Experimental Investigation of Wire-Explosion Triggered Arcing for Transformer Fire-Explosion Failure Simulation

To address the critical threat posed by arcing faults in transformer on-load tap changers to power transmission safety and stability, and the unclear mechanisms of how wire-explosion byproducts influence pressure characteristics in conventional transformer fire-explosion tests, this study proposes a comparative research methodology combining wire-explosion experiments with characteristic analysis. An oil-immersed wire-explosion experimental platform is established to investigate the typical development process, discharge characteristics, and pressure features. The findings demonstrate that; the wire explosion discharge process exhibits four distinct phases-pre-explosion. explosion-to-voltage-peak, ionization, and breakdown; system stored energy significantly determines discharge modes and subsequent pressure characteristics, while wire dimensions directly correlate with energy loss during are initiation, both critically affecting discharge channel conditions and energy deposition processes; these factors collectively govern initial shockwave pressure and propagation patterns. This research provides fundamental insights into oil-immersed wire electrical explosion processes and offers valuable references for optimizing transformer fire-explosion simulation test protocols.