• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2002

In this paper, 'lifetime-temperature rise model' based on the 'lifetime-resistance model' is theoretically Proposed, in order to find out the evaluation method of degradation and the residual lifetime by use of infrared image camera for electric connections/contacts. Two assumptions have been builded up for the 'lifetime-temperature rise model': one is associated with the linear relationship between the temperature ism ΔK and contact resistance, and the other the functional relationship between the temperature of electric connections/contacts and the operating time presenting in the 'lifetime-resistance model'. To prove the proposed model, experiments have been performed for various electric connections/contacts. From the experimental results, measured values were quite similar to the calculated values, which proved the above-mentioned two assumptions. Therefore, by use of 'lifetime-temperature rise model', it is possible to estimate the trend of degradation and the residual lifetime for electric connections/contacts through the temperature measurements .

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2000.07c
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• pp.1611-1613
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• 2000

In this study in order to find out the trends and the residual lifetime for electric connections/contacts using infrared image camera, "lifetime temperature rise model" is theoretically proposed on the base of "lifetime resistance model" and to prove this theory, experiments have been performed for various kinds of electric connections/contacts. Two suggestions have been builded up or the "lifetime temperature rise model" ; one is the linear relationship between the temperature rise $\Delta K$ and contact resistance, and the other is the functional relationship between the temperature of electric connections/contacts and the operating time which ascribed in the "lifetime resistance model". From the experimental results, measured values were quite similar to the theoretical value so that two suggestions in "lifetime temperature rise model" were appeared to be correct.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.715-722
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• 1998

A large electric system of a vacuum circuit breaker(VCB) has been studied for the electro-thermal analysis by finite element methods. Since the heat generation in VCB causes not only energy loss but deterioration of the VCB system with oxidization of parts, the overheating of the system must be prevented. For the analysis, a finite element formulation is derived for both electric analysis and thermal analysis that are coupled together. Two sets of formulations are uncoupled after finite dimensional approximation. First, the electric potential is obtained for the entire field and scaled to the given electric current. The electric field obtained is then used to calculate the heat generation in the VCB system including contacts and connections for the calculation of the temperature distribution in the entire domain. The finite element analysis is carried out to study the effect of shapes and locations of contacts and connections. From the results, the existing VCB has been modified to enhance its capacity with reduction of heat generation and temperature elevation.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.18-23
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• 2005

There are many electrical connections in the electric apparatus and most fires due to a fault contact result from a failure or misuse of electric apparatus and installation. The fault contact happens between electrical connections by the loose and the mechanical vibration. In this paper, we have investigated thermal and electrical properties of screwed electric contacts due to the mechanical vibration. The exciter was connected to a signal generator and power amplifier that provided the vibration frequency and amplitude. The vibration, temperature and voltage data were sent to a data acquisition system (DAQ). In the case that fault contact took place, the arc happened between the screwed electric contact and electric wire, heat due to the arc was transmitted to the adjacent insulators, for which the oxide could be generated more. In addition, a spark was generated and the insulator began to melt. Thus, the possibility of electrical fire became the highest in this case. Finally, when the fault contact takes place due to vibration, the hazard of an electric accident is very high.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.674-679
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• 2011

In this paper, we experimented and analyzed about electric fire risk assessment methods of LED lightings for outdoor. LED lighting is composed of AC power lines, AC/DC converter, DC power lines and LED lamps. There are some risk factors of electric fire in LED lighting such as short circuit between power lines or power line and ground, dielectric breakdown, leakage current, abnormal voltage inflow, poor contacts(connections), etc. As a result of this study, insulation coverings of wire was ignited due to dielectric breakdown between power lines and molten marks were formed in copper conductor. LED lighting was blown out while short circuit, beside that, electrical disorder did not occur. When abnormal voltage was inflowed, electronic components such as varistor, condenser were damaged. Partial heating was produced and insulation was melted and carbonized by arc and heating while poor contacts were happened. We expect that the results of this study would be helpful for electrical safety of LED lightings for outdoor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.36-41
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• 2012

Electrical Connections often cause fires due to poor contact. Occurrence rate of these fires tends to increase annually. The reason why poor contacts occur is often because it is the low mechanical pressure at the contact points. A typical connection method using mechanical pressure is a screw terminal type. This study reviewed these poor contact cases in the screw terminals. In order to get reproduction of such cases, two types of experiments were conducted. the first one was conducted under the normal contact condition, and the other one was conducted under the poor contact condition that screw terminal of breaker was loosen and did not meet the requirements of toque value. In both types of experiments, compulsory vibration was adopted as a variable to aggravate poor contacts. Each of various current values(4.5A, 9.0A, 13.5A) is input. In these experiments, relationships of a contact, electrical signal such as current and electric pulse by ZCT and thermal characteristics according to vibration effect are analyzed. The suggested data and results in this study provide the useful resources helping to investigate fires due to poor contact, and they develop the detector for poor contact and finally reduce the electrical fire occurrence rate.