Simulation Analysis and Experimental Investigation of the Iron-Core Cup-Shaped Transverse Magnetic Field Contact

The transverse magnetic field (TMF) contact uses self-generated TMF to drive the arc movement and has been widely used in the field of vacuum breaking. An iron-core cup-shaped TMF contact was designed by adding an iron core and changing the parameters of the cup wall based on the structure of the traditional cup-shaped TMF contact to optimize the gap magnetic field distribution of the cup-shaped TMF contact and improve the force characteristics of the vacuum arc. From the aspects of simulation and experiment, the gap magnetic field characteristics, arc force, and vacuum arc characteristics of the iron-core cup-shaped TMF contact were studied. The simulation analysis model of the iron-core cup-shaped TMF contact was established by COMSOL Multiphysics software, and the gap magnetic field characteristics and arc force were analyzed. Compared with the traditional cup-shaped TMF contact, the tangential electromagnetic force on the arc is increased by 30%, and the radial electromagnetic force is reduced by 36%. The arcing processes of the iron-core cup-shaped TMF contact and the traditional cup-shaped TMF contact were analyzed through experiments. The results show that the iron-core cup-shaped TMF contact has a faster arc movement speed, longer movement duration, and less metal droplet splashing.