Upon the Interaction between Magnetic Field and Electric Arc in Low Voltage Vacuum Circuit Breakers

The paper presents an investigation of the magnetic field influence within low voltage switching process in vacuum, in the case of strong currents interrupting. The axial, transverse and radial magnetic field action upon the vacuum electric arc behavior is analyzed on a mono-phase model. The conclusions obtained by modeling the electromagnetic field in the vacuum quenching chamber are compared with the experimental results. The experimental set-up can reproduce the real switching conditions of the power vacuum circuit-breaker. The goal of the study is the improvement of the circuit-breaker switching capabilities.