Photographic study of A-C arcs in flowing liquids

I. Introduction THE importance of fluid flow in aiding arc extinction in circuit interrupters has long been known. Two general types of explanation of the large effect found have been offered. Slepian^1,2,3 who seems to have been the first to stress the importance of the motion of the gases liberated by the arc from the surrounding oil or solid insulation in oil breakers and expulsion fuses, sought the explanation in reduced arc section at current zero, and increased diffusion rate of ions and molecules arising from the turbulence. Other investigators have expressed similar views, at least in part.^4,5