Numerical simulation of effect of arc current and axial magnetic field on low current vacuum arc characteristics

In this paper, two-temperature magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of low current vacuum arc (LCVA) is established. According to this model, at first, fundamental characteristics of LCVA are simulated and analyzed. Then, the influence of arc current and axial magnetic field on LCVA characteristics is simulated and analyzed. Simulation results show that the influence of arc current and axial magnetic field on LCVA characteristics is significant, and the simulation results are in agreement with the experimental results, especially for ion temperature. In addition, simulation results also show that for LCVA electron temperature increases with the increase of axial magnetic field strength, this trend is also in agreement with the experimental results.