No it wouldn't have been under load they would have been doing a timing test more than likely after a maintenance. There is something very satisfying when you get the chance to set one off which you dont get with an SF6 breaker. The big problem is these days new equipment is made to spec whereas breakers like the Frame R and OBR60 are of solid British build.
I see the circuit breaker operate but I'm guessing it was not under load as it would not be safe to energise it up to 274kv with all that scaffolding around it!?
We have OBR60's where I work and they are pretty impressive.Most of them have been refurbished so should be good for a few more years!On the 400Kv side it is GIS,relatively old,and Im told its been quite problem free over the years.
Impressing, but the modern SF6 breakers are much smaller, needs probably much less maintenance, and has better breaking capabilities. ;-) Still they are quite impressive and noisy when operating...
The only problem with SF6 is the enviromental impact from leaks. Im not convinced myself about the longterm future of SF6. I have seen many GIS substations with SF6 bottles connected 24/7 because of leaky zones. They are fine for the first ten years and then the rubber seals start leaking. I work in HV maintenance so im slightly bias, SF6 doesnt have the engineering character of the old equipment. Flimsy and built to be just about good enough.
@gamesman12 Hi again, I'm not fully objective here, I work with testing of these equipments so I see many or all of the new products, aswell as many of the old. I won't argue about your points above, but the story about leakage sounds horrific...allowed leakage is less than 1/1000 of total SF6 per year. My experience is that this is true when the maintenance plan is used, maybe more for live tank breakers, little suspisious about dead tanks and GIS...
To be fair the majority of problems ive heard of are based on GIS built in the 80's 90's where they arent able to deal with the movement of the ground. As the structure of the substation has moved over time the Zones then become strained and leaks occur. Whether thats caused by poor construction or the equipments ability to deal with movement im not sure. .
@gamesman12 Hello, I've not seen so many field installations of GIS, although I've seen many types in testing aswell as one factory. Your theory about strain between different sections due to movement of the ground seems plausible. GIS are mostly impressive and looks sturdy enough. but as I said, I prefer air-insulated products. Wish I could post som clips of our testing, but then I would be out of a job.
@HPL420 We dont get much info on what is coming in the future in terms of switchgear. In the UK they always talk about GIS and SF6 being only used for new installations until the goverment cracks down on SF6 usage. We have often hear of air blast becoming popular again but the cost would be massive! Im lucky i get to work on lots of types of switch gear. Currently we are refurbishing frame r T6, OBR60 and 275kv isolators so that they last another 25 year. I love working on the old equipment
@gamesman12 I also think the cost would be huge if everything containing SF6 would be replaced, especially with air, but I've seen modified breakers with other gas than SF6, also vacuum tech. Up to 145 kV this is realistic today, we'll see in the close future what will happen. For normal switchtgears I think it will be different solutions, quite cheap, but inside cities it will be hard to replace GIS easy, some new thinking and strategy is needed.
We have (had?) one of these air-blast breakers at a 500kV station in Fredrick, MD. Much taller, I'll have to find the photos I took of it. This was several years ago, I'm not even sure that air-breaker is still there. The main interuptors were those large, old beer keg-looking switches, atop the bushings, I think those are all gone too. I have not seen that station since 1999.
@HPL420 Yes but SF6 is extremely bad for the environment, oil is also messy and bad when you have a spill/fire air blast are the cleanest breakers to work on and most environmentally friendly, just more expensive.....
@MrsSparkesxo I agree about the enviroment, SF6 has approx.22-23.000 times greater impact on the atmosphere than CO2, but the performance and size of the SF6 breaker is just too good today. None of the new installations all over the world, and it's a lot, could do without this breaker today. All major manufactures today face a similiar problem as the car-industry, a good replacement of the excisting technology. I think we have this in a few years in the area of 145 kV and below to start with.
@HPL420 Just too good? ok explain this to me then, 8 feeder breakers in a transmission station, 44kv, 7 are KSO's (oil) and only 1 is SF6 (ABB) this is the only one weve had to do maintenance on 5 times in the past year while the KSO's havent given us a hiccup... and they are circa 1945.... while the ABB is from the 90's for christ sake.... just keeps leaking and leaking no matter how many times we seem to replace the seals they just seem to be cheap shit for lack of a better term.....
@MrsSparkesxo If that's the case with the ABB SF6 breaker I would contact ABB to ask them for an explanation, that breaker should last up to 2, 5 or 10.000 op. without replacing any vital parts. I would agree that it is unaccepteble.
Its connected to a timing test machine which checks everything operates correctly. The circuit breaker works by using 6 interuptors which open when high pressure air is applied to them. The bang you get is the high pressure air coming out of the breaker after is has blown the electricity arc out
Stick hot dogs and marshmellows in the mechanism and repeat the test. Extinguish quickly and serve.
hyvahyva 1 week ago
No it wouldn't have been under load they would have been doing a timing test more than likely after a maintenance. There is something very satisfying when you get the chance to set one off which you dont get with an SF6 breaker. The big problem is these days new equipment is made to spec whereas breakers like the Frame R and OBR60 are of solid British build.
wtfalconer 1 month ago
big science :-)
meggerbiddle 1 month ago
I see the circuit breaker operate but I'm guessing it was not under load as it would not be safe to energise it up to 274kv with all that scaffolding around it!?
soundseeker63 3 months ago
Wow that's awesome, I'm a electrician myself and think I can compare this to when a MCB operates.
Gavdudd 4 months ago
We have OBR60's where I work and they are pretty impressive.Most of them have been refurbished so should be good for a few more years!On the 400Kv side it is GIS,relatively old,and Im told its been quite problem free over the years.
rossw46uk 7 months ago
Impressing, but the modern SF6 breakers are much smaller, needs probably much less maintenance, and has better breaking capabilities. ;-) Still they are quite impressive and noisy when operating...
HPL420 8 months ago
@HPL420 Hi mate,
The only problem with SF6 is the enviromental impact from leaks. Im not convinced myself about the longterm future of SF6. I have seen many GIS substations with SF6 bottles connected 24/7 because of leaky zones. They are fine for the first ten years and then the rubber seals start leaking. I work in HV maintenance so im slightly bias, SF6 doesnt have the engineering character of the old equipment. Flimsy and built to be just about good enough.
gamesman12 8 months ago
@gamesman12 Hi again, I'm not fully objective here, I work with testing of these equipments so I see many or all of the new products, aswell as many of the old. I won't argue about your points above, but the story about leakage sounds horrific...allowed leakage is less than 1/1000 of total SF6 per year. My experience is that this is true when the maintenance plan is used, maybe more for live tank breakers, little suspisious about dead tanks and GIS...
HPL420 8 months ago
@HPL420 Hi again mate,
To be fair the majority of problems ive heard of are based on GIS built in the 80's 90's where they arent able to deal with the movement of the ground. As the structure of the substation has moved over time the Zones then become strained and leaks occur. Whether thats caused by poor construction or the equipments ability to deal with movement im not sure. .
gamesman12 8 months ago
@gamesman12 Hello, I've not seen so many field installations of GIS, although I've seen many types in testing aswell as one factory. Your theory about strain between different sections due to movement of the ground seems plausible. GIS are mostly impressive and looks sturdy enough. but as I said, I prefer air-insulated products. Wish I could post som clips of our testing, but then I would be out of a job.
HPL420 8 months ago
@HPL420 We dont get much info on what is coming in the future in terms of switchgear. In the UK they always talk about GIS and SF6 being only used for new installations until the goverment cracks down on SF6 usage. We have often hear of air blast becoming popular again but the cost would be massive! Im lucky i get to work on lots of types of switch gear. Currently we are refurbishing frame r T6, OBR60 and 275kv isolators so that they last another 25 year. I love working on the old equipment
gamesman12 8 months ago
@gamesman12 I also think the cost would be huge if everything containing SF6 would be replaced, especially with air, but I've seen modified breakers with other gas than SF6, also vacuum tech. Up to 145 kV this is realistic today, we'll see in the close future what will happen. For normal switchtgears I think it will be different solutions, quite cheap, but inside cities it will be hard to replace GIS easy, some new thinking and strategy is needed.
HPL420 8 months ago
@HPL420
We have (had?) one of these air-blast breakers at a 500kV station in Fredrick, MD. Much taller, I'll have to find the photos I took of it. This was several years ago, I'm not even sure that air-breaker is still there. The main interuptors were those large, old beer keg-looking switches, atop the bushings, I think those are all gone too. I have not seen that station since 1999.
NathanH5 4 months ago
@HPL420 Yes but SF6 is extremely bad for the environment, oil is also messy and bad when you have a spill/fire air blast are the cleanest breakers to work on and most environmentally friendly, just more expensive.....
MrsSparkesxo 1 month ago
@MrsSparkesxo I agree about the enviroment, SF6 has approx.22-23.000 times greater impact on the atmosphere than CO2, but the performance and size of the SF6 breaker is just too good today. None of the new installations all over the world, and it's a lot, could do without this breaker today. All major manufactures today face a similiar problem as the car-industry, a good replacement of the excisting technology. I think we have this in a few years in the area of 145 kV and below to start with.
HPL420 1 month ago
@HPL420 Just too good? ok explain this to me then, 8 feeder breakers in a transmission station, 44kv, 7 are KSO's (oil) and only 1 is SF6 (ABB) this is the only one weve had to do maintenance on 5 times in the past year while the KSO's havent given us a hiccup... and they are circa 1945.... while the ABB is from the 90's for christ sake.... just keeps leaking and leaking no matter how many times we seem to replace the seals they just seem to be cheap shit for lack of a better term.....
MrsSparkesxo 1 month ago
@MrsSparkesxo If that's the case with the ABB SF6 breaker I would contact ABB to ask them for an explanation, that breaker should last up to 2, 5 or 10.000 op. without replacing any vital parts. I would agree that it is unaccepteble.
HPL420 1 month ago
I love these, we've got the 400kV frame R's and there's nothing more satisfying than tripping one of these. An SF6 breaker just isn't the same.
Eddiecurrent2000 1 year ago
Its connected to a timing test machine which checks everything operates correctly. The circuit breaker works by using 6 interuptors which open when high pressure air is applied to them. The bang you get is the high pressure air coming out of the breaker after is has blown the electricity arc out
gamesman12 5 years ago
what exatly is doing that
deckoland 5 years ago