Pressure Estimation During Internal Arc Test of Circuit Breaker

Master's Thesis , 2013 , 88 Pages , Grade: 1

Electrotechnology

An internal arc test is not a mandatory test. It is a consumer premises test. It should be done on the terminal box, panel, enclosure, etc. Overpressure at internal arc, inside the penal, may be a danger for the worker working inside the field. compact substation in the public area must have to be arc proof.

In this thesis report, in the beginning, the internal arc phenomena are discussed. Thereafter the internal arc test condition and their standards are given.

In the middle part of the thesis, the analytical method is given and its failure is discussed and the limitation is of the old method is clearly shown with taking practical data at calculation data.

The internal arc test is very expansive in the real working field and may danger sometimes because of loss of equipment during the test. although it is consumer selection to decide the level and location of the short circuit. It is always a risky test.

In this thesis, the computer simulation method using Finite Volume Method (FVM) for simulation of the internal arc test with following all testing standards with selecting particular assembly is modeled. The electromagnetic and fluid combined analysis is presented to a detailed plasma arc. The MHD equation is derived and solved at the end using ANSYS software.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Acknowledgements
• Abstract
• Table of Contents
• List of Table
• List of Figures
• Abbreviations/Nomenclature
• 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Electrical arc Phenomenon
  • 1.2 The Internal Arc process
    • 1.2.1 Phase 1.the compression phase.
    • 1.2.2 Phase 2.the expansion phase
    • 1.2.3 Phase 3.the emission phase.
    • 1.2.4 Phase 4.the thermal phase
  • 1.3 Internal arc
  • 1.4 Arc fault
  • 1.5 Arc in Vacuum
    • 1.5.1 Early Particle Breakdown Theories
    • 1.5.2 Post Arc Environment
  • 1.6 Internal Arc Test
    • 1.6.1 General
    • 1.6.2 Test Condition
    • 1.6.3 Test producer
    • 1.6.4 Arrangement For The Equipment
    • 1.6.5 Criteria to pass the test
    • 1.6.6 Transferability of test results .
    • 1.6.7 Test report
  • 1.7 Physical Influences ( Pressure Rise, Gas Flow And Thermal Effects).
    • 1.7.1 supply circuit
    • 1.7.2 Arrangements of indicator
• 2 Method of Internal Arc Test and Reference Standard
  • 2.1 IEC 61641
  • 2.2 Terms And Definition .
    • 2.2.1 Permissible Current Under Arcing Condition
    • 2.2.2 Permissible Arc Duration. .
    • 2.2.3 Permissible Conditional Short Circuit Current Under Arcing Condition
    • 2.2.4 Arc. . .
    • 2.2.5 Personal Protection Under Arcing Condition
    • 2.2.6 ASSEMBLY Protection under arcing conditions
    • 2.2.7 Arc Free Zone.
    • 2.2.8 Arc Proof Zone
    • 2.2.9 Arc Proof Assembly
  • 2.3 Assembly Characteristics Under Arcing Condition
  • 2.4 Testing.
    • 2.4.1 General
    • 2.4.2 Voltage
    • 2.4.3 Current
    • 2.4.4 Frequency
  • 2.5 Test Producer
    • 2.5.1 Arc Ignition
    • 2.5.2 Assessment Of The Test
  • 2.6 Test report
• 3 Literature Survey
  • 3.1 Phase 1
  • 3.2 Phase 2
  • 3.3 phase3
• 4 Finite element Method (FEM)/finite volume method (FVM)
  • 4.1 Introduction
    • 4.1.1 Basic concept
  • 4.2 Why Finite Element Method .
  • 4.3 Application of FEM in Engineering
  • 4.4 A Brief history of FEM.
  • 4.5 Procedure of FEM ..
    • 4.5.1 Computer Implementation
    • 4.5.2 Available commercial FEM Software Package

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Master of Technology thesis focuses on the analysis and simulation of internal arc tests. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the internal arc phenomenon, its testing procedures, and the application of finite element and finite volume methods in simulating such tests. This work investigates the limitations of traditional analytical methods and explores the advantages of using advanced simulation tools to predict pressure distribution, temperature distribution, stress distribution, and other critical parameters during an internal arc event.

• Understanding the physics of internal arc phenomena
• Analyzing the various phases of internal arc development
• Examining existing methods for internal arc testing and their limitations
• Exploring the application of numerical methods for simulating internal arc events
• Assessing the accuracy and advantages of using advanced simulation tools in predicting internal arc characteristics

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the electrical arc phenomenon, specifically focusing on internal arcs. It delves into the different phases of internal arc development, discussing the physical processes involved in each phase. The chapter also outlines the importance of internal arc tests, highlighting the risks associated with internal arc faults and the need for protective measures. It further explores the concept of arc faults and their significance in electrical systems.
• Chapter 2: Method of Internal Arc Test and Reference Standard This chapter delves into the standardized methods for conducting internal arc tests, referencing the IEC 61641 standard. It defines key terms and concepts related to internal arc testing, including permissible current under arcing conditions, arc duration, and personal protection measures. The chapter also discusses the characteristics of assemblies under arcing conditions and the specific procedures for conducting internal arc tests. It explains the essential elements of the test, including voltage, current, frequency, arc ignition, and assessment methods.
• Chapter 3: Literature Survey This chapter presents a comprehensive review of existing literature related to the study of internal arcs, particularly focusing on the different phases of arc development. It analyzes research findings and methodologies employed in previous studies on internal arc phenomena.
• Chapter 4: Finite element Method (FEM)/finite volume method (FVM) This chapter introduces the fundamental concepts of the finite element method (FEM) and the finite volume method (FVM). It discusses the reasons for employing these numerical methods in engineering simulations and explores their applications in various fields. The chapter provides a brief history of FEM and outlines the general procedure for implementing FEM-based simulations. It also discusses the availability of commercial FEM software packages.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key concepts and topics explored in this thesis include internal arc phenomena, internal arc testing, IEC 61641 standard, finite element method (FEM), finite volume method (FVM), pressure estimation, temperature distribution, stress distribution, simulation, and numerical modeling. The focus of this work lies in understanding and predicting the behavior of internal arcs in electrical systems, utilizing advanced simulation techniques to provide insights into critical parameters and potential risks.

• College: Nirma University (Institute of technology)
• Course: M.Tech
• Grade: 1
• Author: PH.D Jigneshkumar Desai (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 88
• Catalog Number: V1154427
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346580672
• ISBN (Book): 9783346580689
• Language: English
• Tags: Ansys, Arc, Pressure Estimation