Estimation of dielectric recovery of fast opening commutating switches after short time arcs

Authors

  • K. Niayesh Department of Electric Energy, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
  • A. Usland Department of Electric Energy, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Keywords:

short time arc, fast opening switches, dielectric recovery

Abstract

Ultra-fast opening mechanical switches are proposed as key components for medium-voltage DC circuit breakers, enabling rapid fault current commutation to a parallel capacitor. After arc extinction in the commutating switch, the gas-filled gap is exposed to rapidly rising transient voltages, and the success of commutation depends on fast dielectric recovery. This paper presents a method to estimate the arc temperature at the time of arc extinction and its subsequent decay after full current interruption in a fast-elongating arc with short arcing times. A modified Lowke model, accounting for arc thermal inertia, is used to track the evolution of arc temperature and radius from arc initiation up to arc extinction. Post-extinction gas temperature decay is modeled using heat transfer in a simplified cylindrical geometry. Finally, the dielectric breakdown voltage of the gap is estimated via critical field theory, accounting for temperature-dependent breakdown fields.

References

[1] X. Pei, O. Cwikowski, D. S. Vilchis-Rodriguez, et al. A review of technologies for MVDC circuit breakers. In IECON 2016-42nd Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, pages 3799–3805. IEEE, 2016. doi:10.1109/IECON.2016.7793492.

[2] K. Niayesh. Green HV Switching Technologies for Modern Power Networks, volume 236. IET, 2023.

[3] R. P. Smeets and N. A. Belda. High-voltage direct current fault current interruption: A technology review. High Voltage, 6(2):171–192, 2021. doi:10.1049/hve2.12063.

[4] A. Kadivar and K. Niayesh. Effects of fast elongation on switching arcs characteristics in fast air switches. Energies, 13(18):4846, 2020. doi:10.3390/en13184846.

[5] M. Steurer, K. Frohlich, W. Holaus, and K. Kaltenegger. A novel hybrid current-limiting circuit breaker for medium voltage: principle and test results. IEEE transactions on power delivery, 18(2):460–467, 2003. doi:10.1109/TPWRD.2003.809614.

[6] W. Holaus and K. Frohlich. Ultra-fast switches-a new element for medium voltage fault current limiting switchgear. In 2002 IEEE Power Engineering Society Winter Meeting. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No. 02CH37309), volume 1, pages 299–304. IEEE, 2002. doi:10.1109/PESW.2002.985002.

[7] D. Jovcic. Fast commutation of dc current into a capacitor using moving contacts. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 35(2):639–646, 2020. doi:10.1109/TPWRD.2019.2919725.

[8] H.-J. Jang, Y.-H. Oh, K.-D. Song, and Y.-I. Kim. Prediction of reduced critical electric field strength of hot dry air in the temperature range 300–5000 K at 0.1 MPa for medium-voltage switchgear. AIP Advances, 10(4), 2020. doi:10.1063/1.5145146.

[9] J. Nan, G. Chen, and I. O. Golosnoy. Analysis of breakdown mechanisms in heated short air gaps during contact opening in compact DC circuit breakers. In 2024 IEEE 69th Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts (HOLM), pages 1–8. IEEE, 2024. doi:10.1109/HOLM56222.2024.10768674.

[10] A. Kadivar and K. Niayesh. Practical methods for electrical and mechanical measurement of high speed elongated arc parameters. Measurement, 55:473–486, 2014. doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2014.05.017.

[11] J. Lowke. Simple theory of free-burning arcs. Journal of physics D: Applied physics, 12(11):1873, 1979. doi:10.1088/0022-3727/12/11/016.

[12] P. M. Røren and K. Niayesh. Switching arc characteristics at load currents in air and a fluoroketone–air mixture. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 52(5):1815–1821, 2024. doi:10.1109/TPS.2024.3418141.

[13] T. Christen and M. Seeger. Current interruption limit and resistance of the self-similar electric arc. Journal of applied physics, 97(10), 2005. doi:10.1063/1.1913802.

[14] A. D’angola, G. Colonna, C. Gorse, and M. Capitelli. Thermodynamic and transport properties in equilibrium air plasmas in a wide pressure and temperature range. The European Physical Journal D, 46(1):129–150, 2008. doi:10.1140/epjd/e2007-00305-4.

[15] W. Hauer and X. Zhou. Re-ignition and post arc current phenomena in low voltage circuit breaker. In ICEC 2014; The 27th International Conference on Electrical Contacts, pages 1–6. VDE, 2014.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-05

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 K. Niayesh, A. Usland

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).