EMTP simulation of SLF interrupting performance for two serially connected arcs with different arc parameters

This paper shows the calculation of SLF interrupting performance for two serially connected Mayr-type arc models with different arc parameters by using EMTP-ATP Models. Arc model 1, assuming an air circuit breaker, has large arc time constant and large arc power loss. Arc model 2, assuming a vacuum circuit breaker, has small arc time constant and small arc power loss. It was not possible for arc model 1 to interrupt 300 kV-63 kA-90% SLF by itself. However, by connecting these arc models in series, interruption became successful, even if arc model 2 was reignited at low voltage a few microseconds after current zero. These computations suggested that serial connection of the two circuit breakers with different breaking characteristics would give a totally excellent circuit breaker by making the best use of advantages of each circuit breaker. EMTP-ATP Models were very useful in solving the arc models, which are expressed by differential equations and coupled with the electric circuit. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 141(4): 25–33, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10020