The Dynamic Volt-Ampere Characteristics of a Vacuum Arc at Intermediate-Frequency Under a Transverse Magnetic Field

In this study, the changes of a vacuum arc’s appearance were observed and the volt-ampere characteristics of the vacuum arc at intermediate frequency were analyzed under a transverse magnetic field (TMF). The TMF and phase shift time were calculated by using the TMF contact model and the large phase shift of the magnetic field at a higher frequency was conductive to the dispersion process of residual plasma. The arc velocity was higher at 800 Hz than at 400 Hz. It can be inferred that TMF will encourage arc movement at 800 Hz. Moreover, the arc movement has an impact on the arc voltage. Because of the increasing length of the arc column with a high arc velocity, the elongated arc causes the arc voltage to increase. Specifically, the volt-ampere characteristics of the vacuum arc are divided into three stages in this paper. The higher the frequency, the greater the initial rate of rise in the arc voltage and the larger the area surrounded by arc volt-ampere characteristics. The correlations between the arc voltage and the amplitude and frequency of the current are also presented.     

Interruption Phenomenon in Intermediate-Frequency Vacuum Arc

In the condition of the 3 mm gap, experiments for 360 Hz intermediate-frequency vacuum arc are carried out in interrupters with the diameters being 41 mm and with the contact materials being CuCr50 and Cu-W-WC alloy respectively. The results indicate that the contacts material is closely related to the breaking capacity of the vacuum interrupters and characteristics of an intermediate-frequency vacuum arc. For contacts with the same diameter, the breaking capacity of CuCr50 is better than that of Cu-W-WC. When the current fails to be interrupted, the arcs overflow the gap and present irregular performances in the first half wave. Consequently a voltage spike appears. More macroscopic metal droplets can be seen in the arc column between CuCr50 contacts because of the lower melting point. It is observed that the droplet emission is much more severe during arc reignition than that in the first half wave. It is much more conspicuous that the high frequency arc voltage noises appear in Cu-W-WC contacts when the vacuum arcs reignite, for higher temperature and stronger electronic emission ability of Cu-W-WC contacts.     

Arc Behaviours in Vacuum Interrupters with Axial Magnetic Field Electrodes

To improve the limiting current interruption capability and minimizing vacuum interrupter with axial magnetic field （AMF） electrodes, it is significant to investigate the vacuum arc behaviours between the contacts. AMF distributions of the slot type electrodes were studied by both numerical analysis and experiments. Furthermore, the behaviours of vacuum arcs for different parameters of the slot type AMF electrodes were investigated by using high-speed CCD camera. The influences of gap distance, contact diameter and phase shift time between AMF and arc current on the vacuum arc were investigated. The results provide a reference for research and development of vacuum interrupters with slot type or other types of AMF electrode.     

Simulation Research of Magnetic Constriction Effect and Controlling by Axial Magnetic Field of Vacuum Arc

Based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of vacuum arc, the computer simulation of vacuum arc was carried out in this paper. In the MHD model, mass conservation equation, momentum conservation equations, energy conservation equations, generalized ohm‘s law and Maxwell equation were considered. MHD equations were calculated by numerical method, and the distribution of vacuum arc plasma parameters and current density were obtained. Simulation results showed that the magnetic constriction effect of vacuum arc is primarily caused by the Hall effect. In addition, the inhibition of axial magnetic field (AMF) on constriction of vacuum arc was calculated and analyzed.     

Investigation of Vacuum Arc Voltage Characteristics Under Different Axial Magnetic Field Profiles

Characteristics of the arc voltage under different profiles of axial magnetic field were investigated experimentally in a detachable vacuum chamber with five pairs of specially designed electrodes generating both bell-shaped and saddle-shaped mafnetic field profile. The arc column and cathode spot images were photographed by a high speed digital camera. The dependence of the arc voltage on arcing evolution is analyzed. It is indicated that the axial magnetic field profile could affect the arc behaviors significantly, and the arc voltage is closely related to the arc light intensity.     

Arc characteristics during the instability stage on transverse magnetic field contacts

The arcing process greatly affects the breaking ability after current zero. The instability stage is the transition stage from the ignition to the movement stage, which affects the arc movement characteristics. In this paper, the arc characteristics during the instability stage on spiral-type contacts were investigated using a high-speed video camera. A multi-column parallel instability mode and a single-column instability mode were found during the instability stage. The arc appearance and constriction degree changed rapidly. The arc voltage usually increased accompanied by fluctuations. In addition, it was found that the current significantly influenced the arc mode and duration in the instability stage. With increased peak current, the probability of a single-column instability mode increased, and the fluctuation range and average time decreased.     

Distribution of Cathode Spots in Vacuum Arc Under Nonuniform Axial Magnetic Fields

Recent results on the distribution of vacuum arc cathode spots （CSs） in nonuniform axial magnetic field （AMF） are presented. Based on previous studies, we deem that two contrary influences of AMF, inward effect and outward effect, are attributed to CSs distribution. With this notion, we have analyzed the controlling effectiveness of nonuniform AMF on CSs distribution. Experiments were conducted in a detachable vacuum chamber with iron-style AMF electrodes. Images of vacuum arc column and the distribution of CSs were photographed with a high-speed charge coupled device （CCD） camera. Experimental results agreed well with the theoretical analysis.     

过滤管道磁场在改进真空弧沉积系统中的作用

在90°磁过滤管道和MEVVA源阴极之间加30～60V的正偏压可使磁过滤管道起到阴极弧放电第二阳极的作用.在此情况下,就磁过滤管道磁场对MEVVA源阳极-阴极和磁过滤管道-阴极两个回路弧放电和磁过滤管道等离子体传输效率的影响进行了实验研究.研究结果表明随磁过滤磁场升高,磁过滤管道和阴极之间的弧放电规模降低,系统的等离子体传输效率升高,但对MEVVA源阳极和阴极之间的弧放电规模影响不大.     

Investigation of cathode spot characteristics in vacuum under transverse magnetic field (TMF) contacts

With the continuous improvement of current levels in power systems,the demands on the breaking capacity requirements of vacuum circuit breakers are getting higher and higher.The breaking capacity of vacuum breakers is determined by cathode spots,which provide electrons and metal vapor to maintain the arc.In this paper,experiments were carried out on two kinds of transverse magnetic field (TMF) contacts in a demountable vacuum chamber,the behavior of the cathode spots was recorded by a high-speed charge-coupled device (CCD) video camera,and the characteristics of the cathode spots were analyzed through the image processing method.The phenomenon of cathode spot groups and the star-shaped pattern of the spots were both discovered in the experiment.The experimental results show that with the condition of TMF contacts the initial expansion speed of cathode spots is influenced by some parameters,such as the tested current,contact gap,the structure of the contact,the contact diameter,the number of slots,etc.In addition,the influence of the magnetic field on the formation of the cathode spot groups,the distribution,and the dynamic characteristics of the cathode spots were analyzed.It is concluded that the characteristics of the cathode spots are due to the effect of the magnetic field on the near-cathode plasma.The study of the characteristics of cathode spots in this paper would be helpful in the exploration of the physical process of vacuum arcs,and would be of guiding significance in optimizing the design of vacuum circuit breakers.     

Vacuum Poloidal Magnetic Field of Tokamak in Alternating-Current Operation

Vacuum poloidal magnetic field of tokamak in alternating-current (AC) operation is investigated. It is found that the vacuum magnetic field in AC operation is qualitatively different from that in direct-current (DC) operation. In the DC case, the vacuum magnetic field varies along the poloidal direction with one period, while in the AC case, the vacuum magnetic field varies along the poloidal direction with two periods. This implies that two sets of vertical field coil may be needed for the AC operation.