Interruption strategy of fault current fed by high-capacity generator based on phase selection and current-zero prediction
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Low-arc-energy interruption strategy for generator circuit breakers. • Optimal first-pole-to-clear selection is the phase with medium asymmetrical degree. • Contacts are controlled to separate near predicted current zeros at the end of small half-waves. • Combining optimal pole selection and current-zero prediction ensures low arc energy and high reliability. The high asymmetrical degree (AD, >100 %) of the fault current fed by high-capacity turbine generator (HTG) results in high arc energy ( E arc ), hindering reliable interruptions of generator circuit breakers (GCBs). Traditional GCBs with simultaneous three-phase separation at random moments suffer from uncontrollable arcing time and high E arc , severely undermining the interruption reliability of GCB. To limit E arc , GCBs with phase-separated operation mechanism should be applied, along with the first pole to clear (FPTC) selection and ideal current-zero prediction. Contributions of the paper are: first, it is revealed the phase with medium AD should be selected as the FPTC, and contacts should be controlled to separate near the current zero at the end of a small half-wave. Second, combined with FPTC selection and ideal current-zero prediction, an interruption strategy is proposed, which can limit E arc to <50 kJ in random faults, improving the GCB interrupting reliability for highly asymmetrical currents. Simulation results verified its effectiveness.
Authors: Jinghan Fan, Weijie Wen, Bin Li, Haiyan Wang, Zhihao Zhu, Xiang Fei
Institution: Tianjin University
Language: English
Topic: Vacuum and Plasma Arcs
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,920
Awards: G4984243795, G7002024914
OpenAlex ID: W7083180244