Title :
Shock waves in arc chambers of miniature circuit breakers
Author_Institution :
Sprecher & Schuh AG, Aarau, Switzerland
Abstract :
The arc quench chamber is the essential component of a miniature circuit breaker. (MCB). The generation of pressure waves in compact arc chambers is discussed. Shock waves are generated during the whole arcing time. They are caused by rapid arc motion between the arc runners and by arc ignitions. Based on shock wave theory and experimental investigations, it is shown that rapid arc motion in small arc chambers causes shock waves which can affect the arc motion. This effect strongly influences the attainable current limitations and the peak let-through current. It is possible to improve the switching performance of a given arc chamber if the effect of the pressure waves is reduced by means of a suitable design, for example with vents or slots in the side walls
Keywords :
circuit breakers; circuit-breaking arcs; MCB; arc chamber design; arc chute; arc ignitions; arc quench chamber; arc runners; attainable current limitations; compact arc chambers; experimental investigations; generation of pressure waves; miniature circuit breakers; peak let-through current; pressure waves reduction; rapid arc motion; shock wave theory; shock waves in arc chambers; small arc chambers; switching performance; vents; Breakdown voltage; Circuit breakers; Dielectric breakdown; Ignition; Low voltage; Magnetic forces; Power distribution; Shock waves; Steel; Thermal force;
Conference_Titel :
Electrical Contacts, 1990. Proceedings of the Thirty-Sixth IEEE Holm Conference on ... and the Fifteenth International Conference on Electrical Contacts
Conference_Location :
Montreal, Que.
DOI :
10.1109/HOLM.1990.113062
