Arc Interruption Theory

Introduction
• When there is a fault in the system, the circuit breaker operates
automatically and disconnects the system from fault by separating its
current-carrying contacts.
• During this process, an arc is formed between the contacts and the
circuit breaker must extinguish the arc.
• The arc formed is a type of electric discharge that generates a huge
amount of heat energy.
• If the arc is not quenched immediately, it may result in an explosion
and damage the equipment to be protected.
• However, the arc extinction is very complicated and the circuit
breaker must be capable of extinguishing the arc without getting
damaged and making damage to the equipment.
• There are two theories that give a concept of the phenomenon of arc
extinction in circuit breakers.
 Slepian's Theory or Recovery Rate Theory :
• In circuit breakers, the arc is formed due to the ionization of
the gap between its contacts.
• So, in order to extinguish the arc, the electrons and ions
present in the gap are to be removed immediately after the
current reaches a natural zero.
• Because the ionization will be minimum at current zero
instant. The removal of electrons and ions from the gap is
possible in either of the two different ways.
• They are,
– Recombining them into neutral molecules.
– Sweeping them away by inserting a suitable insulating medium into
the gap.
• The arc is interrupted if the rate of removal of ions from the
gap is faster than the rate of ionization in the gap.
• In other words, if the dielectric strength of the medium
between the contacts is increased such that it is always
greater than the restriking voltage, the arc does not restrike
after the current zero interruption.
• As this theory describes the arc extinction process as a rate
between dielectric strength and restriking voltage, it is also
called Voltage Rate Theory.
The figure shows, if the dielectric
strength builds as in curve-1 when
compared with that of the restriking
voltage as in curve-2, then the arc will
be extinguished. Since the dielectric
strength builds more rapidly than the
restriking voltage.
If the dielectric strength builds as in
curve-3, the arc restrikes. Since the
restriking voltage rises more rapidly
than the dielectric strength due to
which the ionization persists and the
breakdown of the gap occurs.
 Limitations

• In this theory, the restriking voltage and rate of rising of

dielectric strength are assumed as comparable quantities but
in actuality, this is wrong as the two quantities are not similar.
• In this theory, the energy relation in the arc extinction is not
considered.
• This theory is incomplete, as the concept of arcing phase is not
covered.
• The assumption of restriking voltage and increase in dielectric
strength as independent quantities is not acceptable, as the
dielectric strength calculations and observation values do not
match.
 Energy Balance Theory or Cassie's theory
• The following assumptions are made in the theory,
• The arc is composed of a cylindrical column, which has a
constant temperature at its cross-section. There is a uniform
distribution of energy in this column.
• There will be no change in temperature.
• In order to accommodate the arc current, the cross-section of
the arc adjust itself.
• The power dissipation and the cross-sectional area of the arc
column are proportional to each other.
• This theory explains, how the arc is extinguished or restrict i.e.
when the rate of heat removal between the contacts is lower
than the rate at which the heat is generated, then the arc will
restrike.
• When the rate of generation of heat between the contacts is
lower than the rate of removal of heat, then the arc will be
extinguished.
• The generation of heat depends upon the separation of
contacts.
• At the current zero instant, the restriking voltage will be zero
and hence the power will be zero.
• At the next instant, the gap between the contacts contains
some ions.
• Therefore, the gap will have finite post-zero resistance.
• As the restriking voltage exists
its associated current and
power will have some finite
value.
• At the instant of final arc
extinction, as no ions are
present in the gap, its
resistance will be infinite so, the
power will be zero.
• Hence in between the instants
of current zero and final arc
extinction, the power increases
to a maximum value at an
instant, t1 and from there it falls
back to zero as shown.