Upon the influence of the post-arc current on the low voltage switching process in vacuum

The paper presents an investigation of the post-arc current within low voltage switching process in vacuum, in the case of very strong currents interruption. Large power equipment, providing an accurate reproduction of the processes, concerning the short-circuit phenomenon was used and an experimental model, which can simulate the behavior, in switching conditions, of the power circuit-breaker in vacuum, was also available. The influence of an axial magnetic field generated by the main current by means of a specific circuit was also explored.