From　the　application　of　simulated　annealing　to　the　optimal　design　of　electromagnetic　devices,　it　is　usually　found　that　its　convergence　speed　is　low.　Based　on　the　analysis　for　the　iterative　procedure　of　simulated　annealing,　adaptive　simulated　annealing　is　put　forward,　which　has　higher　convergence　speed.　When　used　to　solve　the　optimization　problem　that　arises　from　the　optimal　design　of　6kv　fuse　-　contactor　and　involves　a　multimodal　objective　function,　adaptive　simulated　annealing　can　not　only　obtain　the　global　optimal　solution　but　also　save　30　percent　of　the　computation　time　taken　by　simulated　annealing.　©　1996　IEEE.