In order to improve the arc quenching ability of the multigap system, it is important to know the principle of arc quenching and how the chamber structure affects the arc development process in the multigap system. In this study, the two‐dimensional geometric model of the multigap system is established based on the magnetohydrodynamics theory in COMSOL multiphysics simulation platform. The principle of arc quenching in the multigap system is explained in detail by analysing the physical characteristics of the arc in the multigap system. The simulation result shows that the arc is compressed at large scales in the semi‐closed chambers of the multigap system, which results in an instantaneous temperature rise of the arc, thus, forming the self‐expanding airflow. The strong self‐expanding airflow cuts off the arc channel and blocks the energy supply of the arc. The influence of the chamber structure on arc quenching in the multigap system is manifested in the fact that proper improvement of the width and depth of the chamber subserves arc cooling, the reduction of the deflection angle and the increment of the number of the chambers are conductive to arc extinction.

To avoid the restriction of the arc energy on the energy quenching of an arc and rapidly quench the arc to restore the insulation characteristics of the gas, the process of arc quenching by an explosion air shock wave is studied in this paper. The interaction between an explosion air shock wave and an arc is considered inside a cylinder structure so that concentrated pressure and airflow velocity can be produced. First, a coupling model of the explosion air shock wave and arc is developed theoretically. Second, according to the model, the explosion air shock wave and arc are simulated by finite element simulation software. It is found that the interaction between the explosion air shock wave and arc is most intense at 0.04 ms, the arc is driven out of the cylinder at 0.087 ms, and then, the arc is gradually quenched. Finally, the test results show that the arc is completely quenched at approximately 0.80 ms, and the value of the peak current is 1 kA. Although there is error between the simulation and test results, the effectiveness of the explosion air shock wave in quenching the arc is still verified, and the arc is quenched over a time scale of milliseconds.

In this paper, a two-dimensional axisymmetric module of gas arc extinguishing was simulated using energy balance theories. We used simulation to study the energy distribution change during the gas arc-extinguishing process. We built a lightning impulse current experimental platform according to the IEC standard, and experiments verified the preliminary conclusions of the simulation. Comparison curves of the experimental data and simulation calculations were drawn in the range of 20 kV to 70 kV. Simulation and experimental results showed that the arc-extinguishing ability of long-gap gas arcs is negatively correlated with voltage level and positively correlated with distance. Furthermore, within the allowable range of conditions, increasing the length of the chamber rather than shortening it helps to extinguish the arc more effectively and quickly.

The air-blown interrupting gap protection method is a self-energy interrupting method based on the concept of suppressing arc building by frequency continuation. In order to verify the effect of an air-blown interrupting gap to reduce the rate of line lightning tripping, in this paper, the protection principle of the air-blown interrupter gap is first described, and the action process simulated by COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. Next, a frequency renewal test circuit is built for the test. Then, an arc-building rate calculation model and a lightning trip rate calculation model under the condition of an air-blown interrupting gap are established, and, finally, a 10 kV overhead line in Yunnan is selected for the verification of the calculation example. The results show the following: a gas blowing arc gap can be effectively extinguished in about 2.5 ms frequency arc and with no re-ignition phenomenon. Before and after the installation of the gas blowing arc gap line, the arc rate changed from 37.27% to 4.1%, respectively, and the lightning trip rate changed from 8.64 times/(40 thunderstorm days—100 km) to 0.337 times/(40 thunderstorm days—100 km), respectively. The decline rate was more than 95%, and in actual operation, it reduced the lightning trip rate enough to achieve good results.

Using lightning energy to extinguish the arc is a new lightning protection method. On this basis, the semi-closed multi-compression tube structures (SMTS) combined with the arc extinguishing structure studied in this paper can suppress the power frequency arc at the initial stage of arc establishment by using the coupling effect of current and gas. Firstly, through the simulation comparison method, the promotion effect of the semi-closed tube on the arc discharge was found. Furthermore, the two-dimensional impulse power frequency current coupling discharge model was established to obtain changes in physical quantities, such as temperature and conductivity. The conductivity decreased to the initial value in about 1 ms. Finally, the impulse power frequency combined arc extinguishing test was carried out. The test results show that the arc extinguishing structure can effectively extinguish power frequency freewheeling within 1 ms. It proves the effectiveness of the arc extinguishing structure.

Lightning overvoltage is an unavoidable phenomenon in modern power transmission systems and can lead to power cut-off accidents. Fortunately, with the advent of arc blowout devices (ABDs), the power line trip-out rate has been effectively reduced. However, no platform exists to determine the operational conditions of an ABD. Thus, we have developed and successfully implemented a smart online ABD monitoring system to monitor multiple operational conditions of an ABD. Based on a micro-to-host network architecture, the ABD monitor consists of a data transfer unit, a main node, and multiple subnodes. Combining regional and wide area communication network technologies, sensor data can be efficiently delivered with a special stochastic relay algorithm. Once an ABD trigger event occurs, real-time ABD information will be sent out automatically within a period of heartbeat signal to avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI). We prototyped the ABD monitor with a low-cost 2.4-GHz device and tested it with high-voltage experiments. With the application of a stochastic relay algorithm-based approach to EMI avoidance, the system is demonstrated to be a cost-effective and reliable platform suitable for use with ABDs.