Thermal Analysis of the Current Path from Circuit Breakers Using Finite Element Method
This paper describes a three-dimensional thermal
model of the current path included in the low voltage power circuit
breakers. The model can be used to analyse the thermal behaviour of
the current path during both steady-state and transient conditions.
The current path lengthwise temperature distribution and timecurrent
characteristic of the terminal connections of the power circuit
breaker have been obtained. The influence of the electric current and
voltage drop on main electric contact of the circuit breaker has been
investigated. To validate the three-dimensional thermal model, some
experimental tests have been done. There is a good correlation
between experimental and simulation results.
[1] C. Bartoletti, G. Fazio, F. Muzi, S. Ricci, and G. Sacerdoti, "Diagnostics
of electric power components: An improvement on signal
discrimination," WSEAS Trans. on Circuits and Systems, vol. 4, pp. 788-
795, 2005.
[2] M. Kezunovic, C. Nail, Z. Ren, D. R. Sevcik, J. Lucey, W. Cook, and E.
Koch, "Automated circuit breaker monitoring and analysis," in Proc. of
the IEEE Power Engineering Society Transmission and Distribution
Conf., 2002, pp. 559-564.
[3] I. Manea, C. Chiciu, F. Balasiu, and N. Tulici, "Complex methods to
diagnose the technical state of the medium and high voltage circuit
breaker after short-circuit events," in 2001 IEE Conf. Publication 1 pp.
482.
[4] M. Adam, A. Baraboi, C. Pancu, and A. Plesca, "Reliability centered
maintenance of the circuit breakers," International Review of Electrical
Engineering, vol. 5, pp. 1218-1224, 2010.
[5] R. P. Smeets, Van Der Linden, W. A., Achterkamp, M., Damstra, and E.
M. De Meulemeester, "Disconnector switching in GIS: three-phase
testing and phenomena," IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 15, pp.
122-127, 2000.
[6] T. Mutzel, F. Berger, and M. Anheuser, "Numerical analysis of lowvoltage
circuit-breakers under short-circuit conditions," in The 53rd
IEEE Holm Conf. on Electrical Contacts, 2007, pp. 37 - 42.
[7] M. P. Filippakou, C. G. Karagiannopoulos, D. P. Agoris, and P. D.
Bourkas, "Electrical contact overheating under short-circuit currents,"
Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 57, pp. 141-147, 2001.
[8] C. G. Aronis, C. G. Karagiannopoulos, P. D. Bourkas, and N. J.
Theodorou, "Dimensioning components installed in electrical panels
with respect to operational temperature," IEE Proc. - Science
Measurement and Technology, vol. 152, pp. 36 - 42, 2005.
[9] L. G. Bujoreanu, "On the influence of austenitization on the morphology
of ╬▒-phase in tempered Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys," Materials
Science and Engineering A vol. 481-482, pp. 395-403, 2008.
[10] N. Du, Y. Guan, W. Liu, S. Jin, and M. Collod, "Current distribution and
thermal effects analysis on the sliding contact arrangement in circuit
breaker," in International Conf. on Electrical Machines and Systems,
2008, pp. 447 - 451.
[11] N. P. Basse, M. Seeger, C. M. Franck, and T. Votteler, "Thermal
interruption performance and fluctuations in high voltage gas circuit
breakers," in The 33rd IEEE International Conf. on Plasma Science,
2006, pp. 86.
[12] K. Pechrach, J. W. McBride, and P. M. Weaver, "The correlation of
magnetic, gas dynamic and thermal effects on arc mobility in low
contact velocity circuit breakers," in Proc. of the Forty-Eighth IEEE
Holm Conf. on Electrical Contacts, 2002, pp. 86 - 94.
[13] C. C. Hwang, J. J. Chang, and Y. H. Jiang, "Analysis of electromagnetic
and thermal fields for a bus duct system," Electric Power Systems
Research, vol. 45, pp. 39-45, 1998.
[14] Yu. A. Fominykh, Yu. A. Sokovishin, V. N. Osotov, D. S. Maslennikov,
A. G. Konstantinov, M. E. Parylis, and A. M. Greditor, "Temperature
distribution over the surface of rectangular busbars in electrical
apparatus," Elektrichestvo, vol. 4, pp. 53-56, 1992.
[15] I. A. Metwally, "Thermal and magnetic analyses of gas-insulated lines,"
Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 79, pp. 1255-1262, 2009.
[16] M. D. Budinich, and R. E. Trahan, "Dynamic analysis of substation
busbar structures," Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 42, pp. 47-53,
1997.
[17] A. F. Schneider, D. Richard, and O. Charette, "Impact of amperage creep
on potroom busbars and electrical insulation: Thermal-electrical
aspects," in Light Metals - TMS 2011 Annu. Meeting and Exhibition, San
Diego, 2011, pp. 525-530.
[18] M. P. Paisios, C. G. Karagiannopoulos, and P. D. Bourkas, "Model for
temperature estimation of dc-contactors with double-break main
contacts," Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, vol. 15, pp. 503 -
512, 2007.
[1] C. Bartoletti, G. Fazio, F. Muzi, S. Ricci, and G. Sacerdoti, "Diagnostics
of electric power components: An improvement on signal
discrimination," WSEAS Trans. on Circuits and Systems, vol. 4, pp. 788-
795, 2005.
[2] M. Kezunovic, C. Nail, Z. Ren, D. R. Sevcik, J. Lucey, W. Cook, and E.
Koch, "Automated circuit breaker monitoring and analysis," in Proc. of
the IEEE Power Engineering Society Transmission and Distribution
Conf., 2002, pp. 559-564.
[3] I. Manea, C. Chiciu, F. Balasiu, and N. Tulici, "Complex methods to
diagnose the technical state of the medium and high voltage circuit
breaker after short-circuit events," in 2001 IEE Conf. Publication 1 pp.
482.
[4] M. Adam, A. Baraboi, C. Pancu, and A. Plesca, "Reliability centered
maintenance of the circuit breakers," International Review of Electrical
Engineering, vol. 5, pp. 1218-1224, 2010.
[5] R. P. Smeets, Van Der Linden, W. A., Achterkamp, M., Damstra, and E.
M. De Meulemeester, "Disconnector switching in GIS: three-phase
testing and phenomena," IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 15, pp.
122-127, 2000.
[6] T. Mutzel, F. Berger, and M. Anheuser, "Numerical analysis of lowvoltage
circuit-breakers under short-circuit conditions," in The 53rd
IEEE Holm Conf. on Electrical Contacts, 2007, pp. 37 - 42.
[7] M. P. Filippakou, C. G. Karagiannopoulos, D. P. Agoris, and P. D.
Bourkas, "Electrical contact overheating under short-circuit currents,"
Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 57, pp. 141-147, 2001.
[8] C. G. Aronis, C. G. Karagiannopoulos, P. D. Bourkas, and N. J.
Theodorou, "Dimensioning components installed in electrical panels
with respect to operational temperature," IEE Proc. - Science
Measurement and Technology, vol. 152, pp. 36 - 42, 2005.
[9] L. G. Bujoreanu, "On the influence of austenitization on the morphology
of ╬▒-phase in tempered Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys," Materials
Science and Engineering A vol. 481-482, pp. 395-403, 2008.
[10] N. Du, Y. Guan, W. Liu, S. Jin, and M. Collod, "Current distribution and
thermal effects analysis on the sliding contact arrangement in circuit
breaker," in International Conf. on Electrical Machines and Systems,
2008, pp. 447 - 451.
[11] N. P. Basse, M. Seeger, C. M. Franck, and T. Votteler, "Thermal
interruption performance and fluctuations in high voltage gas circuit
breakers," in The 33rd IEEE International Conf. on Plasma Science,
2006, pp. 86.
[12] K. Pechrach, J. W. McBride, and P. M. Weaver, "The correlation of
magnetic, gas dynamic and thermal effects on arc mobility in low
contact velocity circuit breakers," in Proc. of the Forty-Eighth IEEE
Holm Conf. on Electrical Contacts, 2002, pp. 86 - 94.
[13] C. C. Hwang, J. J. Chang, and Y. H. Jiang, "Analysis of electromagnetic
and thermal fields for a bus duct system," Electric Power Systems
Research, vol. 45, pp. 39-45, 1998.
[14] Yu. A. Fominykh, Yu. A. Sokovishin, V. N. Osotov, D. S. Maslennikov,
A. G. Konstantinov, M. E. Parylis, and A. M. Greditor, "Temperature
distribution over the surface of rectangular busbars in electrical
apparatus," Elektrichestvo, vol. 4, pp. 53-56, 1992.
[15] I. A. Metwally, "Thermal and magnetic analyses of gas-insulated lines,"
Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 79, pp. 1255-1262, 2009.
[16] M. D. Budinich, and R. E. Trahan, "Dynamic analysis of substation
busbar structures," Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 42, pp. 47-53,
1997.
[17] A. F. Schneider, D. Richard, and O. Charette, "Impact of amperage creep
on potroom busbars and electrical insulation: Thermal-electrical
aspects," in Light Metals - TMS 2011 Annu. Meeting and Exhibition, San
Diego, 2011, pp. 525-530.
[18] M. P. Paisios, C. G. Karagiannopoulos, and P. D. Bourkas, "Model for
temperature estimation of dc-contactors with double-break main
contacts," Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, vol. 15, pp. 503 -
512, 2007.
@article{"International Journal of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Sciences:55509", author = "Adrian T. Plesca", title = "Thermal Analysis of the Current Path from Circuit Breakers Using Finite Element Method", abstract = "This paper describes a three-dimensional thermal
model of the current path included in the low voltage power circuit
breakers. The model can be used to analyse the thermal behaviour of
the current path during both steady-state and transient conditions.
The current path lengthwise temperature distribution and timecurrent
characteristic of the terminal connections of the power circuit
breaker have been obtained. The influence of the electric current and
voltage drop on main electric contact of the circuit breaker has been
investigated. To validate the three-dimensional thermal model, some
experimental tests have been done. There is a good correlation
between experimental and simulation results.", keywords = "Current path, power circuit breakers, temperature
distribution, thermal analysis.", volume = "6", number = "12", pages = "1445-9", }
