The arc terminator

Preventing the increase in pressure within a piece of metal-clad switchgear due to an uncontrolled open arcing fault can be achieved by using an arc terminator. The arc terminator constitutes a bypass system that confines the effect of an arcing fault to its point of initiation. It is composed primarily of a high-speed mechanical switch, and an electronic control module. In the event of an arcing fault, the switch closes in less than 4 ms to provide a solid conducting path for the fault current. The concept of the bypass system has been proven to be a viable alternative to the methods currently used for arc protection for switchgear equipment. This concept has further demonstrated that it can not only offer personnel protection, but can also protect the associated surrounding equipment. Finally, this type of technology is not limited only to metal-clad switchgear or new equipment; it can easily be applied to metal-enclosed equipment or retrofitted into existing equipment as long as the interrupting devices being used are not of the air-magnetic type or any other type where the interrupting chamber is not a sealed chamber.