What is Arc Phenomenon in circuit breakers?

Are you What is Arc Phenomenon in circuit breakers?. If yes then I am sharing detailed information about Arc Phenomenon in circuit breakers in this post.

What is Arc Phenomenon in circuit breakers?

If there is a short circuit somewhere in the power system, a large amount of current flows through them before the contacts of the respective circuit breaker are opened. At the moment of separation of the connections, the contact area decreases rapidly, and the current density increases. This causes an increase in temperature. With the increase of temperature, the air or gas molecules present start moving rapidly in all directions, and during this, they collide with the particles on the way. On increasing the temperature up to 3000K, the molecules are converted into simpler molecules and atoms. With further increase in temperature, the force binding the electrons to the particles gets affected, and the electrons move out, and the atoms become charged. These electrons attach to a neutral bit or move freely. In this way, the medium becomes ionized.

Plasma consists of charged particles. With further increase in temperature, ionization increases, and the state of plasma is attained. This. Acts as a conductor for electric current. In this way, the arc is installed when the circuit breaker is opened. The value of the potential between the contacts of the circuit breaker is minimal. This is only what is needed to maintain the arc.

The ionization required for forming an arc in a circuit breaker occurs due to the following reasons.

(i) Thermal ionization- occurs due to an increase in temperature.

(ii) Ionization due to collision- High-speed particles (electron ions or molecules) collide with another particle and eject electrons from atoms. Due to this, ionization increases.

(iii) By thermal emission from the surface of the contacts – When the connections of the circuit breaker are separated, the contact area decreases and during this time only a few points on the surface remain in contact, hence the current density increases. . This results in high-temperature regular spots that cause thermal emission from the contact surface.

(iv) By secondary emission from the contact surface – Due to the strong electric field between the contacts, the electrons move between the connections and strike the surface of the other contact, due to which secondary emission occurs from it.

(v) By field emission on the contact surface – electrons can be ejected from the surface of the contacts as the voltage gradient (Volt/cm) at the contact surface increases.

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