Course Overview:
This course covers the essential knowledge and skills required for the safe operation, inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting of high voltage circuit breakers. Participants will learn about the types, construction, and operating principles of HV circuit breakers, as well as best practices for preventive maintenance to ensure reliability and safety in power systems.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the types and operating principles of high voltage circuit breakers
- Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance
- Identify common faults and troubleshoot circuit breaker issues
- Conduct operational tests and maintenance procedures
- Apply safety standards and protocols during operations
- Improve breaker reliability and service life through proper maintenance
Who Should Attend:
- Electrical maintenance technicians and engineers
- Substation operators
- Power system engineers
- Plant and facility maintenance personnel
- Reliability and asset management engineers
- Safety officers involved in electrical operations
Course Outline:
Introduction to High Voltage Circuit Breakers
- Role and importance in power systems
- Types of HV circuit breakers: oil, SF6, vacuum, and air blast
- Basic construction and key components
- Operating principles and switching mechanisms
Operation of High Voltage Circuit Breakers
- Opening and closing sequences
- Control circuits and interlocks
- Manual vs. automatic operation
- Remote operation and monitoring
Inspection and Routine Maintenance
- Visual and mechanical inspections
- Lubrication and contact wear assessment
- Cleaning and tightening of connections
- Testing of auxiliary and control devices
Diagnostic Testing and Condition Monitoring
- Contact resistance and insulation testing
- Timing and travel tests
- Gas pressure and density checks (for SF6 breakers)
- Partial discharge and thermal imaging inspections
Troubleshooting Common Faults
- Causes and symptoms of mechanical and electrical faults
- Addressing contact welding, misalignment, and sticking
- Control circuit malfunctions
- Emergency operation procedures
Safety and Operational Best Practices
- Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Arc flash prevention and safety standards
- Safe work planning and risk assessments
Maintenance Planning and Record Keeping
- Scheduling preventive and predictive maintenance
- Documentation and reporting of maintenance activities
- Lifecycle management and refurbishment strategies
- Case studies of failure analysis