Modelling of arcing phenomenon during contact opening in novel circuit breaker

Nan, Jing, Chen, George and Golosnoy, Igor (2023) Modelling of arcing phenomenon during contact opening in novel circuit breaker. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering (ISH 2023). IET Conference Publications. 390–395 . (doi:10.1049/icp.2024.0548).

Abstract

With the resurgence of interest in long-distance transmission and the integration of green energy projects into the power grid, high voltage DC (HVDC) technology has emerged as a promising solution. This is due to its lower investment cost and losses, as well as its superior controllability and stability compared to AC transmission systems. Consequently, equipment manufacturers and network operators are increasingly focused on high voltage DC circuit breakers as essential components for AC and DC grid interconnectivity and for interrupting DC faults without causing widespread power outages. However, challenges persist in breaking HVDC circuits during electrical faults, given the absence of zero crossings and the rapid spread of faults. Arcing is inevitable between the separating electrodes, and understanding its behaviour is crucial for the design of new switching devices. In this paper, we present a 2D arc model between two axisymmetric cylindrical copper electrodes and calculate the arc core resistance for a stationary arc. Subsequently, we propose a simplified analysis of the circuit breaker, effectively introducing the circuit with a variable arc resistor. This conceptual model can predict the commutation process and arc interruption using a straightforward circuit model with variable arc resistance.

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