Investigation on Arc Asynchronous Characteristics of the Double Bridge-Type Contacts in DC Relays

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Wang, Gongrun, Dong, Enyuan, Wang, Yongxing, Yin, Sheng, Ji, Yingdong, Zou, Jiyan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.02.2023; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Arc discharge; Atmospheric modeling; Bridge circuits; bridge-type contacts; Circuit breakers; Fractures; High speed photography; Image acquisition; Integrated circuit modeling; Low voltage; magnetohydrodynamic (MHD); multi-break relay; Relays; Shape; switch arc
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2023.3239367

The asynchrony of the multi-break dc relay has an important influence on its arcing characteristics. Through the experimental test platform, the arc characteristics of the single bridge-type contact and the double bridge-type contacts are compared. Arc images are acquired through high-speed photography. On the basis of asynchronous action, the influence of action speed and overtravel difference on arcing characteristics is analyzed. A multi-breakpoint asynchronous arc model is established to study the nonlinear relationship between overtravel difference and arc duration. The distribution characteristics of the double-bridge arc are analyzed. Experiments and simulations show that the double bridge-type contacts have better arc-extinguishing characteristics. Increasing breaking speed is conducive to reducing arc energy difference between fractures. When the overtravel difference is small, the bridge <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">B</tex-math> </inline-formula> (bridge with larger overtravel) arc can enter the diffusion state, and the arc voltage of bridge <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">B</tex-math> </inline-formula> is higher. Reducing the overtravel difference can effectively reduce the arc duration.