EXAMINATION OF R-WIRE BURST USING A HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL

STUDIES WILL BE PERFORMED TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING FAIRLY HIGH RESISTANCE CABLES (R-WIRES) AS A MEANS TO MITIGATE THE LARGE SREMP TRANSIENTS WHICH ARE EXPECTED IN BURIED AND OVERHEAD POWER-LINE DISTRIBUTIONS. THE ANALYSIS WILL UTILIZE COMPUTER CODES WHICH SOLVE THE ONE-DIMENSIONAL TRANSMISSION LINE EQUATIONS IN THE TIME DOMAIN USING FINITE DIFFERENCE TECHNIQUES. A MAJOR PORTION OF THIS EFFORT WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE INCORPORATION OF A HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE 1-D CODES TO DESCRIBE THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE RESISTIVE CABLES UNDER ELECTRICAL STRESS. A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY INJECTED INTO THE CABLE WILL RESULT IN VAPORIZATION OF THE MATERIAL AND SUBSEQUENT FORMATION OF A LOW RESISTANCE "RESTRIKE ARC." EARLIER STUDIES OF RESISTIVE CABLES EMPLOYED A SIMPLE JOULE HEATING MODEL WITHIN THE 1-D CODES. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL CAREFULLY EXAMINE THE VAPORIZATION AND RESTRIKE PHENOMENON USING THE MORE SOPHISTICATED HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL TO DESCRIBE THESE EFFECTS.