Experimental and simulation of triggered vacuum arc under TMF-AMF contact

摘要

A series of triggering experiments were carried out to investigate into the characteristics of vacuum arc controlled by TMF-AMF contacts. During the whole experiments, current ranged from 5kA to 20kA (rms) and both arc appearance and the behavior of cathode spots were captured by high-speed camera with corresponding arc current and arc voltage. A 3D steady MHD model was built to simulate and analyze the vacuum arc behavior under TMF-AMF contacts, and arc plasma parameters were calculated based on the above model. The experimental results showed that arc deflection was visible under both low and high current. Under high current, arc core formed, which meant arc contracted itself significantly. The simulation results show that ions are likely to gather on the branches of TMF plate on anode plane, as a result of the effects between electro-magnetic force and pressure gradient of arc plasma.