High-current vacuum arcs on magnetic field contacts: electrical, spectroscopic and contact temperature investigations

The paper deals with the electric arc phenomena in a low voltage circuit breaker in order to improve the breaking capability. Electrical and thermal parameters were measured in the high current arc period and in the zero current moment (CZ) and corroborated with the arc plasma spectroscopic investigations. Considerations concerning successful or unsuccessful high current interruption are presented. The paper presents results based on single shot time resolved emission spectroscopy around the CZ.