Model and simulation investigation of the whole process of high-current vacuum arc burning

With the development of the power industry and the increase in the capacity of power systems, vacuum switches have been developed rapidly. The distribution characteristics of the vacuum arc can reflect the working conditions of the vacuum switch. So, it is vital to understand the distribution characteristics in the vacuum arc burning process for understanding the interruption performance of vacuum switches. Based on the 3D magnetohydrodynamic model, we investigated the high-current vacuum arc burning process by modeling and numerical simulation. The research findings show a certain correspondence between the change in plasma parameters values and the change in arc current. The distribution of plasma parameters is uniform when the current is small. The distribution of plasma parameters in the first 1/4 cycle is more uniform than in the second 1/4 cycle. The evolution characteristics of the arc plasma parameters for interruption before the arc current maximum differ significantly from those for interruption after the arc current maximum and current maximum. The results of this study can provide a reference for the design and improvement of vacuum switches.