The influence of unipolar axial magnetic field on the behavior of vacuum arcs

Author

Fenski, Burkhard ; Heimbach, Markus ; Shang, Wenkai

Author_Institution

ABB Calor Emag Mittelspannung GmbH, Ratingen, Germany

Volume

31

Issue

2

fYear

2003

fDate

4/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

299

Lastpage

302

Abstract

The behavior of vacuum arcs under the influence of unipolar axial magnetic field (AMF) has been investigated. In experimental investigations, the vacuum arc mode is studied at different arc currents by using high-speed charge-coupled device (CCD) video images. In spite of the AMF, first sign of arc constriction appears at relatively small currents of about 15 kA (RMS). Three different arc modes were found. Based on generalized Ohm´s law, the current density distribution in the vacuum arc with unipolar axial magnetic field is computed using three-dimensional finite-element method (FEM) software. The calculated current distribution is confirmed by the vacuum arc appearance taken from CCD video film. The distribution of AMF can be optimized by such experiments and theoretical analysis.

Keywords

finite element analysis; magnetic field effects; magnetic flux; plasma diagnostics; plasma simulation; plasma transport processes; vacuum arcs; 15 kA; CCD video images; arc constriction; arc currents; axial magnetic field distribution optimisation; current density distribution; current distribution; finite-element simulations; generalized Ohm law; high-speed charge-coupled device; three-dimensional finite-element method; three-dimensional finite-element method software; unipolar axial magnetic field; vacuum arc mode; vacuum interrupter; Charge coupled devices; Computational modeling; Current density; Current distribution; Distributed computing; Finite element methods; Interrupters; Magnetic fields; Thermal loading; Vacuum arcs;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2003.810727

Filename

1197351