Modeling for Series Arc of DC Circuit Breaker

In electric distribution systems, a series arc occurs when a load and a power source are disconnected from a connector such as a circuit breaker, a socket-plug, or a coupler. In dc systems, the arc is not extinguished unless the arc current decreases to zero. Sustaining plasma arc current can cause huge fire disasters. To cope with the arc faults in dc systems, the characteristics of the arc should be analyzed. However, a clear analysis method has not been suggested. This paper analyzes characteristics of a series-breaking arc in a dc circuit breaker in three operation phases: initiation, sustenance, and extinguishment. Based on the three operation characteristics, a series-breaking arc model is proposed and evaluated through experiment.