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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L42803/01
Title: ARC PLASMA PRODUCTION OF PARTICULATE MATERIAL AND ITS EFFECTS UPON CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATION
Principal Investigator: Spencer, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Kong, Professor M Jones, Professor G R Kong, Dr M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
National Grid Va Tech Reyrolle Distribution Ltd
Department: Electrical Engineering and Electronics
Organisation: University of Liverpool
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 September 1997 Ends: 31 August 2000 Value (£): 199,298
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Power Systems Plant
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposed project would investigate the formation of particulate materials by an SF6 arc within the environment of a high voltage circuit breaker. The effect of such particulate formation on the behaviour of transient arcs during and after current interruption would be studied. The project would investigate the hypothesis that particle formation at the plasma boundary could enhance the arc quenching by providing a hitherto neglected energy loss mechanism and explore the possible use of other particle producing are situations as alternatives to SF6 gas arc quenching media. The formation and the effect of these particles will be monitored by a variety of sensors. Such monitors will include; laser light scattering and/or light sheet techniques for detecting particles and to locate the site of production; radio-frequency probing for detecting if such particle are charged; an optical fibre based Mie scattering probe for determining the concentration of such particle and a localised dielectric strength monitor to assess the deleterous effect such particles may have on the host gas. Theoretical modelling of the particle behaviour will also be investigated using transmission line modelling algorithms. In particular, consideration wil be given to influencing the movement of charged particles by electromagnetic control.
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.liv.ac.uk