Towards three-dimensional modelling of electric arc initiation in a low-voltage circuit breaker

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.