Interruption of Weakly Cooled Arcs in Air and Airplus

Authors

  • N. Ranjan ABB Switzerland Ltd, Corporate Research, Segelhofstrasse 1, 5405 Baden-Dättwil
  • J. Carstensen ABB Switzerland Ltd, Corporate Research, Segelhofstrasse 1, 5405 Baden-Dättwil
  • S. Scheel ABB Switzerland Ltd, Corporate Research, Segelhofstrasse 1, 5405 Baden-Dättwil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/ppt.2017.2.194

Keywords:

weakly cooled arcs, load break switches, C5-FK, thermal interruption

Abstract

Switching of low current arcs in free burning or weakly cooled conditions is mainly determined by the thermal properties of the gas. Products with such switching conditions are widely found in secondary distribution medium voltage (MV) gas insulated switchgears (GIS). In this study, we compare the current interruption capability of synthetic air and AirPlusTM, i.e. a mixture of synthetic air with C5F10O fluoroketone (C5-FK). We focus on thermal interruption performance of the gases. AirPlus mixture corresponds to -25 °C condensation temperature of C5-FK. An arc is drawn between the contacts and cooled by blowing cold gas from a tank. Blowing pressure required for current interruption is compared. Within the measurement accuracy, the current interruption performance of both gases is similar. Chemical analysis of the AirPlus mixture after 69 shots was performed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) and it shows very little decrease in the concentration of C5-FK.

References

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Published

2017-02-12

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Section

Articles