Transient thermal propagation of static contacts

The transient thermal propagation of static contact has significant effects on contact welding, contact erosion and the design of contact system of low voltage apparatus. The finite difference method is used to calculate the transient thermal propagation of static contact by computer. In the present paper, a numerical model to calculate the temperature field distribution, the electrical potential field distribution and the Joule heat distribution in the bulk of contact are deduced. As an example, the static contact temperature rise of a contactor is calculated. The research work is of certain importance to thermal propagation of static electrical contact and can be a good guidance to design of low voltage apparatus.