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1887

access icon free Influence of contacts’ orientation on the AMF distribution in inter-contact gaps of VCBs

© The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Received 02/06/2018, Accepted 24/11/2018, Revised 25/10/2018, Published 24/11/2018

An axial magnetic field (AMF) plays an important role in the process of vacuum arc stabilisation during the current breaking process in the vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) of the AMF type. To minimise the contacts erosion special attention should be paid to reach a possibly high value of the AMF density (between contact plates), especially in the outer electrode region. Various contact geometries are patented all over the world to improve the AMF distribution. Nevertheless, there is an issue which is not raised in the literature as yet. It is the mutual orientation (rotation) of the moving and fixed contacts. This orientation can have an influence on the AMF distribution. The above problem is analysed here numerically using Maxwell (ANSYS) software package based on the finite element method. The own (patented) contact design is considered in the analysis mentioned. However, the beneficial influence of AMF on the arc behaviour is well known for VCB designers, the explanation of this phenomenon is described (in the literature) rather seldom and very cursorily. Therefore, a simplified model accounting for the role of AMF in vacuum arc diffusion is shortly presented at the beginning of this study.

Inspec keywords: electrodes; electrical contacts; vacuum circuit breakers; magnetic fields; vacuum arcs; finite element analysis; vacuum interrupters

Other keywords: axial magnetic field; finite element method; AMF distribution; contact design; vacuum arc stabilisation; AMF density; mutual orientation; moving contacts; AMF type; Maxwell software package; ANSYS; VCBs; moving fixed contacts; vacuum circuit breakers; current breaking process; contact geometries; fixed contacts; intercontact gaps; contact plates; vacuum arc diffusion; contacts erosion

Subjects: Finite element analysis; Switchgear

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