Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
662497 International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 2008 12 Pages PDF
Abstract

This article describes direct numerical simulation of the first three milliseconds following ignition of the arc in a low-voltage circuit-breaker using a computational-fluid-dynamics code adapted for electric-arc modelling. The mobile electrode is allowed for by a moving mesh. The results describe the evolution of the arc with time in terms of its detailed electrical, thermal and fluid dynamic properties. They allow the identification of several phases during the overall arc development process studied here: arc initialisation in the widening electrode gap, arc-thermal expansion, displacement of the arc towards the tip of the mobile electrode, and the beginning of commutation to the fixed electrode.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
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