Recovery rate analysis of plasma switch and comparison with experimental results

As a most important component in power system networks, electric circuit breakers and switches protect the electric components from being damaged by fault currents. Breakdown strength and recovery rate are the two essential characteristics of an electric switch. By applying a supercritical fluid (SCF) - a potential insulating medium for high voltage switches, the recovery rate of switches can be significantly improved, owing to the combined advantages of gas and liquid. In this work a simple model for recovery rate investigation of an electric switch is proposed, aiming to roughly indicating the recovery rate of a SCF switch. The accuracy of the model is discussed through comparison with the experimental recovery rate of an air-flushed plasma switch. Both advantage and disadvantage of this model are discussed.