Performance Criteria of D-C Interrupters

A new approach to the analysis of the performance of d-c interrupters has been made in which the arc voltage of the interrupter is considered on an equal footing with the d-c generated voltage. The effect of variations in the circuit constants as well as circuit breaker speed and arc voltage wave shape and magnitude are evaluated on a quantitative basis. The equations and curves are presented on a per-unit basis which makes the work applicable to any d-c interruption problem. The work sheds light on design and application criteria of d-c interrupters. The presentation is arranged to be easily digested by the student of electrical engineering.