A new contact design based on a quadrupolar axial magnetic field and its characteristics

✍ Scribed by H. Fink; M. Heimbach; W. Shang

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 710 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1430-144X
• DOI: 10.1002/etep.4450100202

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Axial magnetic field (AMF) contacts are applied within vacuum interrupters especially in case of high short‐circuit current. In this paper a new AMF contact design based on a quadrupolar field arrangement and its characteristics are presented. In the first part the basic principle of the new contact design is introduced. This is followed by three‐dimensional field simulations performed with the aid of a Finite‐Element‐program. The magnitude of the axial magnetic flux density, the phase‐shift between current and magnetic flux density, and the current flow within the contact plate are investigated during arcing. The impact of quadrupolar AMF on the arc behaviour during the high current phase is analysed by high‐speed films and pictures of the contact surface after arcing. The interruption performance of the principle has been validated by short‐circuit tests up to 12 kV/63 kA.