DC Current Interruption Based on Vacuum Arc Impacted by Ultra-Fast Transverse Magnetic Field

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of an external ultrafast transverse magnetic field (UFTMF) on a vacuum arc in the diffused mode has been studied. According to the results of studies, a novel approach for making a zero-crossing in a DC arc current has been presented. Plasma voltage fluctuations of the vacuum arc, which are caused by UFTMF, have been investigated via finite element simulation and two-fluid description of plasma physics. By making an appropriate UFTMF through an external circuit, the arc current can be commuted successfully from the vacuum interrupter (VI) to a parallel capacitor and charge it up. In this way, a zero-crossing in the arc current can be achieved, and the current will be interrupted by the VI. Simulation results, which are supporting physical backgrounds for this analysis, have been presented in this paper while technological issues for industrial implementation of this concept have been discussed in detail.

Keywords

• vacuum circuit breaker
• vacuum arc
• DC circuit breaker
• current interruption
• vacuum interrupter
• magnetic field