Simulation and optimization of dynamic characteristics of intelligent AC contactor

Dynamic characteristics reflect the real situation of an AC contactor and are very important to the optimum design of AC contactors. A simulation model of intelligent AC contactor has been established using the ADAMS software with developing a user subroutine in which the iterated Runge-Kutta method is adopt to solve a set of differential equations that describe the coupling of circuit, electromagnetic and mechanical systems. Because of reusing the analysis results obtained from the simulation of static characteristics accomplished by the ANSYS software, the simulation model runs more efficiently. In addition, by using the ADAMS/solver in the batch mode, an optimization library have been integrated with the ADAMS software and successfully used to seek the optimal control parameters to minimize the contact bounces and core bounces. The simulation results show that the intelligent AC contactor with PWM control can effectively reduce the bounces and energy consumption.