Forecasting of Circuit-Breaker Behaviour in High-Voltage Electrical Power Systems: Necessity for Future Maintenance Management

Abstract

Two research projects were started in order to investigate new methods of maintenance management. The first project was finished in April 1999, dealing with the problem of relating the information of individual devices with their importance in the complete system. The combination of both sets of information is the aim of reliability centred maintenance (RCM). More important devices can be maintained more frequently than those of less importance, leading to reduced maintenance costs but retaining a high level of reliability of the system. The question of how new methods of maintenance influence behaviour in future, cannot be answered right now. The forecasting of the behaviour of circuit-breakers will now be investigated in a further project in the field of maintenance management. A software model will be developed in strong co-ordination with partners of some electrical power system utilities. The model shall include the simulation of the behaviour of circuit-breakers in the future regarding maintenance activities as well as the operational stresses of the present. This paper will give an overview of the actual activities and aims of the project. Main activities have been the definition of investigated circuit-breaker types and the methodology for the starting steps of the project.