Current limiting simulation for low voltage circuit breaker

This paper presents a simulator for analyzing current limiting behaviors in low voltage circuit breakers. Magnetic field analysis, motion analysis and circuit analysis are combined. In the magnetic field analysis, the 3-dimensional finite element method (FEM) is used by which magnetic driving force acting on a movable contact is calculated precisely. The characteristics of electric arc, such as electric field of arc is used experimental result of model equipment. It is considered that current dependence and pressure dependence of arc voltage. In the following sections, measurement of arc voltage characteristics, modeling and simulation algorithm are described. Furthermore, simulation results and comparison with the experimental result of model equipment are also described.