77 / 2024-04-10 20:25:36

Cellular Automaton Simulation of Arc Erosion Resistance of Graphene-Reinforced Copper-Tungsten Alloy Contacts

Circuit breaker contacts,copper-tungsten alloy,graphene,cellular automaton,arc erosion

The copper-tungsten alloy, widely used as a contact material in circuit breakers and gas-insulated switchgear assemblies in power systems, is valued for its high thermal conductivity, strength, and resistance to electric arc erosion. With the development of new energy power systems, such as higher voltage levels and longer transmission distances, there is a growing demand for improved erosion resistance in CuW80 alloy contact materials. Existing CuW80 electrical contacts are struggling to meet the mechanical performance requirements under higher voltages, particularly during the closing process of circuit breaker contacts. The contacts experience temperature rises, localized softening, melting, and even splattering due to high-energy electric arcs. These phenomena exacerbate post-arc erosion, leading to eventual failure of the contacts after multiple closures. Graphene(Gp), known for its excellent electrical and mechanical properties as well as its high surface area-to-volume ratio, is extensively utilized to enhance the performance of composite materials. This study establishes a model of graphene-doped CuW80 alloy composite contact materials. Utilizing cellular automaton(CA) simulation methods, the study investigates the effects of graphene doping with four different mass fractions (0.04wt%, 0.08wt%, 0.12wt%, 0.16wt%) and different distribution forms (vertical to parallel) on the erosion results of contact materials, including crater size, erosion rate, heat distribution, and resistance to electric arc erosion. It explores the reinforcement mechanism of graphene at the mesoscopic scale. The research indicates that the erosion results of the CuW80Gr model are superior to CuW80, and with an increase in graphene mass fraction, the erosion resistance of the modified material gradually improves. Vertically distributed graphene-modified materials outperform parallel distributed ones. The introduction of graphene helps enhance the resistance of circuit breaker contacts to electric arc erosion during breaking. The reinforcement mechanism of graphene on CuW composite materials is manifested in energy shielding and absorption of arc heat flow. The research results provide a theoretical foundation and simulation support for the modification design and performance regulation of graphene to enhance the erosion resistance of copper-tungsten alloy electrical contacts.