Simulation of the interruption process of low voltage circuit breaker using dynamic mathematic arc model

The key issue in the simulation of the interruption process of low voltage circuit breaker is how to establish the mathematic model of the electric arc and couple it with other physics phenomena in the breaker's interruption process. By carrying out second-development of virtual prototype software ADAMS, the dynamic mathematic arc model is successfully applied to the interruption process simulation of low voltage breaker. Combing with the FEM program ANSYS, a set of differential equations describing the coupling of complex mechanical movement, electric circuit, magnetic field and dynamic mathematic arc model was constructed. The simulation model was applied to a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) with double repulsive contacts structure to analyze influence of the static contact force on the breaker's interruption performance. Experiment validation was carried out for the simulation. It demonstrates that the proposed method is effective and capable of simulating the interruption process of the low voltage circuit breaker. © 2009 Chin. Soc. for Elec. Eng.