Plasma physics and the interruption of an electric circuit

Abstract

This paper reviews the fundamentals of circuit interruption from both a scientific and an engineering viewpoint. The paper starts by discussing the interaction between a circuit interrupter and its associated power system. It then proceeds to describe the different methods of arc interruption. These first two parts form the background for the main purpose of this paper: to review the scientific understanding of arc interruption. Since the common ingredient in all circuit interrupters is the electric arc, the understanding of the process of circuit interruption is closely related to the scientific understanding of the behavior of arcs under both steady-state and transient conditions. Recent progress it this area is reviewed. Since arc interruption is a process during which a gas is changed from a high-temperature conducting state to a low-temperature insulating state, the knowledge of electrical breakdown of high-temperature gases is of fundamental importance, and this subject is discussed in some detail. References are provided for further study.