Development of a Vacuum Arc Fault Current Limiter

摘要

The primary purpose of this program was to develop an understanding of the operating principles of the vacuum arc devices under development at the State University of New York at Buffalo for fault current limiting applications. The general operating characteristics are given for two basic vacuum arc devices. One is the Vacuum Arc Fault Current Limiter and the other is the Magnetically Controlled Vacuum Arc Switch. The results of detailed studies of the phenomena occurring with the two devices are described. In particular, the repetitive voltage spiking phenomena that occurs in the Vacuum Arc Fault Current Limiter is treated in substantial detail. The mechanism of the voltage spiking (the repetitive formation and collapse of an anode sheath) is described along with measurements that were made of parameters associated with repetitive spiking. Techniques for enhancing current limiting by enhancing spiking development are discussed. Work on the magnetically controlled vacuum arc switch and the cooperative efforts with the industrial partner (Gould-Brown Boveri) are described.