Intelligent computer simulation tools for HV circuit breakers and issues related to simulation

Intelligent simulation tools are developed within the Integrated Simulation and Evaluation Environment using Visual Studio C++ and object oriented programming. Such an environment should result in huge savings in time and cost for switchgear manufacturers. Conventional k-epsilon turbulence model has been modified to take into account of steep radial temperature gradient at the arc edge with much improved results. Investigations of computational convergence and the effects of initial conditions show that solutions independent of initial arc conditions with sufficient accuracy can be achieved with the Liverpool arc model.