Circuit breaker failure data and reliability modelling

The results from an extensive study of SF 6 and minimum-oil circuit breaker failures in the Swedish and Finnish transmission systems are presented. The study includes 1546 breakers with a total operating history of 16 384 years. In the study, a detailed analysis of a specific SF 6 type of breaker revealed which parts caused the failures and an estimation of their hazard rates was made. A model of complete reliability for this type of breaker is presented, illustrated by presenting the operating and maintenance history of a shunt reactor breaker in the Swedish transmission system.