Low current and reactive switching behaviour of rotating arc switchgear

• Main Authors: Ennis, M.G, Turner, D.R, Wood, J.K, Spencer, J, Jones, G.R
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Switchgear
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:19941056

In rotating arc switchgear, current interruption is brought about through the exploitation of the arc's own electromagnetic energy: the fault current energises a field winding to generate a field orthogonal to the arc. Rotation of the arc is then due to the circumferential Lorentz force produced by the axial field and radial arc current. During fault interruption, large currents are available to cause vary swift rotation of the arc, removing energy through convection to bring about extinction at current zero. The present study attempts to describe the behaviour of the arc in the low current regime, where the nature of the arc motion may be critical in determining high frequency interruption ability and hence the lifetime of the switch itself.