Theoretical Analysis of Steady State Low Current Arcs in Dual Flow Nozzles

When the circuit-breaker switches off, an electric arc is established between the contacts. It is very important to understand the arc characteristics for the design of a circuit breaker. This article describes the theoretical analysis of the arc characteristics by means of energy integral method when convection dominated low current arcs are produced in the dual-airflow nozzle of a model interrupter. In order to investigate the arc radius, the average electric field strength and the arc voltage, the arc column is divided into two regions, and then the energy conservation equation is applied to the arc in each region together with the axial cold flow mass flux function, steady-state mass balance equation and Ohm's law. The results show good agreements with those of other researchers.