Characteristics of electromagnetic field and arc motion in vacuum interrupter with longitudinal magnetic field contacts

A three-dimensional model ofvacuum interrupter was established to study the arc motion in longitudinal magnetic field. The PIC method was used to simulate the electromagnetic field and arc motion for 12 kV vacuum interrupter. Structural parameters of contact gaps, shield diameters and grooving width of the contact cup were changed to study the influence of the electromagnetic field distribution in vacuum interrupter. Variation of arc motion with time and arc distribution on contact surface under different contact distances were simulated. The results show that the proper placement of shield in vacuum interrupter can effectively improve the electric field distribution, and the grooving width of the contact cup can influence the magnetic field distribution. When the grooving width increases, the magnetic field strength increases.