We have substation of 110KV/11KV of 8 MVA transformer (Dyn11) catering of nearly 4000KVA power. There is one 800A 11KV VCB in the secondary of this transformer. This 11KV vacuum circuit breaker has failed while it is working. Suddenly huge blasting with chattering sound heard from breaker. The operator gone to check it found the power supply was tripped from our supply grid, and severe fire occurred in the breaker. After fire extinguished, the breaker was checked and found completely damaged. When checked the trip history of 11KV VCB the over current amp was only 800A. Our optimum load current is only 220Amps.

All three vacuum interrupters were totally damaged and breaker assembly collapsed. There are melt holes found in copper flat above the Vacuum interrupters. The melt holes may be due to flashed metal from VIs, but it could not be concluded. But there are no arc damages found in finger contact stub and prong of the breaker incoming and out going.

If we suspect this is due to short circuit, again doubt comes. Because the breaker structure is has good plastic molded separators and bus bars are insulated.

So we couldn't find the root cause of this incident. We need your expertise to find the root cause of this incident.

 

It sounds as if no one was injured--and that's the best thing about the failure!

Have you reviewed the maintenance report(s) for the breaker that failed? Was there anything in the reports that suggested there was a problem with the mechanism or the vacuum interrupters?

In my experience with vacuum circuit breakers, most failures are the result of mechanical failures with alignment of parts during an opening/closing operation, or a leak of the vacuum interrupter causing a loss of vacuum and an ingress of air (oxygen), or a serious problem with the electrical switchgear or short or ground.

Breaker maintenance records might show a trend which was overlooked which could help to explain the problem. But, really, you should be contacting the OEM or a reputable third-party for help with analyzing the issue. There are a LOT of intangibles we can never know or anticipate from afar, and a single pair of experienced eyes on site could spot very quickly.

Best of luck with your analysis! If you discover the root cause, it would be great if you could write back with details.

 

It sounds like a vacuum interrupter failure. When was the last time that the vacuum bottles were tested?

 

Without a proper investigation, I would only be speculating:

Questions:

1. Did the breaker fail during an operation or did it fail while in open or closed state?

2. At the time of the incident, did you have one or more unloaded transformers downstream (transformer energised but secondary open)?

3. Is there a 11kV cap bank?

If failed during an operation (specially during opening), it could be due to:

1. loss of vacuum resulting in unsuccessful interruption and consequently explosive failure. However, all 3 bottles losing vacuum concurrently is improbable.

2. Slow operating mechanism resulting in longer arc time.

3. Defective arcing contacts resulting in interruption duty being passed onto main contacts.

4. Unsuccessfully interrupting small inductive current (current chopping).

If failed while in closed state, it could be due to:

1. Hot main contacts resulting from insufficient contact pressure.

 

I experienced 2 repetitive faults in Tamco 11kV Bus Coupler CB Vaccum interrupter failure ( all 3) during CB in Open status. Both occasions all 3 damaged. I did not change VI, I simply replaced the CB. Any reason for this? [ Model No: VK 10J20H, Year: 1999 & 2010 ]

 

rmthilna...
1) Were there any warning VCB alarms prior to the failure ?
2) Can you provide a test/maintenance history of the VCB's ?
3) Have you contacted Tamco?
Regards, Phil Corso

 

1) Were there any warning VCB alarms prior to the failure? No alarms as such in the panel on VCB condition
2) Can you provide a test/maintenance history of the VCB's ? We don't do any maintenance on VCB except check IR. Kindly let me know what is test needs to integrate into our maintenance in the future.
3) Have you contacted Tamco? Yes but no response from Malaysia so I have written recently to Australia.

Further I am hoping to replace the Vaccum bottles next weekfrom our spares.

 

Rmthilina...
How abut some details:
Q1) Single-line Diagram, (even a sketch will do)?
Q2) Extent of damage. example was switchgear cubicle damaged?
Q3) Breaker rating, kV, Amperes,?
Q4) kV and Amperes if on-line at the time.
Q5) Breaker Service: Generator, Xfmr, Feeder, Tie-line, other.
Q6) When did failure occur; when "closing", "opening", "racking into cubicle"?
Q7) What Alarms, and Protection relays responded; maybe a S.E.R. (Sequence Of Events Recorder) is present?
Q8) Photos?
Phil Corso

 

Rmthilina...
How abut some details:
Q1) Single-line Diagram, (even a sketch will do)? - Attached.
Q2) Extent of damage. example was switchgear cubicle damaged? All 3 vacuum bottles damaged. No damaged to the Cubical or the CB metallic parts. This shows it was not earth fault. But short circuit. Heaters did not function at the time of explosion. So suspect moisture might have created a path.
Q3) Breaker rating, kV, Amperes,? 11 kV, 630 A
Q4) kV and Amperes if on-line at the time. Breaker was in Off condition
Q5) Breaker Service: Generator, Xfmr, Feeder, Tie-line, other. Bus Coupler
Q6) When did failure occurred; when "closing", "opening", "racking into cubicle"? None. It was blasted without any operation being tried. Even the 2nd breaker got damaged in the same way within 3 months span.
Q7) What Alarms, and Protection relays responded; maybe an S.E.R. (Sequence Of Events Recorder) is present? Over Current
Q8) Photos? Attached.
Phil Corso

 

Rmthilina...
It appears that you have presented the most probable cause... water exposure ! I don't believe I can be of further help!
Phil Corso