Arc Energy in High Voltage Circuit Breakers

Abstract

This work is devoted to the study of the energy balance at the opening of an SF6 circuit breaker. A new model is proposed to simulate the thermal exchanges involved around the current zero as a function of time. The theoretical basis of this model consists of the coupling of the electric and thermal equations of the arc plasma, which takes into account all forms of energy that are likely to be involved. The model is particularly focused on the energy radiated by the arc and comparison of this energy with the other forms of energy. The results obtained are found to be in good agreement with measurements performed by other authors.