Abstract
This paper deals with the distribution characteristics of the current density and axial magnetic flux density on the vacuum interrupter with axial magnetic field type using 3 dimension finite element analysis. An axial magnetic field parallel to the current flow in the arc column can improve the current breaking capacity of vacuum interrupter by affecting the arc mode. The axial magnetic flux density on the contact electrode surface is analyzed by inputting external current as a function of the transient time for sine half wave. And it also is analyzed within the gap distance of the contact electrode. The peak value of current but is decreased with the descending current on the contact electrode surface and within the gap distance of the contact electrode. The residual magnetic field is generated on the contact electrode surface and within the gap distance in the instant of zero current, which is due to the influence of eddy currents. The phase shift due to eddy currents, defined as time difference between the maximum value of current and axial magnetic field, is about 1ms in the center point of gap distance.