dc arc interruption in pressurized gasses

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6749022

Chowdhuri, P

The purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility of achieving (1) short interruption time and (2) minimum contact erosion in a dc circuit interrupter. Arc interruption tests were performed on a 100-A, 600-V dc contactor under atmospheres of argon dry air, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen, each at four pressures 0.17, 0.34, 0.52, and 0.69 MPa (25, 50, 75 and 100 psig). It was found that the average arcing time in helium and hydrogen was the shortest, and that in argon the longest for the circuit conditions used. The contact erosion in hydrogen was the worst, and that in argon the best for the contact materials used in the tests. The static pressure in the chamber did not appear to have much effect on the arc interruption phenomenon for the contactor and gas pressures used.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6749022
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-80-2344; CONF-810201-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

200302* -- Power Transmission & Distribution-- DC Systems-- (1989-)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
AIR
ARGON
CIRCUIT BREAKERS
CURRENTS
DATA
DC SYSTEMS
EHV DC SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
INFORMATION
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE
POWER SYSTEMS
RARE GASES