Abstract：In this paper, based on the magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) model of high current vacuum arc (HCVA), the HCVA characteristics with big-size electrode are simulated and analyzed; moreover, the influence of arc currents and axial magnetic fields(AMFs) on HCVA characteristics is also analyzed. The simulation results show that the densities of ion number and axial current as well as plasma pressure and electron temperature increase with the increase of arc current, while the plasma velocity decreases. Furthermore, the distributions of these parameters become more and more nonuniform, and the concentration of arc column also is intensified. When arc current reaches to 60kA, current constriction also appears near cathode side. If AMFs are stronger, the plasma velocity becomes faster, while the other plasma parameters gets smaller, and their distributions become more and more homogeneous. The increase of AMFs also can inhibit the current constriction of cathode side. Finally, a comparison is made between simulation result and experimental result of vacuum arc characteristics under actual AMF, and simulation results of HCVA with big-size electrode are in agreement with arc photographs. MHD model of HCVA with big-size electrode can supply some theoretical supports for design of generator vacuum circuit breakers.
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2013, Vol. 28 
