Temporal Development Of Relative Ablation Of Plastics In Miniature Circuit Breaker During Switching Process

Abstract

The paper is focused on an ablation of plastic materials in contact with an electric arc inside the electrical apparatus during the switching process. It is possible to obtain temporal development using method based on optical emission spectroscopy. The emission spectra were taken during the switching process. The hydrogen alpha spectral line of Balmer series was used as an indicator for evaluating of plastics ablation. Complications connected with the measurements are discussed. The main part of the paper deals with a temporal development of relative concentration of a hydrogen in plasma inside the miniature circuit breaker. Atomic spectral lines database of National Institute of Standards and Technology was used as a spectral data source for evaluation.