Abstract
Pyro-breaker, a fast-responding, highly reliable and explosive-driven circuit breaker, is utilized in several Quench Protection Systems (QPS). The commutation process and its parameters are the main technical considerations in the process of designing a new pyro-breaker. The commutation parameters, such as the commutation time and the current change rate, are not only determined by the electrical parameters of the commutation circuit but also the arc behavior during the operation. The arc behavior is greatly affected by the structure and the driving mechanism of the Commutation Section (CS) in the pyro-breaker. The arc model was developed decades ago and the black-box arc model is considered a valid method to study arc behavior. In this paper, the Schavemaker black-box arc model, an improved Mayr-type arc model, is applied to study the commutation process of a newly designed pyro-breaker. Unlike normal circuit breakers, the arc discussed in this paper is discharged in deionized water. A parameter selection method is proposed. The practicability of the method is verified by numerical calculation in Power Systems Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) and experimentally.
Highlights
Motivation and IncitementDirect current (DC) power systems offer enhanced efficiency, reliability and simplicity over alternating current (AC) systems
Many studies have focused on the application of the black-box arc model in the analysis of arc behavior in circuit breakers
The application of the black-box arc model for this type of breaker, in which the arc ignites under water, remains to be explored
Summary
Direct current (DC) power systems offer enhanced efficiency, reliability and simplicity over alternating current (AC) systems. They have been adopted in aircrafts, ships, urban transit systems and nuclear power plants [1,2,3]. Due to the fast responsiveness and highly reliability of pyro-breakers, they have been adopted as backup breakers in Quench Protection Systems (QPS) in a number of superconducting fusion facilities [5,6,7,8,9]. When a quench phenomenon occurs, the enormous electromagnetic energy in the superconducting coil is converted to heat energy [10]. This causes irreversible damage to the superconducting coil.
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