Basics of Arcing

Agenda
• Circuit interruption and intro to Arcing
• Breaking philosophies and techniques
– Breaking medium vs Voltage
• Phases of Arcing
 Arcing Phenomena

Arc manifests itself in the form of High temperature plasma with a variable resistance.
A part of arc energy goes in raising the gas pressure inside the breaker.
As the Peak current and the on times are changed the pressure rise would change as well.
 Arc formation

Bridge Ruptures
Molten Bridge Forms Bridge elongates
Arc forms
Plasma composition
Plasma dynamic conductivity
Arc anatomy

+
- -
 Material transfer
• Factors governing material transfer:
– Polarity
– Contact gap
– Material

Small gap Large gap Material

Anodic Material A  C A  C Ag, Au, Cu

Cathodic material A  C C  A Pd, Ni, Pt

Arcing media comparison
 Various phases of arcing

• to : Time till repulsion threshold

• ti : Immobility time (Arc on button)
• tr : Running time (Arc elongation)
• ts : Splitting in de-ion plates and
quenching.
Arcing is a dynamic phenomena in time and space, which manifests
itself in the form of a high temperature plasma.
Arc Voltage- The Elements

Voltage drop at roots of split arc in arc-chute

Voltage drop of arc column/length

Voltage drop at contact buttons

Velectrodes = 18-25 V
Vcolumn = 2.3-3 V/mm
Process of Arc Splitting
 Importance of pull created by deion-
plates

High force is needed in this direction

Higher force on arc, towards the deion plates would result in higher arc voltage
build-up at a faster rate which would further limit the current.
Post Arc Phenomenon
Ideal
C
Interruption Ideal Interruption
on Co
du nd
Cu cti uc
rre vit Cu tiv
nt y rre i ty
nt
 Race Theory
Since both TRV and the Dielectric Strength of the medium rises w.r.t. time, there is
a race between the two. Depending upon which one rises faster than the other,
there will be a restrike or the attenuation of the TRV
 Pressure rise due to arcing
500000
450000
400000
350000
Pressure (Pa)

300000
250000
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
0 1 2 3 4300 350 400
Arcing time (ms)

 Cassette must withstand high

pressures in small volume
• Peak pressure = 4.5 atm

High stresses on plastic due to

pressure rise
 The Elements of Let-through
Let-through

Peak of limited current On-time

Rate of rise of arc voltage Peak arc voltage

Contact profile Contact Gap

Contact pressure Number of splits
Repulsion enhancements Arc cooling
Magnetic Forces Electrode fall voltage
Gas Pressure
Arc Cooling

Arc voltage build-up is of prime importance

Asymmetricity
Top Envelope
DC Offset

Bottom Envelope
 Current limiting
• a circuit-breaker with a break-time short enough to prevent
the short-circuit current reaching its otherwise attainable
peak value

to
DC Arc quenching
 Fast Short Standardized Value Slow Short Circuit
Circuit used in IEC 60947-2
L/R Time Constant 5 ms 15 ms 30 ms
Arc Chamber design
Deion plate
 Mechanism of Force on arc

Isolated arc with circular cross-section

 Vector Plots

Flux density Force

Arc-Plate interaction
 Vector plot of Force on the arc

Nett force in
upward direction

F=JxB
J = Current density
B = Flux density in the region
 Differential Flux Density distribution

Flux
Flux
Force
Linkages
Density

A good profile is one which gives maximum differential flux density distribution over the two
semi-circular sections of an arc
 Deion plate number
• Depends upon
– Available space in arc chamber
– Thickness of plate
– Gap between plates
• Would impact
– Arc voltage pattern

Rule of Thumb: Gap between de-ion plates should be at-least

equal to the thickness of each plate.
 Relative sizes

ACB MCCB MCB

Venting arrangements
 Plasma Constitution (A. D’Angola method)
0.9 N2
N2+
0.8 N
N+
0.7
N++
0.6 N+++
N+++
Molar Fraction

0.5 +
O2
0.4 O2+
O2-
0.3 O
O-
0.2 O+
O++
0.1 O++
O+++
0 O+++
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 +
NO
Plasma Temp K e-
Effect of Pressure and Temperature

Pure Air
Nitrogen species
N2 N N2+ N+ N++ N+++ N++++
Oxygen species
O2 O O2+ O2- O- O+ O++ O+++ O++++
Combined…
NO NO+
e-

Number Density –
Degree of concentration of molecules or species
 Ionisation & De-ionisation
Molar Fraction Vs Temperature
1

Effect of pressure –
For 15000 K,
1 bar - 0.35
0.8
5 bar - 0.65
At same temperature, more neutral
Neutral – 5 molecule at HIGHER pressure.
Molar Fraction

0.6 bar & 15000 Higher pressure drop for vents

K desirable.
Effect of temperature –
0.4
Neutral - 1 For 1 bar ,
bar & 15000 10000 K - 0.9
K 15000 K - 0.35
0.2
At same pressure, more neutral
molecule at LOWER temperature.
Higher heat dissipation in arc chamber
desirable.
0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000

Temperature (K)
 Pressure loss across the Vent

ΔP=(p1-p2)

P1 P2 Vent unit Outlet

inlet Duct Outlet Duct

36
Examples
Actual Unit Equivalent
test unit

ACB

ACB
 Equivalent
Actual Unit
test unit

ACB

ACB
 Actual Unit Equivalent
test unit

MCCB

MCCB

MCCB
Vent design consideration

Velocity profile

Change in Velocity
 Vent design consideration

Pressure (Pa)

Arcing time (ms)

Vent size, location and shape should

aim for a balance between effective
deionization and pressure withstand
of arc chamber.

High stresses on plastic due to

pressure rise
 Ablatives
Ablation is removal of material from the surface of
an object by vaporization, chipping, or other
erosive processes.

Common ablatives used in LV switchgear:

– Nylon (PA6/PA6-6)
– Delrin (POM)
– Teflon (PTFE)
– Polyphthalamide (PPA)
• Electromagnetic Basics
• Lorentz and holms forces
• Reversal loop-current limiting
• Multi-finger {Multi-a-spot} (withstand)
• Helmholtz coil

• 690V
– Arc voltage build-up
– Chamber withstand
– Dielectric breakdown prevention
Electromagnetic fields
Electromagnetic forces
Lorentz’s force
Holm’s forces
Magnetic Repulsion design
 Magnetic Repulsion design
• Slot motor Design
Helm-Holtz Coil
Electromagnetic forces
Contact arrangement for
withstand
Magnetic Withstand design
Multi Finger Analysis
Test data interpretation
Sample test-report
Severity of 690V

Standing Arc @ 690 V, 20 kA

 Higher voltage; Salient points
• Higher system voltage results in higher:
– Peak current
– Arcing time
– Arc energy (VIdt)
– Let through (I2t)

• As a result, di-electric strength in the contact gap is

deteriorated

• Stronger electric field in the gap then leads to re-strike

resulting in standing arc
 Recap
• Nature of electric arc
• Interruption

• Various interruption media

• TRV and Race theory; Influence of system parameters
• Current limiting technique & construction
• Test data interpretation
Thank you