Investigation on Direct Current Arcs in a Busbar Setup Using a Power-Electronic Buck Converter Based High-Power Test Circuit

IEEE Annual Southern Power Electronics Conference, pp. 1–6

Abstract

In this paper, an innovative test circuit based on a power-electronic buck converter is used for investigating direct current arcs in a parallel copper busbar setup. A parameter study regarding the influence of busbar distance as well as driving current on the arc behavior is conducted. The arc is investigated electrically by measuring current as well as arc voltage and optically by a high-speed camera setup. The optical recordings enable the investigation of the arc position as well as the derived arc velocity. It is noticed that increasing current leads to increasing arc velocities, while the arc velocity decreases for increasing busbar distances. The investigations demonstrate the applicability of the test circuit for this use case for the first time. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of dc arc behavior can be derived from the results which is eminent for the development of adequate dc switchgear.

Authors 6

1. Simon Kimpeler Aachen Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, RWTH Aachen University, Digitalization and Energy Economics,Aachen,Germany

2. Nils Langenberg Aachen Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, RWTH Aachen University, Digitalization and Energy Economics,Aachen,Germany

3. Tim Ballweber Aachen Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, RWTH Aachen University, Digitalization and Energy Economics,Aachen,Germany

4. Albert Moser Aachen Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for High Voltage Equipment and Grids, RWTH Aachen University, Digitalization and Energy Economics,Aachen,Germany

5. Andres Tönnesmann
   Affiliation as printed

   Advanced Engineering Division Sensors & Actuators Pierburg GmbH,Neuss,Germany

6. Daniel A. Fuhrmann
   Affiliation as printed

   Business Unit Solenoid Valves Division Sensors & Actuators Pierburg GmbH,Neuss,Germany