High Temperature Material Processes (An International Quarterly of High-Technology Plasma Processes) An International Journal

ISSN for PRINT: 1093-3611

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2005, Volume9

Issue 4

174 pages

DOI: 10.1615/HighTempMatProc.v9.i4

Issue price - $144.00

Laure Reynard
Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides et d'Acoustique, CNRS UMR 5509 Ecole Centrale de Lyon/Université C. Bernard-Lyon I/INSA de Lyon ECL, 36 avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully Cedex

Daniel Henry
Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides et d'Acoustique, CNRS UMR 5509 Ecole Centrale de Lyon/Université C. Bernard-Lyon I/INSA de Lyon ECL, 36 avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully Cedex

Denis Jeandel
Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides et d'Acoustique, CNRS UMR 5509 Ecole Centrale de Lyon/Université C. Bernard-Lyon I/INSA de Lyon ECL, 36 avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully Cedex

Julian Scott
Laboratoire de Mécanique des Fluides et d'Acoustique, CNRS UMR 5509 Ecole Centrale de Lyon/Université C. Bernard-Lyon I/INSA de Lyon ECL, 36 avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully Cedex

Jean Wild
Schneider Electric, 37 quai Merlin, 38050 Grenoble Cedex 9

The object of this study is three-dimensional simulation of the initiation phase of an electric arc in a low-voltage circuit breaker. The model uses tabulated values for radiative cooling, the physical properties of the plasma and the equation of state. Coupled Navier−Stokes and Maxwell equations are solved by a mixed finite-element/finite-volume method on a moving grid mesh, allowing the electrodes to move apart in a realistic manner. Different test cases were used to verify each modification of an existing numerical scheme to treat the arc problem. Preliminary results show the birth of the arc, followed by its growth and displacement within the inter-electrode gap.

DOI: 10.1615/HighTempMatProc.v9.i4.60 Download article, 557-571 pages

Article price - $35.00

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