ABSTRACT
Slepian (71) first described the arc extinction process in his 'race theory," where the recovery of the gap between the contacts depends upon two competing voltage values: (1) the transient recovery voltage (TRV) of the circuit, which is impressed across the contacts
Slade
at current zero and is only dependent upon the circuit inductance, resistance, and capacitance, and (2) the increase in the dielectric strength of the residual arc channel. This is characterized by the voltage required to reignite the arc, called the reignition voltage. The reignition voltage increases with time. It is only dependent upon the contact gap parameters, such as the arc current before current zero, the gap length, contact material, arc chamber design, and the ambient gas, but it is independent of the circuit parameters.
