Age-dependent maintenance strategies of medium-voltage circuit-breakers and transformers

• Published in: Electric power systems research 2011-08, Vol.81 (8), p.1709-1714
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiang, Gockenbach, Ernst
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Applied sciences; Circuit-breaker; Connection and protection apparatus; Cost; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Failure rate; Maintenance strategy; Transformer; Transformers and inductors
• ISSN: 0378-7796; 1873-2046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epsr.2011.03.018

► The general life and reliability models of electrical equipment are essential to evaluate their actual conditions. ► Available maintenance models of ageing equipment shall be found to describe actual maintenance actions in time-series processes. ► A functional relationship between failure rate and maintenance measures is developed for electrical equipment. ► The calculation results show the value of using a systematic quantitative approach for investigating the effect of different maintenance strategies. The general life and reliability models of electrical equipment are essential to evaluate their actual conditions because of the degradation of equipment. To optimize the maintenance strategies for maximal reliability and minimal cost in a quantitative way, available maintenance models of ageing equipment shall be found to describe actual maintenance actions in time-series processes. In particular, a functional relationship between failure rate and maintenance measures is to be developed for electrical equipment. This paper demonstrates some actual examples by applying these models and the results show the value of using a systematic quantitative approach to investigate the effect of different maintenance strategies.