Experimental study of anode surface temperature after current zero for a range of current levels

Abstract

The main reason of breakdown after kA arc extinction is considered to be the overheating of anode surface during arc burning. The aim of this work is to experimentally determine the anode surface temperature distribution just after current zero for the range of arc currents from successfully interrupted levels up to the levels of guaranteed failure. The measurements were done by a high-speed video camera Phantom M310 equipped by a Carl Zeiss 100/2 macro lens. The anode surface temperature distribution was obtained by comparison of the results of anode surface filming and the results of calibrated band-lamp filming in identical conditions. The measurements were done for SSS CuCr 70/30 AMF electrodes for the currents up to the interruption limit.