Calculation of pressure rise due to arcing faults

Calculation methods are an important tool for the determination of pressure effects due to high current arcs in electrical installations. In this contribution an improved standard calculation method and a new CFD-(computational- Eluid-D_ynamics) based method are introduced and compared with two other existing methods. The fundamental physical phenomena are mentioned and their importance for the process of pressure rise is explained. The calculation methods are discussed and it is shown that the relevant parameter for the application of one of the calculation methods is the geometrical size. The application of the different calculation methods is demonstrated with three typical examples. The CFD-based method is applicable for all typical applications whereas the improved standard calculation method is limited to small size applications.