Unit-1

Module – 2
ARC & SWITCHING
 Electric arc in CB
• electric arc is a visible plasma discharge
between two electrodes that is caused by
electrical current ionizing gasses in the air.

• arc consists of column of ionized gas having

molecules which have lost one or more
electrons .
 Contacts pressed at high pressure in
closed position

Pressure reduced. Hence contact area reduced.

Current concentrated on few spots of high current density.

Contacts separated, arc struck, arc is surrounded by ionized gas and hot column
of gas
• electrons (-vely charged) are attracted
towards positive contact (i.e. anode)

• electrons moving with high velocity on the

way to anode detach more electrons from
neutral gas atoms

• cumulative process
Initiation of arc in CB
1) High voltage gradient – field emission
• Heavy current flows in contacts of CB during fault
• Moving contact is separated
- contact area decreases
- resistance increases (but less than 1 ohm)
• large magnitude of fault current causes a high
potential drop
• voltage gradient attains a sufficiently high value
(106 V/cm) electrons are dislodged from cathode
surface
2) High temperature – thermionic emission

• Heavy current flows in contacts of CB during fault

• Moving contact is separated

- contact area decreases
- current density increases
- temperature increases

• Heated metal produces electrons – thermionic

emission
 Principles of Arc Extinction
• Factors responsible for maintenance of arc
1) p.d. between the contacts
2) ionized particles between contacts

• Arc can be extinguished by :

1) separate the contacts such that p.d. becomes
less – impracticable in high voltage systems
2) Removing the ionized particles
- cooling the arc
- bodily removing the ionized particles
 Methods of Arc Extinction
1) High resistance method:
resistance of arc is increased so as to reduce
the current to a value insufficient to maintain
arc
• cooling of arc
• lengthening the arc
• splitting the arc
• reducing the x-section of arc
• current interrupted – magnetic filed energy
appears in the form of electrostatic energy

- high voltage appears across CB contacts

- if gap b/w contacts cannot withstand high
voltage the arc will restrike again

• applicable only for low power ac and dc CB’s

2) current zero method:
• Applicable only in AC circuit interruption
At current zero the space between contacts is deionized by
introducing fresh unionized medium like
• Transformer oil
• Fresh air (may be at high pressure)
• SF6 gas
• Vacuum

Two theories
a. Recovery Rate theory (Slepain’s Theory)
b. Energy Balance theory (Cassie’s Theory)
a) Slepain’s theory:

• After current zero Transient Recovery Voltage (TRV) appears

across the contacts of the breaker

• The dielectric strength in between the contacts must build

up faster than TRV for the arc not to restrike

• Fast build up of dielectric strength is achieved by

incorporating a arc quenching medium(oil, air, SF6) inside the
CB

• At current zero, the space between contacts is deionized

quickly by introducing fresh unionized medium such as oil or
fresh air, or SF contacts.
• If rate of rise of TRV is more
rapid than that of dielectric
strength between the
contacts, ionization persists
and breakdown of gap occurs,
resulting in an arc

• Slepain’s theory is also

known as “RACE
THEORY”
Fig: TRV and dielectric strength race
b) Cassie’s Theory

• Arc will extinguish if rate of heat dissipation

between the contacts is greater than the rate at
which heat is generated

• Heat generation varies from time to time depending

upon position of CB contacts

• Heat generated is zero when the contacts are about

to open
• Heat generated is also zero after the arc extinction

• Heat generated reaches maximum between the

above mentioned limits (contacts about to open –
arc extinguished)

• If the heat so generated could be removed by

cooling, lengthening and splitting the arc at a rate
higher than heat generation, the arc is extinguished