Performance evaluation of modified turbulent models in simulating arc quenching process in circuit breakers

Authors

  • Y. Qiao Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL
  • S. Matharage Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL
  • Z. Wang Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/ppt.2025.2.123

Keywords:

arc simulation, gas circuit breaker, turbulent model, rate of rise of recovery voltage

Abstract

Gas circuit breakers rely on rapid gas expansion and turbulent mixing within a converging–diverging nozzle to effectively cool and extinguish arcs during current interruption. The transientarc interruption process involves coupled physical phenomena, including turbulent flow, electric current, convection and radiation. Selection of a suitable flow model is vital in obtaining simulation results matching the experimental data. In this study, the transient behaviour of the SF6 flow during the current ramp-down phase is investigated. Performance of the standard k-ϵ turbulence model is compared with modified k-ϵ models, in which the turbulence dissipation constant C1ϵ is systematically varied to identify the effect on the cooling process. Simulation results demonstrate that the adjustment of C1ϵ can improve the arc cooling process by enhancing turbulent kinetic energy, resulting in maximum rate-of-rise of recovery voltage (RRRV) estimation values similar to the experimental conditions.

 

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Published

2025-09-10

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Y. Qiao, S. Matharage, Z. Wang

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