Permanent magnet actuator and electronic drive for vacuum switches

Abstract

The permanent magnet actuator (PMA) is a new drive system for vacuum switches, it is the key technology to the transformation from mechanic driver to electronic driver. After discussion on the concept of an electronic driver, an equivalent circuit of a typical PMA is given first, an optimized energizing current is proposed, that needs a minimum pulsed power source. Then the reliability of a PMA system is discussed.