Study on the capacitive storage energy redistribution by protection elements when capacitor break-down

Data obtained when studying energy distribution in elements of 80 kJ capacitive energy storage circuit with protective element installed in the capacitor while emergency situation - the capacitor break-down - is simulated, are presented. The protective element (PE) is a device, containing a series of nichrome conductors, which is installed on potential output of each capacitor. When emergency current is passed in case of the capacitor break-down the capacitor electric exploson took place. The emerging arc resistance switched on in series with the resistance of arc gap in braked-down capacitor took part in energy redistribution which is released in the capacitor modulus. The model experiments conducted have shown, that the use of PE for capacitor protection in emergency situation is both expedient and justified. Its operation in the emergency regime neither results in the break-down of surrounding equipment nor leads to the inflammability of cable insulation located in close proximity