Power/energy: Managing switching arcs: Plasma physics research tells us how to dynamically control arcs in high-power circuit breakers

High voltage gas blast circuit breakers which normally have several chambers that include compressed gas and fixed and movable parts. Because each chamber can withstand only a limited voltage and current, several chambers are needed. The author considers the mechanism of arcing in HV gas blast circuit breakers and ways of controlling the arc to avoid damage to the circuit breaker contacts by means of adequate design and operational parameters.