Abstract:
A drive mechanism (10) for a switching device (50), a switching device (50) comprising the drive mechanism (10), a use of the drive mechanism (10) for operating a switching device (50), a method for operating the drive mechanism (10) for a switching device (50) and a method for operating a switching device (50) by operating the drive mechanism (10) are described. The drive mechanism (10) comprises an arcing chamber (11) having a first end and a second end, wherein a first arcing element (12) and a second arcing element (13) are arranged in the arcing chamber (11). The first arcing element (12) is movable along a longitudinal axis (30) of the arcing chamber (11). The first arcing element (12) and the second arcing element (13) have mutually opposing surfaces configured for carrying an arc therebetween, the arc causing the first arcing element (12) to move along the longitudinal axis (30) away from the second arcing element (13) and towards the first end of the arcing chamber (11).
Abstract:
An improved medium- or high-voltage circuit breaker (100) is disclosed which is capable of faster contact separation and arc extinguishing performances while the setup of the circuit breaker is simplified. This is achieved by means of an arc-extinguishing fluid (10) stored in a pressure chamber (4), which is at least in part made up by an arcing chamber (3) of the circuit breaker (100) where an electrical arc is extinguished. No tubings or other conduction means for pressurized fluids are necessary during current interruption. This speeds up contact separation and arc extinguishing. In a first, closed position of the circuit breaker (100) the pressure chamber (4) is delimited by a sealing wall (30) which is fixed to a movable first arcing contact (1). The sealing wall (30) acts as a valve and as a piston at the same time, because it opens the outflow of pressurized arc extinguishing fluid (10) and it concurrently actuates arcing contact separation. Proper design and dimensioning of the arcing chamber (4) enables the stored pressurized arc extinguishing fluid (10) to perform very fast contact separation within few ms as well as extinguishing a gaseous arc (11) on the same timescale.
Abstract:
A high voltage DC circuit breaker comprises a semiconductor switching assembly (3) in series to a mechanical switch (4). When the semiconductor switching assembly (3) is switched off due to a current fault, the residual current (I R ) flowing through the arresters (9) of the assembly (3) is switched off by the mechanical switch (4). A capacitor (12) arranged parallel to mechanical switch (4) leads to passive resonance effects, which in turn induce current zero crossings in its arc. The current zero crossings allow to extinguish the arc reliably. The mechanical switch (4) can be an AC circuit breaker.
Abstract:
In order to limit the current rise in a high voltage DC system, the current is led through a current rise limiter (2). The current rise limiter (2) has an inductance that increases with the current I through the current rise limiter (2) or with the time-derivative dI/dt of said current I . In such a system, the current rise limiter (2) has minor influence on normal operation, but it limits the rise rate of the current in case of a fault, thereby e.g. providing more time to switch the current off.
Abstract:
A latching mechanism (10) for activating a switch, a switch comprising a latching mechanism (10) described herein, and a method of unlatching a latching mechanism (10) are described. The latching mechanism (10) comprises a latch element (12), at least one linear actuator (11), and a first clamp element (13), wherein the latching mechanism (10) is configured to change between a latched state and an unlatched state. In the latched state the at least one linear actuator (11) is extended along a longitudinal axis (20) and presses the latch element (12) against the first clamp element (13) to thereby establish a frictional locking between the latch element (12) and the first clamp element (13). In the unlatched state the at least one linear actuator (11) is contracted along the longitudinal axis (20) thereby releasing the frictional locking between the latch element (12) and the first clamp element (13) to thereby allow a movement of the latch element (12) for activating the switch.
Abstract:
A DC current path (4) for DC power transmission comprises at least a first switching element (1) and a second switching element (2) connected in series. A resonance circuit (5) is adapted to be connectable in parallel to the series connection of the at least one first switching element (1) and second switching element (2) by means of a switch (53).
Abstract:
A high voltage DC circuit breaker comprises a semiconductor switching assembly (3) in series to a mechanical switch (4). When the semiconductor switching assembly (3) is switched off due to a current fault, the residual current (I R ) flowing through the arresters (9) of the assembly (3) is switched off by the mechanical switch (4). A capacitor (12) arranged parallel to mechanical switch (4) leads to passive resonance effects, which in turn induce current zero crossings in its arc. The current zero crossings allow to extinguish the arc reliably. The mechanical switch (4) can be an AC circuit breaker.