Co-simulation on the optimization design of high-speed electromagnetic repulsion mechanism of vacuum circuit breaker

In recent years high-speed electromagnetic repulsion mechanism (ERM), which is produced based on the eddy-current effect, has been widely applied to vacuum circuit breakers. One of the challenges for the design of ERM is to improve the speed of ERM by optimization design. In this paper, a novel co-simulation model is proposed. The related electromagnetic field, mechanical field and structural field of ERM have been analyzed through co-simulation. Results show that achieving separation in a few milliseconds is possible. Besides, considering the metal plate, as a driver of frequent operation, is possible to reach its mechanic limit, the stress and the strain of it are analyzed. In addition, according to the parametric analysis, the relationship between improving speed and optimizing parameters, e.g., the turns of the coil, the structural size, the storing form of energy and the initial gap are investigated.