Abstract
The paper presents the layout of two opposing thyristors working as an Arc Eliminator (AE). The presented solution makes it possible to protect an electrical apparatus against the effects of an arcing fault. An Arc Eliminator is assumed to be a device cooperating with the protected apparatus. Thyristors were used because of their speed of operation and a relatively lower cost compared to other semiconductors with the same current-carrying capacity. The proposed solution, as one of the few currently available, makes it possible to eliminate the fault arc—both at short-circuit currents and current values to which overcurrent protections do not react. A test circuit was designed and made to study the effectiveness of the thyristor arc eliminator. A series of tests was carried out with variable impedance in the arc branch, including the influence of circuit inductance on arc time. It was found that the thyristor arc eliminator effectively protects devices powered from a low voltage power network against the effects of a fault or arc fault. The correctness of system operation for a wide range of impedance changes in the circuit feeding the arc location was demonstrated.
Highlights
IntroductionMost arcing faults in a power system can be described as large discharges of electrical energy between conductors
Arching faults in a power system that are associated with erroneous switching activities, accidental rapprochement or touching of active parts, as well as fatigue, insufficient concentration, and haste at work may contribute to short circuits directly [5]
If the arcing fault occurred before reaching the maximum value of the flowing current, the elimination time of the arc fault affects the amplitude of the current in the affected branch
Summary
Most arcing faults in a power system can be described as large discharges of electrical energy between conductors. Arching faults in a power system that are associated with erroneous switching activities, accidental rapprochement or touching of active parts, as well as fatigue, insufficient concentration, and haste at work may contribute to short circuits directly [5]. The occurrence of the electric arc phenomenon is accompanied by the release of significant energy, the effects of which may be the heating and destruction of the power equipment, as well as a sharp growth of pressure inside the enclosed elements. In addition to hazards to the devices (both in the switchgear and near the location of short circuit), this energy can be a threat to people in close proximity to the arcing (glare, burn) [6,7,8]
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