Wei Duan (段薇), Jing Li (李静), Wanrui Gao (高万瑞), Bingjie Shi (史炳杰), Shuxin Liu (刘树鑫), Yundong Cao (曹云东)
{"title":"直流塑壳断路器闪弧现象的传热与流体流动研究:模型优化与结构改进","authors":"Wei Duan (段薇), Jing Li (李静), Wanrui Gao (高万瑞), Bingjie Shi (史炳杰), Shuxin Liu (刘树鑫), Yundong Cao (曹云东)","doi":"10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2025.109919","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the increase in circuit breaker interrupting capacity, the frequency of arc-flash phenomena under high-current interruptions rises significantly. However, numerical studies on internal arc-flash phenomena in such equipment are still limited, with most research remaining in its early stages. Due to the complexity of the internal environment in DC molded case circuit breakers (DC-MCCBs), multi-field coupling simulations of high-energy plasma arcs present substantial challenges. This study conducts experimental comparisons to investigate the arc motion and arc-flash pattern evolution in DC-MCCBs under a constant driving magnetic field and varying interrupting current levels. Using magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), an improved arc model accounting for Archimedes force (buoyancy) is developed to analyze the fluid flow, mass transfer, and heat transfer mechanisms within the arc-flash phenomenon. Several structural improvements are proposed to address this phenomenon, with experimental validation of the optimizations. The results show that in the arc chamber of the DC-MCCB, the airflow dispersion effect causes a reverse vortex at the bend of the arc runner, weakening the arc's buoyancy. Additionally, the strong Lorentz force causes the high-energy arc in the lower section to be cut off and move too rapidly, impeding heat dissipation, which limits the utilization of the splitter plates. This results in uneven energy distribution of the arc in the splitter plate region and is the primary cause of the arc-flash phenomenon. The improved dual-side air outlets structure can increase the gas flow rate above the arc chamber, maintaining the forward vortex lift and enhancing the utilization of the splitter plates. The improved insulated gas-generating splitter plate structure can limit arc energy accumulation in the lower splitter region, increase arc chamber pressure, and improve the heat transfer coefficient of the medium, thereby reducing arc-flash energy. Through multi-factor, multi-level orthogonal experiments, comprehensive parameter optimization for arc-flash suppression measures is conducted, providing theoretical foundation and guiding value for the redesign of the new structure of DC-MCCB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":341,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Thermal Sciences","volume":"214 ","pages":"Article 109919"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Investigation on heat transfer and fluid flow of arc-flash phenomenon in DC molded case circuit breakers: Model optimization and structural improvement\",\"authors\":\"Wei Duan (段薇), Jing Li (李静), Wanrui Gao (高万瑞), Bingjie Shi (史炳杰), Shuxin Liu (刘树鑫), Yundong Cao (曹云东)\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2025.109919\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div>With the increase in circuit breaker interrupting capacity, the frequency of arc-flash phenomena under high-current interruptions rises significantly. However, numerical studies on internal arc-flash phenomena in such equipment are still limited, with most research remaining in its early stages. Due to the complexity of the internal environment in DC molded case circuit breakers (DC-MCCBs), multi-field coupling simulations of high-energy plasma arcs present substantial challenges. This study conducts experimental comparisons to investigate the arc motion and arc-flash pattern evolution in DC-MCCBs under a constant driving magnetic field and varying interrupting current levels. Using magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), an improved arc model accounting for Archimedes force (buoyancy) is developed to analyze the fluid flow, mass transfer, and heat transfer mechanisms within the arc-flash phenomenon. Several structural improvements are proposed to address this phenomenon, with experimental validation of the optimizations. The results show that in the arc chamber of the DC-MCCB, the airflow dispersion effect causes a reverse vortex at the bend of the arc runner, weakening the arc's buoyancy. Additionally, the strong Lorentz force causes the high-energy arc in the lower section to be cut off and move too rapidly, impeding heat dissipation, which limits the utilization of the splitter plates. This results in uneven energy distribution of the arc in the splitter plate region and is the primary cause of the arc-flash phenomenon. The improved dual-side air outlets structure can increase the gas flow rate above the arc chamber, maintaining the forward vortex lift and enhancing the utilization of the splitter plates. The improved insulated gas-generating splitter plate structure can limit arc energy accumulation in the lower splitter region, increase arc chamber pressure, and improve the heat transfer coefficient of the medium, thereby reducing arc-flash energy. Through multi-factor, multi-level orthogonal experiments, comprehensive parameter optimization for arc-flash suppression measures is conducted, providing theoretical foundation and guiding value for the redesign of the new structure of DC-MCCB.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":341,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"International Journal of Thermal Sciences\",\"volume\":\"214 \",\"pages\":\"Article 109919\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":4.9000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-04-11\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"International Journal of Thermal Sciences\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"5\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S129007292500242X\",\"RegionNum\":2,\"RegionCategory\":\"工程技术\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Thermal Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S129007292500242X","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
Investigation on heat transfer and fluid flow of arc-flash phenomenon in DC molded case circuit breakers: Model optimization and structural improvement
With the increase in circuit breaker interrupting capacity, the frequency of arc-flash phenomena under high-current interruptions rises significantly. However, numerical studies on internal arc-flash phenomena in such equipment are still limited, with most research remaining in its early stages. Due to the complexity of the internal environment in DC molded case circuit breakers (DC-MCCBs), multi-field coupling simulations of high-energy plasma arcs present substantial challenges. This study conducts experimental comparisons to investigate the arc motion and arc-flash pattern evolution in DC-MCCBs under a constant driving magnetic field and varying interrupting current levels. Using magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), an improved arc model accounting for Archimedes force (buoyancy) is developed to analyze the fluid flow, mass transfer, and heat transfer mechanisms within the arc-flash phenomenon. Several structural improvements are proposed to address this phenomenon, with experimental validation of the optimizations. The results show that in the arc chamber of the DC-MCCB, the airflow dispersion effect causes a reverse vortex at the bend of the arc runner, weakening the arc's buoyancy. Additionally, the strong Lorentz force causes the high-energy arc in the lower section to be cut off and move too rapidly, impeding heat dissipation, which limits the utilization of the splitter plates. This results in uneven energy distribution of the arc in the splitter plate region and is the primary cause of the arc-flash phenomenon. The improved dual-side air outlets structure can increase the gas flow rate above the arc chamber, maintaining the forward vortex lift and enhancing the utilization of the splitter plates. The improved insulated gas-generating splitter plate structure can limit arc energy accumulation in the lower splitter region, increase arc chamber pressure, and improve the heat transfer coefficient of the medium, thereby reducing arc-flash energy. Through multi-factor, multi-level orthogonal experiments, comprehensive parameter optimization for arc-flash suppression measures is conducted, providing theoretical foundation and guiding value for the redesign of the new structure of DC-MCCB.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Thermal Sciences is a journal devoted to the publication of fundamental studies on the physics of transfer processes in general, with an emphasis on thermal aspects and also applied research on various processes, energy systems and the environment. Articles are published in English and French, and are subject to peer review.
The fundamental subjects considered within the scope of the journal are:
* Heat and relevant mass transfer at all scales (nano, micro and macro) and in all types of material (heterogeneous, composites, biological,...) and fluid flow
* Forced, natural or mixed convection in reactive or non-reactive media
* Single or multi–phase fluid flow with or without phase change
* Near–and far–field radiative heat transfer
* Combined modes of heat transfer in complex systems (for example, plasmas, biological, geological,...)
* Multiscale modelling
The applied research topics include:
* Heat exchangers, heat pipes, cooling processes
* Transport phenomena taking place in industrial processes (chemical, food and agricultural, metallurgical, space and aeronautical, automobile industries)
* Nano–and micro–technology for energy, space, biosystems and devices
* Heat transport analysis in advanced systems
* Impact of energy–related processes on environment, and emerging energy systems
The study of thermophysical properties of materials and fluids, thermal measurement techniques, inverse methods, and the developments of experimental methods are within the scope of the International Journal of Thermal Sciences which also covers the modelling, and numerical methods applied to thermal transfer.