Circuit breakers in the Bonneville power system

USE OF THE FACILITIES of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) network for tests of the Brown Boveri 230-kv air-blast circuit breaker at the switchyard of Grand Coulee powerhouse of the Bureau of Reclamation was motivated by the desire of all concerned to check the operating characteristics of a high-voltage, high-interrupting-capacity air-blast-type circuit breaker which has the following important advantages as compared with the conventional dead-tank-type oil circuit breaker: 1. absence of fire-hazardous oil; 2. decrease in oil storage facilities; and 3. ease of inspection of contacts and of maintenance and less frequent maintenance.