Experimental investigation of vacuum arc characteristics subject to axial magnetic field contacts with different ratios of diameter to gap distance

• Published in: Physics of plasmas Vol. 29; no. 11
• Main Authors: Wang, Hongda, Wang, Lijun, Ma, Qiang, Wang, Zhiwei, Zhang, Zhefeng, Zhang, Wenzhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Bells; Coils; Interrupters; Magnetic fields; Magnetism; Plasma physics
• ISSN: 1070-664X; 1089-7674
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0108725

In this study, to investigate vacuum arc characteristics under different diameter-to-gap distance ratios (D/g), experiments are conducted on axial magnetic field (AMF) contacts with varying D/g. The peak current value ranges from 15 to 35 kA. The experimental results show that the ability of AMF contacts to control the arc decreases with D/g. Furthermore, the 2/3 coil contact can control the arc under long gap distances, whereas the cup-shaped contact cannot effectively control the arc under long gap distances. The arc energy and noisy period duration decrease with increasing D/g. The arc voltage of the 2/3 coil contact at the peak moment is always the lowest compared to the cup-shaped contact and the 1/2 coil contact, and the arc voltage of the 2/3 coil contact at the peak moment has an approximate power function relation with D/g. The simulation results show that the AMF distribution changes from saddle shape to bell shape with decreasing D/g. The 2/3 coil contact is more suitable for high-voltage vacuum interrupters (VIs), while the cup-shaped contact is more suitable for medium-voltage VIs.