Condition assessment of circuit breakers using a trip coil profiling approach

This paper highlights the benefits of the technique known as coil profiling. The experience gained through extensive field trials are discussed, and the future strategy for the condition assessment of circuit breakers within Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) is outlined. Coil profiling has provided a method which not only assists in the pin pointing of defects after failure, but can provide diagnostic information highlighting areas of potential failure which would otherwise have gone undetected. It is a technique which has proved both reliable and accurate and lends itself to a variety of maintenance strategies. There are many devices on the market which can record coil current profiles. This paper does not attempt to recommend a specific product, as the merits of each is dependant upon the strategy employed