以電弧故障斷路器防止插頭（座）積污導電之火災

Evaluation of Using Arc- fault Circuit Interrupters to Prevent Electric Fire Caused from Tracking on Plug (Socket)

積污導電經常發生於長時間未拔除的電器設備之插頭與插座間，尤其在沒有人注意而未立即處理或滅火時，極易引發電氣火災。為有效降低因積污導電而引發工廠或住家之電氣火災，本文進行插頭（座）之積污導電模擬試驗，並評估利用電弧故障斷路器（Arc-fault circuit interrupter, AFCI）之保護功能，防止積污導電之電氣火災可行性。
研究發現：1.插頭（座）之電路未加裝AFCI，於模擬積污導電下，插頭（座）將因高溫與電氣火花而起火燒毀；2.在插頭（座）之電路加裝AFCI，於模擬積污導電下，能夠跳脫切斷電路，防止持續電弧火花產生，其中結合型AFCI效果最好，分支／幹路型AFCI效果其次；3.在插頭（座）周邊存在易燃物之試驗中，於模擬積污導電下，結合型AFCI能快速跳脫切斷電路，防止周圍易燃物引燃。

Tracking usually occurs between plugs and sockets of electrical equipment that have not been removed for a long time, and often causes fires when unattended. In order to effectively reduce the electrical fire caused by tracking of the factory or the home, this project carries out the simulation experiment of tracking between plugs and sockets, and evaluates the utility of the arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) to prevent the electrical fire caused from tracking.
The research findings:1. The circuit of the plug (socket) is not equipped with AFCI. Under simulation experiment of tracking, the plug (socket) will be burnt due to high temperature and electrical spark; 2. The AFCI is installed in the circuit of the plug (socket), which can trip off the circuit and prevent the occurrence of continuous arc spark under the simulation experiment of tracking. The combined AFCI works best, and the branch/ feed type AFCI effect is second; 3. In the experiment of flammable materials around the plug (socket), the combined AFCI can quickly trip off the circuit to prevent ignition of surrounding flammable materials.