A rotating arc gas pump for circuit breaking and other applications

A rotating arc circuit breaker is described which uses an auxiliary current source to generate the magnetic field for driving the arc. Test results obtained using optical fiber measurement systems have shown that there are three main arcing phases. Initially the arc rotates at an essentially constant but low velocity, subsequently its velocity oscillates between this and much higher values, and finally the arc plasma may become diffuse in nature. Test results obtained with dielectric strength probes have indicated that a unidirectional flow of arc heated gas is generated. The flow is away from the moving contact of the interrupter so promoting good dielectric strength in this critical contact region. The combination of the optical fiber and dielectric probe results indicates two possible modes of gas pumping represented, respectively, by a fan and a piston-type action of the arc. Simplified analytical models for both modes are developed with predictions obtained showing good agreement with the experimental results. Discussion of experimental results suggests that the transition from oscillatory velocity changes to diffuse arcing represents an important parameter for scaling the geometries of future interrupters and arc heaters.