A feasibility study for probabilistic modeling of aging in circuit breakers for maintenance optimization

To support the maintenance optimization carried out within the framework of the reliability-centered asset management (RCAM) method this paper presents a feasibility study for the probabilistic modeling of the aging of circuit-breakers (CB). The aim of the study is to investigate the possibilities of the development of a reliability model for a CB, using failure data and maintenance records. A study of such statistics was carried out on all 565 CBs in the Swedish national grid (transmission level) during a time period ranging from 1999-01-01 to 2003-06-30. A total of 53 CB failures were identified and studied with respect to faulty subcomponent, CB function, number of operating cycles to failure and time in operation to failure. Results from this study are presented in this paper.