Arcing Characteristics of Electromechanical Contactor under Different Currents

Abstract

The structure of arc extinguishing chamber of electromechanical contactor has an important influence on the occurrence and the development of arc. In this paper, an experimental platform was built to analyse the critical current effect in the breaking process. Based on the magnetohydrodynamic model, the mathematical arc model for small DC contactor is established. Consider the near polar region between fractures, the physical fields in arc extinguishing chamber under different breaking conditions are analyzed. The simulation model is verified by comparing the simulation result with the experiment result. The research conclusion is helpful to optimize the arc extinguishing chamber structure, and to improve the breaking capacity of the contactors.