PERFORMANCE OF HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER DURING AND AFTER ARC INTERRUPTION PROCESS.

Abstract

In this thesis we simulated the arc using 2 different methods to gain an inclusive view over the different factors that affect eh arcing process. First, we used the MATLAB Simulink tool to simulate the arc using Mayr arc model, which gave us the current and voltage of the CB during the fault interruption process. Then we used ANSYS fluent to simulate the physical arc model which give us a good explanation for the interaction between arc and fluid flow inside the braker during the interruption process. We found that the interruption of the pole to ground fault would cause an immense heat to be generated leading to a decrease in dielectric strength of the SF6 gas after the arc is interrupted leading to a discharge around the hollow contact, we also found that the decrease in solid contact diameter would cause a decrease in interruption capabilities of the CB.