Evaluation of applicability of black-box arc model for DC circuit breaker and comparative analysis of arc characteristic parameters

Abstract

Analyzing the arc interruption phenomena of circuit breakers, physical arc model is generally used, but its analysis and applications is complex because it requires understanding a lot of physical parameters such as thermodynamics and mathematical equations which occur during arc interruption process. But the black box model which simulate the dynamic arc behaviour and its interaction with network could be conveniently used to extract essential parameters to determine the performance of the circuit breaker. Black box arc model could represent the non-linear characteristics of the arc using differential equations based on the conductivity of the arc. In order to develop reliable DC circuit breaker which don't have a natural current zero point, a transient analysis of the non-linear arc characteristics occurring during interruption is needed. In previous studies, black box arc models have been used to analyze AC arc characteristics, and there are few study applying it to DC circuit breakers. This paper simulates the applicability evaluation for DC circuit breakers using KEMA and Habedank black box arc models based on the actual DC circuit breaker test data sheet. Parameters of the black box arc model were determined by performing Parameter Sweep for the main factors, such as interrupting time, arc voltage, and arc time constant. As a result, the applicability of the black box arc model to the DC circuit breaker was verified by predicting the DC arc behavior, and more suitable model for the DC circuit breaker was suggested by comparing the DC arc waveforms. © The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers