Vacuum arc consists of cathode spot and mixing zone, arc column and anode zone. The separate jets and the mixing zone should be considered in the model of diffuse arc. Moreover, the interaction between the plasma jets in multi-cathode spot vacuum arc also is very important. In this paper, mixing and interaction of multi-cathode spot vacuum arc jets were studied through simulation. To completely investigate the mixing and interaction of vacuum arc jets, a steady 3D Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic (MHD) modeling was established. In order to find out the influence of different parameters on mixing and interaction of vacuum arc jets, simulations with different parameters such as currents, angel of vacuum arc jets, with or without electromagnetic equations, tilted jets and different height of mixing zone were conducted. The simulation results show that the densities of ion number and plasma pressure as well as ion temperature increase with the increase of arc current, while the plasma velocity decreases. The jet center is more deviated from the cathode center with the increase of angle of tilted jets.
In this research, drawing vacuum arc (VA) experiments were conducted using composite contacts under currents ranging from 5 kA to 20 kA root mean square (rms). The new type of contact comprised an axial magnetic field (AMF) configuration and a transverse magnetic field (TMF) configuration. The TMF plate was in the center, surrounded by the AMF plate. The contact generated both AMFs and TMFs simultaneously. VA appearances and arc voltages were recorded, and the VA was modeled as a conductor for electromagnetic force analysis in ANSYS software. The results showed that the coaxiality of operating mechanisms significantly influenced arc behavior just as the arc was ignited. When arc brightness did not increase after ignition, there was a voltage drop accompanied with diffusion of the VA. As to VA development, when an arc was ignited on an AMF plate, it spread on the plate and rotated. Over time the arc current increased, the constricting arc forms, and the arc column rotated on the TMF plate under the action of Ampere's force. With regard to the influence of a magnetic field on a VA at different stages, in the initial drawing arc stage the TMF was dominant, and the arc started to rotate under the action of Ampere's force. Afterwards, the AMF was dominant, with a steadily burning arc. As for contact melting, in the initial arcing period, a contracted short arc caused severe melting and erosion of the contact plate. When the ignition spot or root was close to the slot of plate, the electromagnetic force pushed the arc toward slot and contact edge, resulting in local erosion of the slot region.
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