• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.1-5
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• 2013

This paper studies on an arc fault interruption control circuit (AFICC) of fault voltage sensing type. The proposed voltage sensing type AFICC (VST_AFICC) is an electrical fire prevention apparatus that operates the existing circuit breaker with sensing the instantaneous voltage drop of line voltage when occurs electrical faults. The existing Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELB), Molded_case Circuit Breaker (MCCB), and Residual Current Protective Devices (RCDs) used in low voltage distributing system don't have protective capability from electric arc faults to be a major factor of electrical fire. In this paper to improve such problems, a new VST_AFICC using the distortion of voltage waveform when occurs electrical faults is proposed to prevent electrical fire. There is characteristic that the control method of proposed apparatus is different from previous current sensing type. The proposed AFICC has merit that is manufactured by small size and light weight. The practicality of a new VST_AFICC is also verified through various operation analysis.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.07b
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• pp.708-710
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• 2001

In this paper, back commutation phenomena for iron chute chamber in AC low testing. For this experimental we used high speed camera and carried out with same prospective currents up to 10kA RMS. Hybrid arc quenching chambers which are composed with iron plate and insulating materials tested for reducing back commutation phenomena in interrupting process. It is shows that hybrid chambers which are various narrow slot path width reduces back commutation. As a result, a new type arc quenching chamber is to force the arc rapidly into a narrow insulating slot with iron plate. By this means the arc is lengthened and squeezed between insulating walls. Using this model, the behavior of the arc squeezed in the hybrid chamber and characteristics of arc voltage are also investigated.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.909-910
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• 2007

To design the Molded Case Circuit Breaker(MCCB) requires electromagnetic analysis in contact system when the circuit breakers interrupt fault currents. This paper has made sure that there are two ways increasing arc driving force, one is a change of contact point and the other way inserts additionally the magnetic plate. Finally, we have carried out the analysis of eddy current to identify a decrease of arc driving force because of fault currents. In this paper, MCCB models have been analyzed base on 3D-FEM by Maxwell program.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.8-13
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• 2015

Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) are typically used to provide over current protection for electrical safety caused by short circuit faults and overloads in indoor low voltage power systems. The MCCB automatically connects and disconnects loads from the electrical source when the current reaches a value and duration that will cause an excessive. However, the MCCB sometimes is not interrupted due to a malfunction, nuisance tripping, or in a fire. Ensuring electrical safety is very important in a indoor low voltage power system. This paper presents the operating characteristics of MCCBs according to a temperature rise from room temperature to 160 degrees Celsius delivered by a radiant panel heater. The ABS 54c(rated current: 30A) of the hydraulic magnetic trip type was used in the experiments. The signals of temperature, voltage, and current were measured using the high accuracy Signal Conditioning Extensions for Instrumentation (SCXI) measurement system with the LabVIEW program manufactured by National Instruments. The operating characteristics were measured as functions of current amplitude and ramp-up rate. The MCCB tripping time decreased as a result of increasing current amplitude and ramp-up rate under a temperature rise condition, because the temperature and level of the current are directly proportional to the tripping time. Additionally, an instantaneous operation was observed after 8 times of the rated current, and the MCCB began to melt a surface temperature of around 300 degrees Celsius of. The experimental results coincided well with the operating curve.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.371-372
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• 2007

The major causes of electrical fire are classified to short circuit fault, overload fault, electric leakage and electric contact failure. The occurrence factor of the fire is electric arc or spark accompanied with electrical faults. Residual Current Protective Device (RCD), that is Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker(ELB) and Molded_case Circuit Breaker (MCB), of high sensitivity type used at low voltage wiring cuts off earth leakage and overload, but the RCD can't cut off electric arc or spark to be a major factor of electrical fire. As the RCDs which are applied low voltage distribution panel are prescribed to rated breaking time about 30[ms] (KS C 4613), the RCDs can't perceive to the periodic electric arc or spark of more short wavelength level. To be improved on such problem, this research development is proposed to a auxiliary control apparatus for RCD trip on electric arc or spark due to electrical fire. Some experimental results of the proposed apparatus is confirmed to the validity of the analytical results.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.49-54
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• 2015

Molded Circucit Breaker(MCCB) is a most widely used device to protect loads from the over-current in low power level distribution system. When the MCCB interrupts the over-current, the arc discharge occurred between fixed contact and moving contact to create hot gas. By the Lorentz force due to arc current, the occurred arc is bent to the grids. The grids extend and cool and divide it for arc extinguish. In the majority cases, the MCCB protects loads by interrupting the over-current successfully but in some cases the re-ignition is occurred by hot-gas created during process of interruption. The re-ignition arises when the recovery voltage(RV) is more higher than the recovery strength between contacts and it leads to interruption fault. Therefore to find out the dielectric recovery characteristics of protecting device has a great importance for preventing interruption fault. In this paper, we studies measurement method of the dielectric recovery characteristics considering inherent attribute of the MCCB. To measure the dielectric recovery characteristic of MCCB, we makes an experiment circuit for applying the over-current and the randomly recovery voltage. The measurement methode to find out the dielectric recovery voltage of the MCCB was established and the result was based on experiment results.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to analyze the damage pattern when overcurrent is applied to a thermal magnetic type molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) using a Primary Current Injection Test System (PCITS). When an overcurrent of 150 A was applied to the PCITS for 5 seconds with the trip bar of an MCCB being damaged, it was found that the surface of the temperature control device (bimetallic strip) positioned at the right was significantly carbonized. When an overcurrent of 300 A was applied to the PCITS for 5 s under the same conditions, the entire temperature control device was deteriorated, becoming flattened and in close contact with the MCCB. When an overcurrent of 450 A was applied to the PCITS for 5 s, the coil of the temperature control device was melted and disconnected. In addition, it was observed that the contacts, the enclosure and upper cover were deformed and there was a trace of carbonization on them. When approximately 3 s had elapsed after an overcurrent of 600 A was applied, white smoke occurred inside the MCCB and a flame was radiated out, after which the overcurrent supply stopped with "phutt" (whomp) sound. It was observed that when the same type of MCCB is damaged by a general flame, the surfaces of its handle, terminal, arc divider (extinguisher) and temperature control device were carbonized uniformly. In addition, it was found that the trip bar of the operating mechanism was melted down and the metal operation pin was moved while being tripped.