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Bbc Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited

Asea Brown Boveri Inc.

Bbc Brown Boveri Ag

Abb T&d Technology Ag

Lutz Niemeyer

Kurt Kaltenegger

Klaus Ragaller

Lukas Zehnder

Thomas Schoenemann

Martin Seeger

Arthouros Iordanidis

Bodo Bruhl

Klaus-Dieter Weltmann

Lorenz Muller

Klaus Bohnert

Bernhard Deck

Uwe Kaltenborn

Hubert Brandle

Max Claessens

Elias Julke

Gerhard Mauthe

Christoph Heitz

Leopold Ritzer

Ekkehard Schade

Joachim Stechbarth

Blaise Perrenoud

Imre Horvath

Marco Piemontesi

Christian Lindner

Michael Stanimirov

Friedrich Pinnekamp

Jorgen Skindhoj

Patrick De Bruyne

Michael Schwinne

Wolfgang Widl

Werner Hofbauer

Roland Stierlin

Ernst Lang

Walter Rueegg

Norbert Wiegart

Christian Franck

Rolf Schaumann

Ralf-Dieter Pietsch

Gunter Speckhofer

An exemplary high voltage circuit breaker includes an interruption chamber that is filled with an extinguishing agent. The interruption chamber having at least two separable arcing contact pieces that are coaxially arranged and an arcing zone in which an electric arc is producible during an interruption process. The interruption chamber includes at least two inlets and at least one outlet located in between the two inlets. The inlets and the at least one outlet are connected with the arcing zone such that the electric arc is extinguishable in at least three arc interruption zones by means of extinguishing flows streaming out of the at least two inlets into the arcing zone upon pressurization and introduction of a portion of the extinguishing agent in the arcing zone, and leading an amount of the extinguishing flows through the outlet out of the arcing zone.

Circuit breaker

A high-voltage circuit breaker includes two arcing contacts, which are capable of moving relative to one another along an axis, an insulating nozzle, a heating volume for accommodating quenching gas, a heating channel, and an overpressure valve. The pressure of the quenching gas is based on the energy of a switching arc, which is formed when the breaker opens and generates arcing gas, and the heating channel opens out, with axial alignment, into the heating volume. The heating channel connects an arc zone, and the overpressure valve limits the pressure of the quenching gas by opening a relief duct, which opens out into an expansion space. In high-current switching, the pressure of the arcing gases in the arc zone is limited, and the quality of the quenching gas stored in the heating volume is improved, due to the relief duct having an outflow section extending in the radial direction.

Gas-insulated high-voltage circuit breaker with a relief duct which is controlled by an overflow valve

In a fuse chamber ( ) there is arranged as a quenching gas source a burn-off element ( ), which concentrically surrounds an arc chamber ( ) and is separated from it by a fuse element ( ), which consists of metal foil, preferably silver foil, and the outer side of which is adjoined by the burn-off element ( ). The latter consists of an igniting material ( ), arranged in the form of a ring running around centrally, and a gas-evolving material ( ). Both materials consist, for example, of guanidine or guanidine derivatives as the combustible material and an oxidant, the proportion of which in the igniting material ( ) is hyperstoichiometric. The arc chamber ( ) is bounded at opposite ends by nozzles ( ), which connect it to exhaust volumes ( ). When there is an overcurrent, the fuse element ( ) heats up to the igniting temperature of the igniting material ( ) and is torn open centrally. The arc forming is axially blown by the quenching gas, which forms during the burning-off of the burn-off element ( ), and quenched. The fuse element ( ) may centrally have a triggering zone, where it is more easily interruptible, in particular meltable. The quenching gas source may also comprise compressed-gas tanks or cold-gas generators.

Fuse

Current and voltage values (uk, ik) are measured for protection of an electrical power line ( ). An adaptive estimator is used to analyze all the values within a measurement window, and to convert them to impedance values (Z). The line ( ) is switched off if the impedance values (Z) assume unacceptable values. In order to shorten the reaction time, a warning signal (W) is produced if powerful radio-frequency signals are detected on the line ( ). When the warning signal (W) occurs, the respective measurement window is located such that its start matches the time of the warning signal (W), and/or the respective measurement window is shortened.

Method for protection of an electrical power line

Support insulator

This hybrid circuit breaker has at least two series-connected arcing chambers which are operated by a common drive or by separate drives and are filled with different arc extinguishing media. The arc extinguishing and insulating medium in the first arcing chamber surrounds the second arcing chamber in an insulating manner. The aim is to provide a hybrid circuit breaker which can be produced economically and which has high availability. This is achieved, inter alia, wherein means are provided which always ensure that the movement of the first arcing chamber leads the movement of the second arcing chamber during a disconnection process, and that the movement of the second arcing chamber always leads the movement of the first arcing chamber during a connection process.

Hybrid circuit breaker

A moving first electrical contact arrangement (K,) has a switching contact (P,) and a U-shaped arcing horn (R,) on the end face. A stationary second electrical contact arrangement (K,) has a switching contact (P,) and a U-shaped electrical conductor loop (R,) on the end face. The electrical conductor loop (R,) is composed in its U-shaped part, of a bimetallic strip, composed of steel (,) on the inside and copper (,) on the outside; two mutually opposite switching contacts (P,, P,) are provided adjacent to this, and an arcing horn (,&prime;) is provided on the end face. When the electrical switch is closed, the first electrical contact arrangement (K,) is moved to the left in the opposite direction to an arrow (,), so that all four switching contacts (P,)-(P,) make a pressure contact with one another. When the electrical switch is opened, the contact pairs (P,, P,) are disconnected first, as a result of which a current (,) is commutated from them into the electrical conductor loop (R,) as is shown by a dashed line. Once the stress on the electrical conductor loop (R,) has been relieved, the contact pair (P,, P,) is also disconnected, so that an arc (,) is struck, which is driven onto the arcing horns (,&prime;, R,) by the asymmetric current routing in the electrical conductor loop (R,). The arc is thus quickly driven away from its original contact point and, in the process, is increasingly asymmetrically blown magnetically, so that its burning voltage rapidly increases. This simple contact structure, which can be produced economically, ensures a low rate of wear.

Current contact system for a current switch

A simple high-speed circuit breaker which is cheap to produce is specified for alternating currents which have to be switched off, which switches such currents off within one half-cycle at the current zero crossing, by means of a gas-generating explosive charge (,). In this case, a switching piston (,) which makes a sliding contact with a consumable contact pin (K,) of a first electrode (E,) when the high-speed circuit breaker is closed, moves in the direction of a hollow electrode (E,). The switching piston (,) has a contact tube (,&prime;) with an exhaust opening (,) which is closed by the hollow electrode (E,) when the high-speed circuit breaker is closed, and is open to an exhaust chamber (,) when the high-speed circuit breaker is open (left-hand half of the figure). The contact tube (,&prime;) moves in a sliding manner in a cutout in the hollow electrode (E,). A plurality of explosive charges (,) may be accommodated in the first electrode (E,). In addition, rated current contacts which are provided between the first electrode (E,) and the switching piston (,) carry a continuous current when switched on. The high-speed circuit breaker is particularly suitable as a circuit breaker in addition to a power breaker, in which case the high-speed circuit breaker is tripped if the power breaker fails.

Electrical high speed circuit breaker with explosive charges including ablative arc extinguishing material

Arranged in the continuation of an arcing chamber (16) bounded by consumable rings (32a, 32b) are pressure chambers (25a, 25b) which are connected in each case to a heating volume (18), which concentrically surrounds the arcing chamber (16), via a return channel (28; 28b), which is rotationally symmetrical with reference to the switching axis and is at least initially of increasing cross section, and a non-return valve (29a; 29b). A circumferential blowout slot (19) opening into the arcing chamber (16) between the consumable rings (32a, 32b) issues from the heating volume (18). The pressure chambers (25a, 25b) are, moreover, connected via in each case a plurality of exhaust tubes (34a, 34b) to exhaust volumes (30a, 30b) and to one of them also via a pressure relief valve (37). The pinch pressure produced between the consumable rings (32a, 32b) during formation of an arc (17) leads to a pressure buildup in the pressure chambers (25a, 25b) which contributes via the return channels (28a, 28b) to building up in the heating volume (18) a high blowout pressure which on the occasion of the next zero crossing causes a strong gas flow through the blowout slot (19) into the arcing chamber (16), which quenches the arc (17).

Puffer type circuit breaker with arcing chamber, auxiliary shunting

Extending between a fixed tulip contact (1) and a slide tulip (4) is an arcing chamber (5) which is occupied in the closed position by a movable contact pin (3) which fills up both an exhaust (9) surrounded by the slide tulip (4) and a blowout opening (7) which is surrounded by the tulip contact (1) and connects the arcing chamber (5) to a pressure chamber (6). The arcing chamber (5) is surrounded by an annular heating volume (13) open toward the same. Arranged in the pressure chamber (6) is a charge (10) of explosive which is for the most part converted within approximately 10-30 ms after ignition to extinguishing gas, preferably predominantly nitrogen, the gas pressure moving the contact pin (3) toward the open position. After clearance of the blowout opening (7) and the exhaust (9), the arc drawn between the contact pin (3) and tulip contact (1) is blown out, something which is supported by the pressure buildup, to which the arc contributes, in the heating volume (13). The pressure chamber with the charge can also surround the arcing chamber in an annular fashion. In this case, it is also possible to support the opening movement by the explosion pressure, for example, via pistons.

Circuit-breaker with an explosive charge ignited during opening operation

The power breaker is provided with a contact arrangement which is equipped with erosion-resistant contact members and has a stationary contact member (4), a contact member (4) which can move along a central axis (6) and an insulating nozzle (6) which concentrically surrounds the contact members (3, 4) and has a constriction (6). The insulating nozzle (6) is manufactured from an erosion-resistant plastic and is structured such that erosion channels which are formed run at right angles to the direction of the electrical field load. This insulating nozzle emits gases during disconnection, which particularly effectively support the production of blowing pressure in the arc zone.

Power breaker

A circuit breaker includes a cylindrical arcing chamber filled with an insulating medium. The arcing chamber has a power current path and an insulating housing. The insulating housing has a longitudinal axis and the power current path extends along the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing. The power current path includes a fixed contact arrangement and a contact arrangement. The fixed contact arrangement is attached to an electrically insulating guide part. The contact arrangement has a moving contact cage. The fixed contact arrangement and the contact arrangement have a first and second fixed erosion-resistant covering, respectively. The insulating housing has a blast volume for accumulating an increased pressure of the insulating medium which occurs when the moving contact cage breaks contact with the fixed contact arrangement. When the circuit breaker is in an on position, the contact cage contacts the fixed contact arrangement above the guide part and surrounds the guide part. The insulating housing has a shoulder which projects into a region between the first erosion-resistant covering and the second erosion-resistant covering. The first and second erosion-resistant coverings are arranged concentrically around the guide part and the moving contact cage. When the circuit breaker switches from the on position to an off position, the moving contact cage moves out of contact with the fixed contact arrangement and into contact with the guide part.

Circuit breaker having contacts with erosion-resistant covering

The stock contains an insulating-material matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix and is distinguished by a cellular structure. The predominant portion of the cells is filled with a material having arc-extinguishing properties or contains a material which, on exposure to an arc, forms arc-extinguishing gas. For the purpose of improving the making and breaking capacity, such a stock can advantageously be employed in a gas-blast circuit breaker in which arc-extinguishing gas is blown onto the switching arc. This involves the stock preferably being positioned at such points guiding the arc-extinguishing gas, at which the stock is exposed to the radiation of the arc and the thermal action of arc gases.

Stock giving off arc-extinguishing gas, and gas-blast circuit breaker

The circuit-breaker has a quenching chamber which is filled with an insulating medium, is of cylindrical design and has a quenching zone extending along a longitudinal axis. In addition, it has a fixed contact arrangement, which is arranged in the course of a main current path, and a moving contact arrangement. Furthermore, a blowing volume is provided which stores the increased pressure of the insulating medium which occurs during a disconnection process. At least one contact link, which has two contact points, electrically conductively connects the fixed contact arrangement and the moving contact arrangement to one another in the connected position. The contact link is also mounted to a holder such that it can rotate. The side of the contact link which interacts with the fixed contact arrangement is acted on by a force directed outward in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Power circuit-breaker

Switching device having a vacuum circuit-breaker shunt connected with a

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Birr, Switzerland

Lutz Niemeyer