Influence of external AC transverse magnetic field on air arc oscillation patterns and its application in DC forced current zero techniques

Abstract Direct current (DC) circuit breakers are essential for maintaining the stability of the electric energy transmission and safeguarding the power equipment from the damage caused by the fault currents in DC power systems. The characteristics of the switching arc can be utilized in DC forced current zero techniques. This paper investigates the influence of an external alternating current (AC) transverse magnetic field on the oscillation characteristics of air arc. By confining the arc between two insulating walls and applying a transverse AC magnetic field, the arc exhibits ‘bidirectional oscillation’ and ‘unidirectional oscillation’ modes. The effects of magnetic field amplitude and frequency on the air arc oscillation characteristics are analyzed through experiments, from the aspects of the arc voltages and arc motions. It can be found that an external AC magnetic field can stabilize the arc voltage at a specific oscillation frequency. By connecting an inductor–capacitor (LC) branch in parallel with the arc and setting the LC branch’s resonant frequency equal to the arc voltage oscillation frequency, a current resonance process between the arc and the LC branch can be achieved. This resonance facilitates the creation of the arc current zero-crossing point. A test platform based on the arc oscillation characteristics is established for current interruption experiments. For system currents of 1 kA and 3 kA, the arc current zero-crossing time is controlled within 0.41 ms after applying the external AC transverse magnetic field. The experimental results verify the rationality of the proposed DC breaking scheme.