3-D finite element analysis of magnetic blowout forces acting on the arc in molded case circuit breakers

Author

Ito, Shokichi ; Kawase, Yoshihiro ; Mori, Hiroyuki

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron., Fukuoka Inst. of Technol., Japan

Volume

33

Issue

2

fYear

1997

fDate

3/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2053

Lastpage

2056

Abstract

It is necessary, for the optimum design of molded case circuit breakers, to analyze magnetic blowout forces acting on the arc in the contact systems when the circuit breakers interrupt fault currents. In this paper, the forces generated by the arc current and the flux density are obtained by using 3-D finite element analysis, taking into account the current distribution in the current paths and variations in arc diameter. It is shown that this 3-D analysis approach is capable of evaluating new designs of contact systems in molded case circuit breakers

Keywords

arcs (electric); circuit breakers; circuit-breaking arcs; current distribution; finite element analysis; magnetic flux; 3-D finite element analysis; arc current; arc diameter variations; current distribution; design optimisation; fault current interruption; flux density; magnetic blowout forces; moulded case circuit breakers; Circuit breakers; Computer aided software engineering; Conductors; Contacts; Current distribution; Finite element methods; Iron; Magnetic analysis; Magnetic circuits; Magnetic flux;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.582717

Filename

582717