Industrial Circuit Breakers Need to Have a Arc Interruption

Arc Interruption and industrial circuit breakers

Arc interruption is an important part of the use of industrial circuit breakers for both the safety of those who work in a facility as well as the facility itself. Therefore using the correct type of industrial circuit breakers to match the electrical current that will flow through the system.

What is Arc Interruption?

Miniature low-voltage Circuit Breakers use air alone to extinguish the arc. Larger ratings will have metal plates, or even non-metallic arc chutes. This will divide as well as cool the arc. Magnetic blowout coils will deflect the arc into the arc chute. AC arcs have periods of low current. When that takes place, the arc can be extinguished without much trouble, however DC arcs have a high continuous current, so blowing the arc out requires the it to be stretched further than an AC arc of the same current.

Vacuum industrial circuit breakers have minimal arcing. As a result, the arc reduces when it is stretched. Vacuum circuit breakers are often used in medium-voltage switchgear, which is usually up to 35,000 volts.

Another way to control the arc is through air industrial circuit breakers. This type of system uses compressed air to blow out the arc. Another way compressed air is used to blow out the arc, is to have the contacts swing into a small sealed chamber. The escaping of the displaced air will blow out the arc.

Understanding how to control the arc and how it relates to industrial circuit breakers is an important part of a facility’s electrical current safety.

Arc and Industrial Circuit Breakers

Industrial circuit breakers are usually able to terminate all current in a quick fashion. On average, the arc is extinguished between 30ms and 150ms after the mechanism has been tripped. This will vary of course, depending on the age and the construction of the device in use. This is why it is always a good idea to have industrial circuit breakers tested and inspected at a standard interval so it is ensured they will respond correctly if they are called into use.