Vacuum　circuit　breakers　(VCBs)　are　extending　their　applications　from　medium　voltage　level　of　3.6~40.5　kV　to　transmission　voltage　level　(＞72　kV).　Moreover,　permanent　magnetic　actuators　(PMAs)　have　been　widely　used　in　medium　voltage　VCBs　due　to　their　high　reliability　and　controllability.　However,　a　conventional　bi-stable　PMA　cannot　be　adopted　in　transmission　voltage　level　such　as　126　kV　VCBs　directly　because　of　its　low　velocity　characteristic.　The　objective　of　this　paper　is　to　propose　a　multi-magnetic　circuit　PMA　to　satisfy　the　high　velocity　requirements　for　126　kV　VCBs.　The　proposed　PMA　offers　a　bi-stable　structure,　including　holding　component　and　driving　component　whose　magnetic　circuits　are　separated.　Air　gaps　are　specifically　designed　in　the　magnetic　circuits　in　order　to　improve　the　velocity　performance　of　the　proposed　PMA.　Both　static　and　dynamic　characteristics　of　the　proposed　PMA　model　have　been　calculated　by　a　finite　element　software　coupled　to　a　multi-body　dynamics　software.　Furthermore,　a　prototype　of　separated　magnetic　circuit　PMA　has　been　developed　according　to　the　simulation　results.　Experimental　results　on　the　prototype　have　shown　the　velocity　characteristics　of　the　proposed　PMA　are　able　to　meet　the　operation　requirements　of　a　126　kV　VCB　and　agree　well　with　the　simulation　results.　©　2015,　The　editorial　office　of　Transaction　of　China　Electrotechnical　Society.　All　right　reserved.