Interruption of DC is more challenging than that of AC because of the absence of DC zero-crossings. This thesis proposes an alternative counter-voltage (ACV) DC hybrid circuit breaker (DC-HCB). This DC-HCB can interrupt the DC up to 5 kA with the source voltage of up to 1 kV and it can meet the general requirements i.e., interrupting the DC within 5ms, and limiting over-voltages due to the CB operation. The existing/investigated DC circuit breakers, i.e., active mode DC-HCB and the traditional counter-voltage (TCV) DC-HCB are also investigated and compared with the proposed DC-HCB. The investigations are based on the time-domain simulation studies in the PSCAD/EMTDC. The studies show that the ACV DC-HCB is the preferred option to both the existing DC-HCBs. The main features of the proposed ACV DC-HCB include lower capacitance in the commutation path and the need for a smaller dielectric strength for the primary-path circuit breaker.

<p>The task for this Master thesis was to evaluate different black-box arc models for circuit-breakers with the purpose of finding criteria for the breaking ability. A black-box model is a model that requires no knowledge from the user of the underlying physical processes. Black-box arc models have been used in circuit-breaker development for many years. Arc voltages from tests made in the High Power Laboratory in Ludvika were used for validation, along with the resistance calculated at current zero, R0, and 500 ns before current zero, R500. </p><p>Three different arc models were evaluated: Cassie-Mayr, KEMA and an arc model based on power calculations. The third model gave very good results and if the model is developed further, the breaking ability could easily be estimated. </p><p>The arc model based on power calculations could be improved by using better approximations of the quantities in the model, and by representing the current better. A further suggestion for the following work is to combine the second arc model tested, the KEMA model, with the model based on power calculations in order to estimate the KEMA model parameters. </p><p>The R0 and R500 values should also be calculated from more tests, in order to find a clear limit of the breaking ability.</p>

The task for this Master thesis was to evaluate different black-box arc models for circuit-breakers with the purpose of finding criteria for the breaking ability. A black-box model is a model that requires no knowledge from the user of the underlying physical processes. Black-box arc models have been used in circuit-breaker development for many years. Arc voltages from tests made in the High Power Laboratory in Ludvika were used for validation, along with the resistance calculated at current zero, R0, and 500 ns before current zero, R500. Three different arc models were evaluated: Cassie-Mayr, KEMA and an arc model based on power calculations. The third model gave very good results and if the model is developed further, the breaking ability could easily be estimated. The arc model based on power calculations could be improved by using better approximations of the quantities in the model, and by representing the current better. A further suggestion for the following work is to combine the second arc model tested, the KEMA model, with the model based on power calculations in order to estimate the KEMA model parameters. The R0 and R500 values should also be calculated from more tests, in order to find a clear limit of the breaking ability.

Le concept de l'avion plus électrique a pour but de remplacer les différents types de transmissions de puissance aéronautique par des transmissions électriques. Le réseau électrique doit donc évoluer. Ce concept a inspiré le projet AEROCOTS dont une partie est la modification du moyen de coupure en un contacteur hybridé avec un circuit électrique. Afin de mieux comprendre ce qui se passe aux bornes du contacteur et vérifier qu'il n'y a pas apparition d'arc électrique, une méthode de caractérisation est employée pour obtenir un modèle complet du contacteur paramétré. Deux circuits électriques sont étudiés et l'absence d'un arc est vérifiée. Leur principe est de réduire à zéro le courant avant l'ouverture du contacteur. Leurs fonctionnements et leurs modèles sont vérifiés expérimentalement. Le choix du second circuit est justifié par un contrôle du courant à ouvrir. Une optimisation évolutionnaire, principe de la théorie de Darwin, est réalisée pour répondre aux objectifs aéronautiques / The main goal of the more electrical aircraft is to substitute the different kind of transmission for the aeronautical power by electrical transmissions. The electric network has to evolve. This concept inspires the project AEROCOTS, which a part lies in the modification of the breaking means thanks to a hybrid contactor with an electrical circuit. To better understand what occurs between the contacts of the contactor and verified the absence of an electrical arc, a characterization method is employed to have a complete parameterized model of a contactor. Two electrical circuits are studied and the absence of an arc is verified. Their principle is to reduce to zero the current before the opening of the contactor. Their functioning and their models are experimentally verified. The choice of the second circuit is justified by a control of the opening current. An evolutionary algorithm, principle of the Darwin's theory, is realized to answer to the aeronautical objectives

This master´s thesis si focused on determinig methodology of optical diagnostics of the switching arc using the high-speed camera Photron SA-X2. The thesis contains basic rules for proper setup of the measurement system and the rules to adjust the camera exposure. The experiments were performed on the prototype of a parametric switching chambre, while the majority of source materials was derived from the requirements of another study which was aimed on the movement of the electode spots. The process of the first adjustment of the camera, a record edit options for the presentation purposes and the process of the 3D model design of the switching arc in SketchUp software was stated. Paper contains a comparsion of the spectral filter effect and neutral density filter effect on the final record as well. The part of the work outputs are the 3D model of the switching arc and the supporting record editing software. The paper results show a degree of the inaccuracies in a optical diagnostics made from only one direction caused by the lack of the information about third dimension.