SF6 post-arc recovery characteristics

In SF6 circuit breakers, the result of the interruption, during the dielectric post-arc phase, depends on the capability of the arcing region to withstand the applied recovery voltage. An idealized model breaker experiment is designed to investigate the SF6 recovery characteristics minimizing the effect of various factors such as metal vapor pollution, arc roots stagnation and gas-flow modifications. The gas heating is obtained by a power arc in movement. The experimental simulation of the interruption allows the study of the gas recovery behavior as a function of the decaying plasma properties. The so-obtained recovery characteristics exhibit distinct phases with recovery time increment and also dependencies on geometrical and electrical test parameters. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.