Surface Average Temperature Measurement of Cu-W Contact Material Burning in CO2: Preliminary Study

Authors

  • Y. Zhou Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, U. K
  • J. Humphries Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, U. K
  • J. Spencer Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, U. K
  • J. Yan Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GJ, U. K

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/ppt.2023.1.20

Keywords:

circuit breaker, CO2, switching arc, surface temperature

Abstract

The surface average temperature and the electrode temperature distribution are key parameters to predict the electrode erosion. Experimental research on the arc erosion has been carried out in a model circuit breaker, in which CO2 is filled in the chamber and Cu-W is used as the contact material. The surface average temperatures of plug contact exposed to electric arc with sinusoidal currents of 5kA were determined by a high-speed pyroscope. In order to establish a relationship between the average temperature of the contact surface and current squared, the data statistics and fitting curves in the current-rising and current-falling stages were given. It has been found that there are two different types of arc erosion processes by comparing the temperature-current squared curves. In other words, the structure of contact surface and the electrode material change significantly after repeated arc erosions.

References

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Published

2023-08-08

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 Y. Zhou, J. Humphries, J. Spencer, J. Yan

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