The Opening Switch with Arc (or Opener With Arc) component models a two-terminal, single-pole, electrical switch whose contacts arc when opened, which occurs when the control input goes true.

This model is an extension to the IdealOpeningSwitch. The basic model interrupts the current through the switch in an infinitesimal time span. If an inductive circuit is connected, the voltage across the switch is limited only by numerics. To better approximate the actual voltage across the switch, a simple arc model is added. When the Boolean input $\mathrm{control}$ signals to open the switch, a voltage is impressed across the opened switch. This voltage starts at $V_0$ (simulating the voltage drop of the arc roots), rises with slope $\stackrel{\.}{V}$ (simulating the rising voltage of an extending arc) until a maximum voltage $V_{\max }$ is reached.

Depending on the connected circuit, the arc voltage reduces the current through the switch.  When the current reaches zero the arc is quenched and the switch goes to the off-state. When the Boolean input $\mathrm{control}$ signals to close the switch again, the switch is closed immediately.

In an AC circuit, the arc quenches when the next natural zero-crossing of the current occurs. In a DC circuit, the arc will not quench if the arc voltage is not sufficient to force the current to zero.

$\{\begin{array}{cc}v\=R_{\mathrm{on}}i& \mathrm{on}\\ i\=G_{\mathrm{off}}v& \mathrm{quenched}\\ v\=\min \left(V_{\max }\,V_0\+\stackrel{\.}{V}\left(t-t_{\mathrm{Switch}}\right)\right)& \mathrm{otherwise}\end{array}$

$t_{\mathrm{Switch}}\=\mathrm{time\; control\; goes\; false}$

$\mathrm{quenched}\=\left(\mathrm{off}\wedge \left(\left|i\right|\le \left|v\right|G_{\mathrm{off}}\vee \mathrm{pre}\left(\mathrm{quenched}\right)\right)\right)$

$\mathrm{off}\=\neg \mathrm{on}$

$i\=i_p\=-i_n$

$v\=v_p-v_n$

$\mathrm{LossPower}\=vi$

The component described in this topic is from the Modelica Standard Library. To view the original documentation, which includes author and copyright information, click here.