Measurements of post-zero current and of power loss in air-blast arcs

Critical values for post-zero current and power loss were measured in an orifice-type air-blast interrupter of reduced size for dI/dt values of 10-35 A mu s -1 . The measured values were one order smaller than predicted by turbulent theory. For 10 A mu s -1 the power loss was only 1 kW.