Design and Implementation of Arc-Induction Type DC Circuit Breaker Confirming Prototype Model

In this study, a new type of arc-induced DC (direct current) circuit breaker is proposed as a mechanical circuit breaker suitable for DC systems. It consists of mechanical contacts, induction needles, an induction ring, and a ground line. Powerful DC arcs are generated by the movement of the mechanical contact, but they are induced to the ground by the induction needles, and are exhausted. In this study, the cut-off characteristics of the arc-induced DC circuit breaker were analyzed using the Maxwell software. A simulation model was designed, and the electrical field distribution was analyzed according to the contact pole length. In addition, a prototype was fabricated based on the simulation results, and basic cut-off operation experiments were per-formed. As a result, it was possible to investigate the blocking characteristics of the arc-induced DC circuit breaker through the simulation and experiment. Moreover, it was confirmed that the induction needles can induce DC arcs.