Title :
Physical processes at opening contacts
Author :
Samoilov, V. ; Akachev, S. ; Kapustin, V. ; Mestcheryakov, V.
Author_Institution :
Ulyanovsk State Univ., Russia
Abstract :
A recent paper investigated causes of high current arc immobility at opening contacts in air. It is shown that the main causes of immobility are small breaker opening speed and inertia of arc concerned with the presence of contact material vapors, metal droplets and plasma jets. Influence of external magnetic field on high current arc mobility in narrow interelectrode gap is analyzed. In this case it is found that the time of arc immobility may be decreased to 130 /spl mu/s at current equal to 2 kA.
Keywords :
circuit breakers; circuit-breaking arcs; drops; electrodes; wear; 130 mus; 2 kA; breaker opening speed; contact material vapors; external magnetic field; high current arc immobility; high current arc mobility; inertia of arc; metal droplets; narrow interelectrode gap; opening contacts; plasma jets; Circuit breakers; Contacts; Current limiters; Delay; Ignition; Inorganic materials; Magnetic fields; Magnetic materials; Plasma materials processing; Plasma measurements;
Conference_Titel :
Electrical Contacts, 1999. Proceedings of the Forty-Fifth IEEE Holm Conference on
Conference_Location :
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5549-0
DOI :
10.1109/HOLM.1999.795935
