Master's Thesis: Magnetic Instabilities for Accelerated Arc Extinction

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we’ll give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.This Position reports to:R&D Team Lead Normally, instabilities in electrical arcs are seen as a defect (e.g., welding, fusion plasma reactors). However, in electrical switchgear, instability is a feature. Different types of instabilities in electrical arcs (e.g., kink, helical, and sausage) can be used to extinguish electrical arcs. The thesis aims to investigate how these instabilities accelerate arc extinction in DC circuit interrupters.Details:Period: January - June 2027Number of credits: 30 hp / ECTSNumber of students: 1Location: VästeråsTasksLiterature survey of electrical arcs under magnetic fieldSimulation-based evaluation of geometry-dependent magnetic field distributionsDesign and experimental implementation of the magnetic configuration​Experimental characterization of arcs subjected to different magnetic instabilitiesPreferred backgroundMaster's student with a background in Electrical Engineering, Plasma Physics, or a related fieldKnowledge of electromagnetics and Multiphysics Finite Element tools.Familiarity with current interruption phenomena in electrical grids is advantageous.The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, analytical, well-organized, and possess a strong curiosity for research and innovation.More about us In case you have questions, please contact Mrunal Parekh, PhD, mrunal.parekh@se.abb.comA future opportunityThis role is part of our talent pipeline, which means it’s not currently open, but we’re always looking for curious minds, bold thinkers, and people who want to make an impact.Click Apply to express your interest and be considered for future opportunities that match your experience and aspirations.At ABB, we welcome people from all backgrounds and believe that diverse perspectives help us build a cleaner, smarter future.Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about how we help run what runs the world.