Measurement and Simulation Analysis of the Contact Impact Force of 126 kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker

The object of this paper is to determine the closing impact force of a 126 kV vacuum circuit breaker and the influence of related factors. The impact force is measured by using PVDF piezoelectric sensors. The peak value of impact force is measured as 97 995 N and the duration is 0.487 ms when the closing speed is 1.5 m/s. The influence of the contact shape, the elastic modulus of the contact material, the contact closing speed and the spring force on the contact impact force during the closing process is studied by Ansys/LS-DYNA simulation. The simulation results show that: the contact shape has no effect on the impact force of the contact. As the elastic modulus of the contact material increases, the peak value of the contact force increases and the duration of the impact force decreases. As the contact closing speed or spring force increases, the peak value of the contact impact force increases, and the duration of the impact force basically unchanged.