Dynamic spatial motion tracking and evolution process of high-current vacuum multiple arc columns

Abstract As the interrupting current level and contact diameter of vacuum circuit breakers increase, an arc phenomenon occurs characterized by the prolonged existence of multiple independent arc columns in the contact gap. Due to mutual occlusion of multiple arc columns in the projection direction, conventional single imaging or simple splicing of dual-view imaging struggle to capture the motion trajectories and spatiotemporal evolution information of the arcs. To address this issue, this paper proposes a dynamic spatial motion tracking method for vacuum multiple arc columns. First, a minimum arc occlusion model was established, and the model assumptions were proposed based on the characteristics of the arc. Then, the arc intensities and motion trajectories of the multiple arc columns were respectively obtained through a multi-arc column arc intensity inversion method and a multi-arc column position inversion method. Based on the motion processes of multiple arc columns and arc voltage, the arcing process was divided into three stages. A detailed analysis was conducted on the motion characteristics of the arc columns and the arc behaviors of column merging and splitting in each stage. Finally, based on the arc intensity inversion results, the arc intensity characteristics of multiple arc columns were revealed at different stages. Furthermore, the influence of arc behaviors on arc intensities was also studied. By enabling the dynamic tracking of multiple arc columns, this study establishes a preliminary basis for investigating their formation mechanisms and motion characteristics.