Simulation study of influence of the outlet elastic baffle on pressure in arc chamber during the interrupting process of low-voltage circuit breaker

In this paper, a bidirectional fluid–solid interaction method is established to investigate the influence of the outlet elastic baffle on the pressure in the arc chamber in the breaking process of a low-voltage circuit breaker. Based on the computational fluid dynamic method, the flow model in the arc chamber is established. The model of the outlet baffle, with consideration of the nonlinear behavior, is established by the finite element method. By introducing dynamic grid technology, the interaction process of deformation of the outlet baffle and arc chamber pressure can be analyzed. A simple arc extinguishing chamber with an outlet baffle is designed, and experiments with a LC oscillating circuit are carried out. By using a high-speed camera and a pressure sensor, the deformation of the baffle and the pressure of the arc chamber are measured in the breaking process. The simulation model is verified by experimental results. It is worth noting that the flutter behavior of the elastic baffle was observed in the experiments and in the numerical simulation. Through simulation analysis, it is found that the flutter behavior is caused by the first-order mode of the elastic baffle under the excitation of arc chamber pressure.