Reliability Evaluation of Low-Voltage AC Switching Arc Extinction

The inherent randomness in the operation of electromagnetic switching mechanisms and the stochastic nature of arc evolution during current interruption pose significant challenges to reliable evaluation of arc extinguishing performance. To address this issue, this paper establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system incorporating electrical parameters, breaking characteristics, and arc voltage signal features. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Coefficient of Variation (CV) method are respectively employed to determine subjective and objective weight distributions. These weights are subsequently optimized through game theory integration, followed by a comprehensive scoring calculation using the TOPSIS method, thereby constructing a robust evaluation model for low-voltage AC switching arc extinction. Furthermore, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) arc model is developed using the COMSOL Multiphysics platform to simulate arc behavior under various operating conditions. The simulation results demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed evaluation methodology. This integrated approach combining multi-parameter analysis, optimized weight allocation, and numerical simulation provides a systematic solution for performance assessment of arc extinction in low-voltage AC switching devices, offering both theoretical significance and practical application value for the design and optimization of switching apparatus.