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.     

Influence of the axial magnetic field on sheath development after current zero in a vacuum circuit breaker

After current zero,which is the moment when the vacuum circuit breaker interrupts a vacuum arc,sheath development is the first process in the dielectric recovery process.An axial magnetic field (AMF) is widely used in the vacuum circuit breaker when the high-current vacuum arc is interrupted.Therefore,it is very important to study the influence of different AMF amplitudes on the sheath development.The objective of this paper is to study the influence of different AMF amplitudes on the sheath development from a micro perspective.Thus,the particle in cell-Monte Carlo collisions (PIC-MCC) method was adopted to develop the sheath development model.We compared the simulation results with the experimental results and then validated the simulation.We also obtained the speed of the sheath development and the energy density of the ions under different AMF amplitudes.The results showed that the larger the AMF amplitudes are,the faster the sheath develops and the lower the ion energy density is,meaning the breakdown is correspondingly more difficult.     

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.     

Motion and Splitting of Vacuum Arc Column in Transverse Magnetic Field Contacts at Intermediate—Frequency

Arc motion and splitting of vacuum arc at intermediate frequency（400-800 Hz） were investigated under transverse magnetic field（TMF）.The experiment was performed on cup-type TMF contacts with contact diameter of 40 mm and a contact gap of 4 mm in a single-frequency circuit.With high-speed photography we characterized the arc appearance at different arc currents from 3.3 kA-rms to 10 kA-rms at intermediate frequencies.As arc current increases from3.3 kA-rms to 10 kA-rms the arc appearance changes obviously.When current value is 3.3 kArms（current frequency 400-800 Hz）,there is almost no splitting arc;when the current exceeds5 kA-rms（current frequency 400-800 Hz）,the arc rotates at a speed above 20 m/s,accompanied by an observable splitting arc.The splitting arc could be observed at different frequencies and the arc-voltage had no noises when splitting occurred.The motion direction and the velocity of arc column were studied.Finally,the formation of a split arc was discussed.     

Control of vacuum arc source cathode spots contraction motion by changing electromagnetic field

This paper investigates the magnetic field component impact on cathode spots motion trajectory and the mechanism of periodic contraction.Electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets were installed at the different sides of cathode surface,the photographs of cathode spots motion trajectory were captured by a camera.Increasing the number of magnets and decreasing the distance between magnets and cathode both lead to enhancing cathode spots motion velocity.Radii of cathode spots trajectory decrease gradually with the increasing of electromagnetic coil's current,from 40 mm at 0 A to 10 mm at 2.7 A.Parallel magnetic field component intensity influence the speed of cathode spots rotate motion,and perpendicular magnetic field component drives spots drift in the radial direction.Cathode spot's radial drift is controlled by changing the location of the ‘zero line' where perpendicular magnetic component shifts direction and the radius of cathode spots trajectory almost equal to ‘zero line'.     

The influence of weak transverse magnetic field on plasma dissipation process in the post-arc phase in a vacuum interrupter

Transverse magnetic field (TMF) contacts and applying external TMF are often adopted for reducing the ablation of the contact surface, but TMF will also affect the breaking performance of the vacuum interrupters. In this work, we investigated the influence of weak TMF on the expansion of the plasma in the post-arc phase with one-dimensional implicit particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision model, and we added an external circuit to the model to ensure the correctness of the calculation results. We simulated multiple magnetic field strengths (<30 mT), compared the plasma expansion process with the TMF strengths of 0 mT and 10 mT, and discussed the influence of metal vapor density on the insulation performance recovery of the vacuum interrupter. From the results, applying TMF with strength below 5 mT has little effect on the expansion of the plasma, and the TMF can increase the plasma density which improve the flow capacity of vacuum circuit breakers when the magnetic field above 10 mT, which is because the particles become more difficult to leave the discharge area under the force of the magnetic field. In general, we find that weak external TMF may adversely affect the breaking performance of the vacuum circuit breakers.     

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.     

环形电子束在周期永磁场中传输的理论研究

通过对环形电子束中电子的受力分析，得出了在周期永磁场(PPM)中电子束传输的条件和电子束的形状。研究认为可以使用PPM对环形电子束进行传输。     

Numerical simulation of the plasma acceleration process in a magnetically enhanced micro-cathode vacuum arc thruster

A particle-in-cell simulation is conducted to investigate the plasma acceleration process in a micro-cathode vacuum arc thruster. A coaxial electrode structure thruster with an applied magnetic field configuration is used to investigate the effects of the distribution of the magnetic field on the acceleration process and the mechanism of electrons and ions. The modeling results show that due to the small Larmor radius of electrons, they are magnetized and bound by the magnetic field lines to form a narrow electron channel. Heavy ions with a large Larmor radius take a long time to keep up with the electron movement. The presence of a magnetic field strengthens the charge separation phenomenon. The electric field caused by the charge separation is mainly responsible for the ion acceleration downstream of the computation. The impact of variations in the distribution of the magnetic field on the acceleration of the plasma is also investigated in this study, and it is found that the position of the magnetic coil relative to the thruster exit has an important impact on the acceleration of ions. In order to increase the axial velocity of heavy ions, the design should be considered to reduce the confinement of the magnetic field on the electrons in the downstream divergent part of the applied magnetic field.     

Simulation of Arc Rotation and Its Effects on Pressure of Expansion Volume in an Auto-Expansion SF6 Circuit Breaker

A 3D Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) arc model in conjunction with an arc move¬ment model is applied to simulate the arc rotation as well as to solve its effect on the pressure in an auto-expansion circuit breaker. The rotation of the arc driven by an external electromagnetic force is simulated in the case with 200 kA of the short circuit current and 16 ms of arc duration. The arc rotating process and the speed of arc rotation have been obtained in the simulation. A comparison of the pressure in the expansion volume with and without an external magnetic field has been carried out based on the calculation results of two cases. The results of the simulation reveal that the arc rotation, which causes more energy exchange between the arc and its surrounding gas, can evidently bring about the pressurization in the expansion volume, which would contribute to more effective arc quenching at current zero and further reducing operation power.     

Experimental and numerical studies of pressure drop in PbLi flows in a circular duct under non-uniform transverse magnetic field

Experiments and three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations are performed to investigate the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) characteristics of liquid metal (LM) flows of molten lead-lithium (PbLi) eutectic alloy in an electrically conducting circular duct subjected to a transverse non-uniform (fringing) magnetic field. An indirect measurement approach for differential pressure in high temperature LM PbLi is first developed, and then detailed data on pressure drop in this PbLi MHD flow are measured. The obtained experimental results for the pressure distribution are in good agreement with numerical simulations. Using the numerical simulation results, the 3D effects caused by fringing magnetic field on the LM flow are illustrated via distributions for the axial pressure gradients and transverse pressure differences. It has been verified that a simple approach for estimation of pressure drop in LM MHD flow in a fringing magnetic field proposed by Miyazaki et al. [22] i.e., a simple integral of pressure gradient along the fringing field zone using a quasi-fully-developed flow assumption, is also applicable to the conditions of the present experiment providing the magnetic interaction parameter is large enough. Furthermore, for two different sections of the LM flow at the entry to and at the exit from the magnet, it is found that the pressure distributions in the duct cross sections in these two regions are different.     

Understanding the changing mechanism of arc characteristics in ultrasound-magnetic field coaxial hybrid gas tungsten arc welding

Ultrasound-magnetic field coaxial hybrid Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (U-M-GTAW) is proposed as a means to control arc characteristics. The arc characteristics and the mechanism to change them, in an ultrasound-magnetic field coaxial hybrid GTAW, were studied by both experimental and theoretical analyses. The results showed that a periodic rotation and compression of the arc shape were obtained in U-M-GTAW and the arc energy was also enhanced. The most obvious compression of the arc shape in U-M-GTAW was obtained, compared with GTAW, M-GTAW and U-GTAW. At the same time, a periodic rotation of the arc was observed in U-M-GTAW. The geometric parameters of the arc shape in U-M-GTAW are reduced more than double compared with traditional GTAW. The arc voltage in the hybrid GTAW was increased, especially in the U-M-GTAW. The electromagnetic force and acoustic radiation force were the main factors for the change of arc characteristics in the U-M-GTAW.     

Matching characteristics of magnetic field configuration and chamfered channel wall in a magnetically shielded Hall thruster

To date,the selection of the magnetic field line used to match the chamfered inner and outer channel walls in a magnetically shielded Hall thruster has not been quantitatively studied.Hence,an experimental study was conducted on a 1.35 kW magnetically shielded Hall thruster with a xenon propellant.Different magnetic field lines were chosen,and corresponding tangentially matched channel walls were manufactured and utilized.The results demonstrate that high performance and a qualified anti-sputtering effect cannot be achieved simultaneously.When the magnetic field lines that match the chamfered wall have a strength at the channel centerline of less than 12％ of the maximum field strength,the channel wall can be adequately protected from ion sputtering.When the magnetic field lines have a strength ratio of 12％-20％,the thruster performance is high.These findings provide the first significant quantitative design reference for the match between the magnetic field line and chamfered channel wall in magnetically shielded Hall thrusters.     

Basic experiments during loss of vacuum event (LOVE) in fusion experimental reactor

If a loss of vacuum event (LOVE) occurs due to damage of the vacuum vessel of a nuclear fusion experimental reactor, some chemical reactions such as a graphic oxidation and a buoyancy-driven exchange flow take place after equalization of the gas pressure between the inside and outside of the vacuum vessel. The graphite oxidation would generate inflammable carbon monoxide and release tritium retained in the graphite. The exchange flow through the breaches may transport the carbon monoxide and tritium out of the vacuum vessel. To add confidence to the safety evaluations and analyses, it is important to grasp the basic phenomena such as the exchange flow and the graphite oxidation. Experiments of the exchange flow and the graphite oxidation were carried out to obtain the exchange flow rate and the rate constant for the carbon monoxide combustion, respectively. These experimental results were compared with existing correlations. We plan a scaled-model test and a full-scale model test for the LOVE.     

应用随机模拟理论计算低、中放固体废物处置场核素迁移

为了计算低、中放固体废物处置场关闭后,放射性核素在孔隙介质中迁移行为以及对公众造成的照射,应用随机数学理论,将处置场岩土体孔隙-裂隙双重介质视为一个随机场,依据流体渗流力学理论基础形成的二维定向渗流理论,建立了反映放射性核素在处置场岩土体中迁移规律的数学模型。结合计算技术,进一步建立可对放射性核素在处置场岩土体中迁移规律进行仿真分析的系统,并可以用于放射性核素在处置场岩土体中迁移规律模拟研究与预测分析,以及对公众所致辐射剂量计算。通过算例重复仿真实验分析,最后进行统计平均得出放射性核素在处置场岩土体中迁移的规律性认识,验证了所建模型是可行的、有效的。     

~(241)Am-Be源在煤中所形成中子场的参数拟合

研究了7种煤中主要元素对241Am-Be中子源在煤中形成中子场的影响,给出了描述中子场中快中子和热中子数量变化曲线的经验公式和拟合参数。