92 / 2024-04-11 17:57:29

Fast Internal Arc Fault Simulation of Switchgear

1-D Simulation,CFD,Internal Arc Fault,Switchgear

An internal arc fault presents a considerable danger, both to the safety of nearby personnel and the integrity of switchgear and structures, due to the release of a significant amount of energy. Thus, the aim of this research is to mitigate this risk by expelling pressurized and heated air from switchgear in a controlled, low-energy state. However, employing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate the thermal fluid dynamics of internal arcs is arduous and time-consuming for designers, limiting its applicability in product development. Consequently, in this investigation, we employed high-speed simulations utilizing Matlab Simulink&Simscape. We propose a simplified 1-dimensional model for simulating internal arcs within switchgear, based on fundamental principles of physics. The efficacy of this approach was validated by comparing pressure data obtained from two distinct sections of the same model with results from both 3-dimensional and 1-dimensional simulations.