SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF HIGH BREAKING CAPACITY FUSE ARCS

The complex nature of arcing phenomena in high breaking capacity fuses has made arc modelling and simulation extremely difficult. This paper describes an experimental spectroscopic technique to continuously inv estigate arc parameters, such as temperature, in this type of fuse. Ar c probing was achieved by the use of an optical fibre and the spectros copy consisted of the continuous acquisition of plasma emissions of ra diation by an opto-electronic system. Using quantum-mechanics expressi ons for the computation of the results, the arc temperature was estima ted to be about 20 000 K, which agrees with previous research. There w as little variation of temperature with time. This information is of g reat value for those developing dynamic representations of fuse arcs.