Vacuum Arc Interruption Performance at Different Moments of Rotational Engagement

The vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) experiences changes in arc shape during the interruption process. The evolution of different arc shapes determines the breaker’s interrupting performance. Investigating the characteristics of the arc at various stages and analyzing the influencing factors can help accelerate the transition from a restraining arc to a spreading arc, thereby enhancing the VCB's rapid extinguishing capability. The research team proposed a method that involves rotating the cathode during the direct pull-off process of the circuit breaker. It was observed that rotating the electrode causes the arc root to move, which affects the shape of the arc throughout its burning process. Based on this rotating interruption method, this paper studies the impact of introducing electrode rotation at different moments during the arc combustion phases on the arc’s burning characteristics. Through image processing analysis and simulation experiments, it was concluded that introducing rotation during the direct pull-off process is beneficial for arc extinction. Both experimental and simulation results demonstrate that combining rotation with direct pull-off is more effective in dissipating arc energy and accelerating arc extinction.