Abstract:Aiming at the difficult problem that the lines of distribution network are subject to lightning stroke which causes insulator flashover resulting in power failure, a device called arc extinguishing device with multi-gap structure is studied based on the idea of "dredging-arc extinguishing".The device uses insulation coordination to discharge lightning current into the ground before insulator breakdown, and at the same time, uses its recoil structure and multi-fracture structure to extinguish the arc rapidly. Firstly, the structure and arc extinguishing principle of the device are introduced. And then the arc extinguishing process of recoil structure and multi-fracture structure are described by mathematical model. And next, the main factors that affect the arc extinction are discussed, and it is concluded that increasing gas velocity is an effective way to improve the arc extinction efficiency and shorten the arc extinction time. Finally, the arc extinguishing test with high power frequency current proves that the proposed device has good arc extinguishing effect, and can extinguish the arc with 2 kA in 4 ms, and under four pieces of insulator shed, this device can also control the arc to get into its interior.