DCRM Test as

Condition
Assessment Tool
 Primary Functions of Circuit
Breakers

• Carry Rated Current at rated Voltage and

rated Frequency
• Interrupt rated current at rated Voltage and
Frequency
• Interrupt fault currents depending on the
fault level of that particular location.
• Maintain rated dielectric (power and
impulse voltages) in open condition.
CB Operation
Arc Energy
Erosion of the Contacts
 A Look at Contact Assembly…
Incoming
Outgoing
Flange
Flange

Main
Contact, Main
Moving Contact,
Fixed
Arcing Fixed
Arcing
Moving Contact, contact
contact,
contact Moving Holder
Fixed
Holder
INTERRUPTER DESIGN
Main and Arcing Contacts
Typical Operating Links
Driving Mechanism
Operation of Pneumatic Drive
CB in closed condition
Hydraulic Operating Mechanism
Condition Monitoring through DCRM
Healthy Contacts of CB after 16
years
Contact Condition of CB after 16
Years
Some CB contacts even after 16
years of service
Eroded finger contact after 7-8
years
Old

New
PROBLEMS IN CB AFTER 7-8
YEARS
 NEED FOR DCRM
During normal contact resistance
measurement, healthiness of main
contacts is evaluated
Req = R*r/(R+r)= r/(1+r/R), r = Main contact
R = Arcing contacts
DCRM signatures/finger prints indicate
true condition of CB arcing contacts.
Arcing contact play vital role during CB
operation
DYNAMIC CONTACT RESISTANCE
MEASUREMENT (DCRM)
 CONTACT RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT DURING
CLOSING AND TRIPPING OPERATION. C-O DELAY
TIME ABOUT 300MS.

 100 AMP CURRENT IS INJECTED THROUGH CB

CONTACTS.

 VOLTAGE DROP AND CURRENT IS MEASURED TO

COMPUTE CONTACT RESISTANCE.

 VARIATION IN FINGER PRINT OF DCRM INDICATE

PROBLEM IN ARCING AND MAIN CONTACTS.
 A Look at Contact Assembly…
Incoming
Outgoing
Flange
Flange

Main
Contact, Main
Moving Contact,
Fixed
Arcing Fixed
Arcing
Moving Contact, contact
contact,
contact Moving Holder
Fixed
Holder
Basic connection arrangement
for DCRM Measurement
 DCRM Equipment

CB

DCRM
PC
CB Analyser
Memory
Bank

PRINTER
DCRM CONNECTION
ARRANGEMENT
 Requirement of 10kHZ sampling
frequency
• While current transfers from main to arcing
contacts, there is sudden increase in the
dynamic resistance value resulting in the
resistance peak of about 0.20 to 0.30ms
width.
• To accurately plot this peak, we require
resistance measurement/ sampling atleast
once every 0.1ms. This corresponds to
10kHz sampling frequency.
• During Contact travel, to record travel
measurements with 1mm
resolution(10mm/msec), this require
sampling every 0.1 ms and hence
requirement of 10kHz.
 DCRM can detect…
• Erosion of Arcing Contact
• Erosion of main contact
• Contact misalignments
• Contact wipe of main and arcing
contact
• Main & arcing contact resistance
• Healthiness of damping system
• Contact travel & speed
420kV INTERRUPTER OPENING
OPERATION
BHEL Moving Contact
Contact Configuration
Tie Rod

Loosening of Tie Rod

Driving Mechanism
 Precautions to be taken while
carrying out DCRM test
• DCRM kit with sampling frequency of
10kHz(atleast) to be used.
• DCRM to be taken for CO operation.
• CO delay time to be atleast 300ms hence
requiring plot length of about 450ms.
• CB flanges where Current and Voltage cables are
to be connected, should be thoroughly cleaned
by CTC etc.
• Connection should be done only on Interrupter
flanges and not on PIR or grading Capacitor
flanges.
• Current leads to be connected outside whereas
Voltage leads to be connected inside.
 DCRM
Case Studies
 Case Study-1
• 400kV SF6 CB commissioned in 1997 was controlling
Bus Reactor.
• CB had given about 8 years service with 1400
operations.
Healthy Pole
Suspected Pole
 Observations
• Moving Arcing contact was found de-shaped and
had expanded
• One Counter Head Screw of Moving Main Contact
assembly was found loose
• PTFE Nozzle of moving contact assembly found
cracked.
• Scratch marks were also seen on Main Moving
Contact
De-shaped Arcing Contact
Loose Screw and marks on main
contact
Case Study-2
 Chamera –I tie bay CB at
Jalandhar s/s tested in Jan,07
Operating drive of the pole was opened
– The Bottom seal Rod of operating drive was found
opened from bottom seal assembly.
– Bottom seal Rod was not properly fitted and got
opened during the operation of the pole
– The Transducer travel problem of the pole got
rectified. The DCRM signature at this time got
improved yet some bounces were still observed
– It was decided to open the Double Arc Chamber (DAC)
of the pole.
– The DAC was opened on 04.02.2007. After opening the
DAC the Allen bolt of Coupling piece of Chamera side
interrupter chamber was found loose.
– In addition the Teflon Nozzle of this interrupter
chamber was found damaged.
– The Teflon Nozzle was replaced and the Bolt was
tightened properly.
Hitting marks on PTFE Nozzle
Disengaged coupling bolt
DCRM after rectification
Case Study-3
Y phase Bus side at Hiriyur s/s
detected in May,07
Y phase CT side at Hiriyur s/s
detected in May,07
Moving Contact Assembly- Band
on Contact Ring
Coupling Bolt loose
Loose Bolt
Bus side Interrupter
Y phase CT side after rectification
Y phase Bus side at Hiriyur s/s
detected in May,07
 Case Study-4

Jamshedpur Substation on
26.04.2007
DCRM Y phase CT side
Damage on Moving Contact
Assembly
Damage on Finger and Arcing
Contact Assembly
Damaged Fixed Contact
Moving Contact Assembly Nuts
loose
Nut found loose
Case Study-5
B phase Isolator side taken on
29.05.2007
B phase CT side taken on
29.05.2007
Close Operation
Fixed and Moving Arcing Contacts
Moving Contacts
Loose Moving Arcing Contact
CT side taken on 09.06.2007
Isolator side taken on
09.06.2007
 Internal Inspection of CBs

• About 49 nos. CBs have been opened so far

based on DCRM evaluations.
• Erosion of Contacts, Misalignment, loose
connection etc. problems were observed.
• Timely inspection of CBs could help in
rectification of CBs and hence avoiding
major failures.
 Conclusion
• DCRM Test (non-invasive diagnosis) for
CBs proved useful in indicating condition of
main/ arcing contacts for erosion,
misalignment and looseness etc.
• Prevention of Major failures by timely
diagnosis
• Major overhauling of Interrupters/ Arcing
chamber can be decided based on DCRM
Thank you very much for
your kind attention please