Extinction of Short A-C. Arcs

This paper presents the results of a study made with short, stationary a-c. arcs between metallic electrodes, in order to determine the effect of arc length, electrode material, and current magnitude on the rate of recovery of dielectric strength of the arc space following a current zero. The experimental results show (1) that the arc space recovers the ability to withstand a hundred volts or more within a few microseconds after a current zero, as predicted by Slepian's theory, (2) that the maximum allowable rate of rise of voltage across the arc space which will just permit arc extinction is much greater for very short arcs (1 cm. or less) than for longer arcs, (3) that the critical rate of rise of voltage depends largely on the electrode material used and tends to vary as a decreasing linear function of the boiling point, and (4) that the higher current arcs have a much lower critical rate of rise of voltage than the lower current arcs.