High speed imaging of plasmas in low voltage systems

There are a number of situations where arc discharges occur in low voltage systems, for example the open and closing of contacts in switchgear. There are still many questions to be answered in the understanding of these phenomena. One particular application is in the short circuit operation of a miniature current limiting circuit breaker. In this application an arc discharge occurring between opening contacts is forced rapidly into splitter plates. To investigate the underlying physical phenomena a very high speed imaging system has been designed and developed.