribute to the satisfac-
tory operation of the circuit breaker. Monitoring should identify
the condition of a substantial portion of subsystems or at least
the key subsystems necessary for successful operation to be ef-
fective. Before selecting monitoring it might be useful to de-
fine and categorize such components and subsystems. The cir-
cuit breaker system can be broken down into the following [2].
1) Components at service voltage: Consists of main and
arcing contacts, auxiliary resistors and capacitors, and
main insulation to earth (bushings, oil, vacuum, air,
and SF6).
2) Electrical control and auxiliary circuits: Consists of
command coils, auxiliary switches and relays, heaters,
thermostats, fuses, and lockout devices.
3) Operating mechanism: Consists of mechanical trans-
mission components, actuator and damping devices,
compressors, motors, pumps, pipe work and fittings, and
energy storage elements.
A failure modes and effects analysis is a useful technique for
analyzing these components and subsystems. Identified failure
causes and a knowledge of how those failures develop over
time can then be used to select from available monitoring op-
tions. Keep in mind the over-lapping of monitoring coverage
that may occur. No single monitoring technique, whether it be
online or off-line, continuous or periodic, will cover all failure
causes although additional monitoring information will increase
the diagnostic reliability, there is a balance between the cost of
monitoring and resulting diagnostic benefit.
Choices exist when selecting the type of appropriate moni-
toring. For example, components at service voltage are easier to
inspect and diagnose while the interrupter is de-energized. Re-
quired off-line or de-energized “monitoring” is generally less
sophisticated and requires less investment in the short term.
However, long or irregular testing intervals may make this type
of monitoring ineffective at recognizing an impending failure
condition. On the other hand, online or continuous monitoring
may require complex sensors or devices capable of interpreting
measurements from components at rated voltage most likely re-
743
sulting in a higher up-front investment. The costs of interpreting
the resulting data and developing operating and maintenance de-
cisions must also be considered.
Desired signal measurements are not always obtained from
direct measurements. Often, direct and easily measured char-
acteristics are used to calculate related values or characteris-
tics. Methods to obtain the desired outputs must be reasonable.
One example would be the need to measure SF6 gas density.
One solution would be to implement a sophisticated transducer
that can directly measure molecular density. On the other hand,
density could be calculated from the less expensive measure-
ment of SF6 temperature and SF6 pressure or a temperature
compensated pressure gauge could be used. This is a good ex-
ample of how circuit breaker operating parameters are derived or
calculated from basic measurements. Another obvious example
would be calculating circuit breaker timing from control cir-
cuit and phase current measurements, sometimes supplementing
with a travel measurement, but yet the end result is timing rather
than velocity.
Monitoring does not always produce quantified values. Mea-
surements and diagnostic tests can be expressed in measurable
quantities, signatures, or status. Listed below are typical signals
and results as expected from monitoring.
A. Measurable Quantities
1) Currents (control circuits, phase, bushings, motors,
heaters).
2) Voltages (ac phase, dc battery).
3) Travel (motion).
4) Partial discharge.
5) DGA/screen.
6) Insulation power factor/Tan delta.
7) Temperature.
8) Pressure/density (SF6, hydraulic, pneumatic).
B. Signatures
1) Infrared scanning.
2) Power disturbances
3) Acoustical behavior.
C. Status
1) Overpotential test (pass/fail).
2) Auxiliary status (open/close).
3) Indication (on/off).
Monitoring techniques listed above should be selected to best
fit the application. The IEEE guide will help match-monitoring
techniques with diagnostics need.
IV. OVERVIEW OF GUIDE (IEEE C37.10.1)
The recently approved C37.10.1 “IEEE Guide for Selecting
Monitoring for Circuit Breakers” provides guidance in the selec-
tion of monitoring for high voltage circuit breakers. Monitoring
for a particular circuit breaker is very dependent on the circuit
breaker technology, age of the circuit breaker, details of the spe-
cific application and the risks associated with the various pos-
sible failures of a circuit breaker and its many associated power
744
or protection and control and other support components in the
specific application circumstances. The guide assists a user in
selecting monitoring that is appropriate for the specific circuit
breaker(s) and the specific circumstances in which the circuit
breaker is applied.
This guide is not intended to provide guidance on the moni-
toring of protection and control circuits and devices used with
circuit breakers even though such circuits and devices can have
a significant effect on the overall performance of circuit breaker
functions.
Several methodologies are introduced. A methodology
termed failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is pre-
sented to assist identification of significant circuit breaker
failure modes and their causes. The FMEA establishes the
relationships between how the failure manifests itself, the
failure cause(s), and the resulting effect on the overall power
system and consumers of electric energy. The concepts of risk
assessment are introduced. The subsequently derived priority
and economic analysis can be used to determine when and
where appropriate monitoring is warranted.
The selection of monitoring for circuit breakers should be
based on logical engineering and economic principles. Appro-
priate monitoring can be selected by considering failure modes
and their effects on the circuit breaker and on the power system,
the degree of risk or criticality associated with failure, and the
economics associated with each type of failure. Monitoring can
be used to reduce or replace some inspections, optimize mainte-
nance, enhance availability of the circuit breaker, improve safety
to humans and the environment, and to derive information on the
condition of a specific circuit breaker (or information from sev-
eral circuit breakers can be extrapolated to a larger population
of identical circuit breakers).
Considerably more information can be gained by the combi-
nation of various signals than from an individual signal alone.
More advanced monitoring systems may include diagnostic
analysis using tools such as artificial intelligence. These may re-
late recent to historic monitoring data and provide engineering
conclusions or actions required. Systems may be further en-
hanced by remote access, through SCADA or dial-up systems.
Eventually it is envisaged that systems will become integral to
substation automation development.
V. METHODOLOGY OF THE GUIDE
The guide presents a methodology for determining the selec-
tion of monitoring. The basis for this methodology is to compare
failures and risk of such failure to the cost benefit value intro-
duced by the application of monitoring. This methodology can
be categorized in five steps.
1) Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) (identifies
potential failure causes and their effects).
2) Determining monitoring options (specific monitoring to
observe failure development).
3) Risk analysis (analysis of expected probable failure
costs).
4) Cost benefit analysis (value of monitoring, i.e., benefit
versus cost).
5) Decision making.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 17, NO. 3, JULY 2002
Sources of circuit breaker performance statistics are
identified.
The process described in this guide includes the following.
1) Stage 1a. Undertake a FMEA analysis to identify failure
modes, causes of the failure modes and failure charac-
teristics for the specific family of circuit breakers. This
process will also indicate the most appropriate monitoring
options to detect most developing failures.
2) Stage 1b. The FMEA will identify appropriate mon-
itoring options available to observe the condition of
circuit breakers. Users of the Guide are provided tables
to assist in identifying monitoring for their application(s).
The process for stage 1a/b is to identify those elements
in Tables 2 through 19 important for the circuit breaker
group in their analysis. A column is provided for adding
a user score to the tables.
3) Stage 2a. Apply a risk assessment for the specific circuit
breaker application. Conduct a risk assessment to quan-
tify the risk associated with each specific circuit breaker
failure mode, i.e., deterioration in functional capability,
or failure to functionally perform. This may indicate that
monitoring should be applied almost regardless of cost.
More usually, the risk assessment outcome will be used
in conjunction with cost-benefit analysis. A risk matrix
as shown in the tables should be completed.
4) Stage 2b. Undertake the cost-benefit analysis as indi-
cated in this section. Annex A provides two specific
examples.
5) Stage 3. The decision to implement continuous or peri-
odic monitoring may be unambiguously indicated from
either risk assessment or cost-benefit alone. In other cases
a balanced judgment may be more appropriate.
The process described in this guide is shown in the flow di-
agram of Fig. 1, and a graphic representation showing various
levels of risk is shown in Fig. 2.
VI. PRACTICAL EXAMPLES FOR DETERMINING
MONITORING OPTIONS
A few practical examples have been selected to show how
monitoring options can be determined. These are practical ex-
amples and will not consider every possible option for mon-
itoring. The two circuit breaker types considered include the
following.
1) SF6 Live Tank Puffer with motor charge spring mecha-
nism. Electrically ganged mechanism.
2) Bulk-oil circuit breaker with pneumatic mechanism.
Mechanically ganged mechanism and condenser core
bushings with potential taps.
A. SF6 Circuit Breaker
The SF6 Live Tank Puffer circuit was selected as an example
since several components are at system voltage. In this case,
failure modes such as insulation to ground are limited to the sup-
port insulation and the operating rod. Applying monitoring to
this breaker is difficult for various components. Often, off-line
techniques must be used for specific monitoring tasks dealing
with components at service voltage.
SWEETSER et al.: STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING MONITORING OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Fig. 1. Monitoring selection process.
Fig. 2. Graphic representation showing various levels of risk.
Listed below are the following monitoring options and issues
for monitoring such a SF6 Live Tank circuit breaker as they
relate to the individual components and subsystems.
1) Components at Service Voltage:
• SF6 gas density or pressure.
• Infrared monitor of contact temperature.
• Main contacts (wear and restrike).
Because the circuit breaker is live tank, the SF6 gas density
or pressure measurements can only be made at ground potential
by means of insulated connecting devices (porcelain support in-
sulators or tubes). In general, it is difficult to monitor any cir-
cuit breaker insulation system, other than gas qualities, that is
operating in a live tank mode. Infrared monitoring can be done
with the circuit breaker online, however testing is usually ac-
complished manually. Gas pressure and temperature yield gas
density information.
The condition of the main contacts is acquired by capturing
phase current waveforms. These waveforms can be nonintru-
sively obtained via the secondary currents of the available CTs.
The waveforms are analyzed for cumulative contact erosion and
restrike.
745
2) Electrical Control and Auxiliary Circuits:
• Trip coil current.
• Close coil current.
• Auxiliary contact status (52a and 52b).
Command coils and auxiliary switch monitoring can be ac-
complished either online or off-line. Monitoring these signals
together provides a great deal of timing information. The sig-
nals can also help determine the proper operation of the latch
and overall performance of the circuit breaker individual poles.
Please note; that this breaker operates as an electrically ganged
circuit breaker. A circuit for each phase should be monitored.
Unfortunately, this configuration triples the monitoring task, but
has the advantage of being able to compare the operation of each
pole.
Online monitoring of control circuits general provides greater
diagnostic capabilities. The main benefit of online monitoring is
the capability to capture the “first trip.” The “first trip” is defined
as the first operation after a long period of idleness. Lubrication
and other mechanical issues are most noticeable during the first
trip. The circuit breaker is exercised at least once when it is taken
out of service in preparation for an off-line test, making off-line
monitoring less effective. Off-line testing allows us to measure
parameters such as contact parting times, but falls short when
determine contact erosion or identifying restriking conditions.
3) Operation Mechanism:
• Spring motor current.
• Motion.
• Mechanism temperature.
• Mechanism heater status.
The energy storage system for this circuit breaker can be
monitored in both opening and closing directions. The motor
current can be observed while the close spring is being charged.
The motor characteristic should be very similar from operation
to operation. Inrush current, steady state current, and motor
runtime should be determined from the monitoring system.
Seasonal variation may have a small amount of influence, but
should be negligible. The results can be used to determine the
condition of the stored energy charging subsystems.
The motion characteristics, total travel, over travel, and re-
bound, and velocity will provide main contact performance in-
formation. It is not always feasible to retro fit a motion trans-
ducer to a circuit breaker for in-service use. Motion transducers
used in-service are generally applied in the control cabinet and
require a unique transfer function if they are to represent the
actual movement of the main contacts. In many cases, motion
monitoring may not be recommended for in-service breakers.
Some considerable information can be derived by online timing
tests using auxiliary contacts and protection inputs. The other
option, monitoring motion off-line, is an accepted practice.
B. Bulk Oil Circuit Breaker
The bulk-oil circuit breaker is a good example of a breaker
that is easy to monitor. Since the circuit breaker is of dead tank
construction, fewer components are at in-service voltage. How-
ever, the dead tank application requires the use of condenser
bushings, which possibly add an additional failure cause.
746
Listed below are the following monitoring options and issues
for monitoring such a bulk-oil circuit breaker.
1) Components at Service Voltage:
• Bushings (6).
• Periodic test of oil condition.
• Infrared monitor of bushing temperature.
• Main contacts (wear and restrike).
The bushing can be monitored either online or off-line. Power
factor and capacitance measurement can help determine the in-
tegrity of the bushing insulation. Periodic infrared monitoring
of the bushings can determine thermal problems that may lead
to failure.
The oil can be tested periodically. Power factor and dissolved
gas measurements can be monitored.
2) Electrical Control and Auxiliary Circuits:
• Trip coil current.
• Close coil current.
• Auxiliary contact status (52a and 52b).
Monitoring the control circuit of this circuit breaker offer the
same timing benefits as the SF6 breaker.
3) Operation Mechanism:
• Compressor motor current.
• Pneumatic or hydraulic pressure.
• Motion versus time.
• Heater status or cabinet temperature.
Capturing the compressor motor current and the pneumatic
pressure can monitor the energy storage system for this breaker.
Energy storage signals can only be captured during a close
operation. Motion falls under the same category as the SF6 cir-
cuit breaker. Motion should only be monitored off-line.
VII. APPLICATION RISK
Risk is composed of the factoring of the probability of an oc-
currence with the consequence of that occurrence. Risk is high
when the probability is high and the consequence is high. Risk is
low when the probability of failure is low and the consequence
is low. Risk is low when the probability of an event is high,
medium or low and the consequence is low, medium or high
respectively.
Some circuit breakers are applied in applications where the
probability of system faults or circuit breaker failures is high
and the consequence of the failure is also high. These applica-
tions, with higher associated risks would be prime candidates
for monitoring.
VIII. VALUE ANALYSIS
The final portion of the guide includes information that will
help a user compare the costs and benefits of applying online
monitoring against those with the existing status. A listing of
items to consider in the realm of inspection, maintenance, and
failure/restoration costs is included.
IX. SUMMARY
Circuit breaker monitoring is playing an important role
in today’s maintenance and operation strategies. Monitoring
techniques are necessary to provide continuous or, at best, time
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 17, NO. 3, JULY 2002
based condition assessment. Properly applied circuit breaker
monitoring, whether it be online or off-line, can provide
benefits that outweigh the costs.
A new IEEE “Guide for the Selection of Monitoring for
Circuit Breakers” has been published. The methodologies
presented in this guide provide insight on the decision making
process for determining models. Risk, cost, and application
associated with circuit breakers must be carefully considered.
The practical examples presented show the difference be-
tween various circuit breakers. Certain circuit breaker proper-
ties, such as breaker type, often dictate monitoring options.
REFERENCES
[1] IEEE Guide for Selection of Monitoring for Circuit Breakers, IEEE Std.
C37.10.1-1995, Mar. 2001.
[2] “online condition monitoring of substation power equipment—Utility
needs,” Canadian Electricity Association (CEA), CEA Project
485T1049, Jan. 1997.
[3] CIGRE, “Final report of the second international inquiry on high voltage
circuit-breaker failures and defects in service,” CIGRE, June 1994.
[4] CIGRE Working Group 34.07, “Use of intelligent systems within sub-
stations,” ELECTRA, no. 181, Dec. 1992.
[5] C. Sweetser and D. Price, “A report on the present status and experience
with online diagnostics of circuit breakers,” in Proc. 67th Annual Int.
Conf. Doble Clients, sec. 4.1, 2000.
[6] W. J. Bergman, D. Peelo, J. Meehan, D. Short, and D. Eden, “A value
based methodology for selecting online condition monitoring of substa-
tion power equipment,” in Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Sub-
station Equipment Diagnostics Conf. V, New Orleans, LA, Feb. 17–19,
1997.
C. Sweetser (S’91–M’92), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.
W. J. (Bill) Bergman (S’67–M’83–SM’90), photograph and biography not
available at time of publication.
G. Montillet (M’71), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.
A. Mannarino (M’94), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.
E. J. O’Donnell (M’97), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.
R. William Long (M’72), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.
J. Nelson, photograph and biography not available at time of publication.
R. Gavazza (S’76–M’78), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.
R. Jackson (M’97), photograph and biography not available at time of
publication.