Investigation of Arc Dynamic Behavior Change Induced by Various Parameter Configurations for C₄F₇N/CO₂ Gas Mixture

• Published in: Energies
• Main Authors: Wen Wang, Xianglian Yan, Beiyang Liu, Yalin Bian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2024-07-01
• Subjects: C₄F₇N/CO₂; arc dynamic behavior; magnetohydrodynamic-based arc model; non-recombination feature
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/14/3485

This study investigates the feasibility of using a mixture of C₄F₇N/CO₂ gases as an eco-friendly arcing medium for high-voltage circuit breakers, comparing its performance to that of conventional SF₆ gas. An existing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-based arc model is modified to incorporate the non-recombination characteristics of C₄F₇N. The temperature, pressure, and velocity distributions of the arc throughout the whole arcing process are systematically analyzed. First, the differences in multi-physical fields induced by the C₄F₇N non-recombination feature are highlighted. The effects of varying the C₄F₇N concentration from 4% to 10% in the C₄F₇N/CO₂ gas mixture on the arc behavior are also computationally studied. The results indicate significant differences in the arc-extinguishing performance between C₄F₇N/CO₂ and SF₆ under identical operating conditions. The potential of using C₄F₇N/CO₂ as a viable alternative to SF₆ in circuit breaker applications may need further design efforts to optimize key components such as the driving mechanism and nozzle. Moreover, as the concentration of C₄F₇N increases, the gas mixture exhibits improved flow field characteristics, suggesting that a higher volume concentration of C₄F₇N enhances the gas’s short-circuit current interruption capabilities.