Abstract: A FEM simulation of a high voltage circuit breaker under actual conditions is proposed to solve the high-frequency vibration and mechanical failure problems caused by the realistic factors such as the clearance and structural elasticity of the breaker. Its operating characteristic under the high power pulse load is analyzed and the influence of the spring stiffness and dimension error on the breaker’s motion characteristics was predicted. On the basis of the dependency of the breaker’s mechanical characteristics on potential faults, critical parameters and design defects are established. The new FEM of the a high-voltage circuit breaker will replace the traditional high-cost, large-work-load, and inefficient experimental diagnostic method. It also eliminates the obstacles of the systematic analysis on the fault generation mechanisms, such as the lack of fault samples of traditional experimental methods, and thus significantly improves the fault diagnosis for the high-voltage circuit breakers.

Key words: High-voltage circuit breaker, Operating mechanism, FEA model, Fault simulation