Investigation of the Dynamic Characteristics and Decaying Behavior of SF6 Arcs in High Voltage Circuit Breakers during Current-zero Period: a Review

Abstract

Whether a high voltage SF6 circuit breaker can successfully interrupt a fault current relates closely to the dynamic characteristics and decaying behavior of SF6 arcs and their residual plasma during the current-zero periods. The change of the gas in the contact gap from a conductor to a strong dielectric material involves a large number of fundamental scientific problems. Arc phenomenon is a complex process coupled with multiple physical fields. Its research is truly interdisciplinary. The understanding of the dynamic characteristics and decaying behavior of SF6 arcs during the current-zero period is far from adequate because of the difficulties encountered in both experimental and theoretical investigations, forming a bottleneck towards quantitative prediction of the interruption capability of SF6 circuit breakers. In the present work, a review was carried out on the calculation and measurement of the parameters of SF6 arcs in high voltage circuit breaker from the macroscopic and microscopic perspectives, especially their dynamic characteristics and decaying behavior under non-equilibrium conditions during the current-zero periods. Appropriate conclusions were drawn and future work was suggested.

Publication
Proceedings of the CSEE (in Chinese)
Date