FEM SIMULATION OF VACUUM CIRCUIT BREAKER BY ANSYS

Abstract

In this paper, the analytical method has been calculated 3-D diffuse vacuum
arcs with an axial magnetic field using a commercial FEM package, ANSYS. The
vacuum arc has been modeled with the sequential coupling method of two
different fields, which are on the electromagnetic force. Arc constriction with
applied currents could be predicted with the results of temperature distribution,
and further modeling procedures will be followed for the detailed constriction
phenomena of vacuum arcs with an axial magnetic field. The method of
computing electric field and electric potential with ANSYS in a VSm-type vacuum
breaker arc quenching chamber is introduced. ANSYS is used to analyze the
influence of different boundaries on electric field and electric potential in vacuum
circuit breaker arc-quenching chamber, which lays a basis for the simulation of
electric field and exact quantitative analysis and computation.