Macroscopic Numerical Arc Model Emulating Dynamic V-I Characteristics of Vacuum Switches

Abstract

Mayr equation like numerical arc model is applied to simulation of transient phenomena on vacuum switch operation. Additionally, a simple numerical method we call “Input Masking” is proposed and introduced into this calculation method. The following features of arc voltage and current are easily described by this method, semi-constancy of arc voltage, burst of spike voltage, small current chopping. Calculated and measured wave forms of arc voltage and current show similar characteristics.